Estimation
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Rounding and Order of Magnitude Estimation: Techniques for Approximating Measurements, Slides of Physics
An introduction to the estimation techniques of rounding and order of magnitude rounding. Rounding is a simple method for reducing values to one significant figure, while order of magnitude estimates are easy to compare since they are all powers of ten. The document also includes an example calculation for estimating the size of a one metric ton rock using order of magnitude rounding and geometry.
Typology: Slides
2012/2013
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Estimation
Rounding
The simplest estimation technique is to round.
This works very well on formulas where all the valuescan be reduced to one significant figure.
How Big?
Assume the density of a rock isthree times that of water. Howmany centimeters across is a onemetric ton (1000 kg) rock?•
The rock has a density of 3 g/cm
3
so the volume is 10
6 g / (3 g/cm
= 3.3 x 10
5 cm
•^
Estimate that the rock is asphere,
V
(^3) r
•^
d^
r^ = 2 (
V
•^
d^
= 85.7 cm
90 cm
Using Geometry
Geometrical shapes can often be used toapproximate real shapes.
The standard formulas from geometry can be used tomake an estimate.
Shapes can be 2-dimensional (triangle, circle)
Or 3-dimensional (box, sphere).
Apparent Shift
A moving observer sees fixed objects move.
Near objects appear to move more than far objects.
Telephone poles whip by faster than distant trees.
The effect is due to the change in observation point,and is used by our eyes for depth perception.
base angle A angle B
Observing Parallax
Observe an object against the background.
Shift one seat left and observe again.
Subtract to get the parallax shift.
next
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