Significant Figures in Physics: Calculating Distance Traveled by Tennis Balls

Introduction

For a physics class project, Lindsay is launching tennis balls and measuring how far they travel. The first tennis ball traveled 10 meters, and the second ball traveled 15 meters. In this exercise, we will calculate how much farther the second ball traveled than the first, using the correct number of significant figures.

Calculating the Difference

Final answer: To find how much farther the second ball traveled than the first, we need to subtract the distance of the first ball from the distance of the second ball. Ensure you use the correct number of significant figures when reporting your answer.

Explanation: Given that Lindsay measured the distance of two tennis balls, let's refer to the first tennis ball distance as 'a' (10 meters) and the second one as 'b' (15 meters). The problem is asking how much farther did the second ball travel than the first. That's a basic subtraction problem. Using the correct number of significant figures, you would subtract the distance the first ball traveled (a) from the distance the second ball traveled (b). The result, let's call it 'd', is the extra distance traveled by the second ball. Therefore, simply perform the calculation: d = b - a. Ensure to use the same number of decimal places as in the problem provided and apply the rules for significant figures.