Tutoring physics or chemistry, you need to explain scientific notation. Scientific notation is very easy to use; it was designed to be. To start with, we need to realize the “everyday” way we write numbers is called “float” (aka “normal”). …
We continue our commentary on significant figures – aka significant digits – with how to add and subtract them. A chemistry or physics tutor deals with this topic periodically. If you look over my last few posts, you’ll see the accumulation of articles …
When you tutor physics or chemistry, most calculations require management of significant figures (aka significant digits). Today, we’ll look at multiplying and dividing. We know from earlier posts (see the previous one here) why significant figures are needed and how …
Tutoring physics or chemistry, significant figures are part of the landscape. Knowing when zero is significant can be tricky. In this, our second installment on significant figures (see the first one here), we start on the practical question, “What digits are significant?” …
When you tutor chemistry or physics, significant figures are a constant theme. Some people call them significant digits. We’ll start our explanation today. Bill: How heavy is that boat? Joe: Maybe 30 tons, give or take a couple. Bill: Then …
Tutoring high school physics, you get the privilege of retelling Newton’s three Laws. They can’t be discussed too often. Newton’s First Law: If no unbalanced force acts on an object, it either continues moving in a straight line at constant speed, or else remains in its …
Tutoring high school science, you might be asked about plate tectonics at any time. Here is the most condensed, pragmatic explanation you’ll likely find. To believe in plate tectonics – which, by the way, is true beyond any doubt – you need …
Tutoring high school chemistry, isotopes are an early topic. Let’s have a look…. From basic atomic structure, we know that an atom’s mass comes from its number of protons plus its number of neutrons. Take fluorine, for example: its mass is 19. It’s …
When you tutor sciences, you’re immersed in the metric system. Let’s talk a bit about it. The metric system uses multiples of 10. Therefore, to convert from any metric unit to any other one, you just need to move the decimal point; you needn’t …