Question

Indicate whether each of the following can be determined exactly or must be measured with some degree of uncertainty:

1.The number of students in a classroom.
a) Exactly
b) With uncertainty

2.The temperature of the sun.
a) Exactly
b) With uncertainty

3.The mass of a specific book.
a) Exactly
b) With uncertainty

4.The volume of a gas in a closed container.
a) Exactly
b) With uncertainty

Answer 1

The number of students in a classroom can be determined exactly through counting, while the temperature of the sun, the mass of a book, and the volume of a gas in a closed container must all be measured with some degree of uncertainty due to the reliance on measurement tools and environmental influences.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing whether a quantity can be determined exactly or must be measured with uncertainty, it is important to distinguish between countable items and those that require measurement.

Counts of items, like the number of students in a classroom or the number of eggs in a basket, can be determined exactly because counting does not involve measurement. However, the temperature of the sun, the mass of a book, or the volume of a gas in a closed container all involve measurements that come with inherent uncertainties.

For example, temperature measurements depend on the precision of the instrument used, while mass and volume are influenced by factors like air pressure and temperature.

Examples

1. The number of students in a classroom can be determined exactly by counting.
2. The temperature of the sun must be measured with uncertainty because it involves estimation based on scientific models and observations.
3. The mass of a specific book must be measured with uncertainty since different scales might give slightly different readings due to calibration differences and environmental factors.
4. The volume of a gas in a closed container must be measured with uncertainty due to changes in pressure and temperature that can affect the volume.