12PHB Flashcards
Base SI units
Kg (Kilograms), m (Meters), s (Seconds), A (Amps), K (Kelvin), mol (Moles)
tera ( T )
1x10^12
giga ( G )
1x10^9
mega ( M )
1x10^6
kilo ( K )
1x10^3
deci ( d )
1x10^-1
centi ( c )
1x10^-2
milli ( m )
1x10^-3
micro ( µ )
1x10^-6
nano ( n )
1x10^-9
pico ( p )
1x10^-12
How to reduce random error
Repeat measurements several times and calculate an average from them
Random error
Unpredictable fluctuations in an instrument’s reading as a result of uncontrollable factors, such as environmental conditions
Systematic errors
Arise from the use of faulty instruments or from flaws in the experimental method
To reduce systematic errors
Instruments should be recalibrated, or different instruments should be used.
Zero errors
This is a type of systematic error which occurs when an instrument gives a reading when the true reading is zero
To account for zero errors
Take the difference of the offset for each value
Precision
When there is very little spread about the mean value
Accuracy
If the values are close to the true value
Reliability
A measure of the ability of an experimental procedure to produce the expected results when using the same method and experiment
Validity
A measure of the sustainability of an experimental procedure to measure what it is intended to measure
Multiplication and Devision Uncertainty adding
The errors need to be converted to a percentage error then added together and converted back to an uncertainty
Power, uncertainty adding
Multiply the percentage uncertainty by the power then convert back to an uncertainty
Scalar Quantity
a quantity which only has magnitude (size)