Chapter 1 Measurement

Question 1

What is an error

Answer 1

Error is defined as the difference between an observation and the true value

Question 2

Systematic error

Answer 2

A systematic error is one that occurs according to some fixed rule or pattern such that they yield a consistent overestimation or underestimation of the true value of the measured quantity

Question 3

Random error

Answer 3

A random error is one that occurs without a fixed pattern such that a set of measurements done under the same conditions have an equally likely chance of being greater or less than the true value

Question 4

Accuracy

Answer 4

Accuracy refers to how closely a measured value agrees with the true value

Question 5

Precision

Answer 5

Precision refers to how closely individual measurements agree with each other without reference to any true value

Question 6

Uncertainty

Answer 6

Uncertainty is an estimate of systematic and or random errors inherent in the measurement or calculation

Question 7

Scalar quantity

Answer 7

A quantity which has magnitude only

Question 8

Vector quantity

Answer 8

A quantity which has both a magnitude and direction