Question

The number of significant figures in the measurement of a length 0.079000 m is: 

• A. 7
• B. 2
• C. 5
• D. 4

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

To solve the problem, we need to count the number of significant figures in the given measurement: 0.079000 m.

1. Understanding Significant Figures:
Significant figures are the digits in a number that carry meaningful information about its precision. The rules for identifying significant figures are as follows:

• All non-zero digits are always significant.
• Any zeros between significant digits are also significant.
• Leading zeros (zeros before the first non-zero digit) are not significant.
• Trailing zeros in a number with a decimal point are significant.

2. Applying the Rules:
In the number 0.079000:

• ‘0.’ is a leading zero and not significant.
• ‘7’ and ‘9’ are non-zero digits and are significant (2 digits).
• The three trailing zeros after the ‘9’ are significant because they follow a decimal point and a non-zero digit (3 digits).

3. Counting the Significant Figures:
We have:

• 2 significant digits from '7' and '9'
• 3 significant trailing zeros

Total = 5 significant figures.

Final Answer:
The number of significant figures in 0.079000 m is 5.

Answer 2

The correct option is: (C) : 5

The number of significant figures in the measurement 0.079000 m is 5 because all the digits from left to right are considered significant, and the trailing zeros after the decimal point also count as significant figures when they are a part of a measured value with a decimal point.