1 Working as a Physicist

Question 1

Pico(p)

Answer 1

x10^-12

Question 2

Nano(n)

Answer 2

x10^-9

Question 3

Micro(u)

Answer 3

x10^-6

Question 4

Milli(m)

Answer 4

x10^-3

Question 5

Kilo(K)

Answer 5

x10^3

Question 6

Mega(M)

Answer 6

x10^6

Question 7

Giga(G)

Answer 7

x10^9

Question 8

Tera(T)

Answer 8

x10^12

Question 9

What are the all SI units?

Answer 9

• distance(m)
• mass(kg)
• time(s)
• current(A)
• temp(K)
• amount of substance(mol)
• luminous intensity(cd)

Question 10

What is the independent variable?

Answer 10

The thing you change

Question 11

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 11

The thing you measure

Question 12

What is the absolute uncertainty?

Answer 12

The total uncertainty for a measurement

Question 13

What is the percentage uncertainty?

Answer 13

The uncertainty given as a percentage of the measurement

Question 14

How can the absolute uncertainty be found?

Answer 14

1/2 the resolution of the measurement

Question 15

If you add or subtract uncertainties what should you do?

Answer 15

Add the absolute uncertainties

Question 16

If you have to multiply or divide uncertainties what should you do?

Answer 16

Add the percentage uncertainties

Question 17

If you have to raise an uncertainty to the power what should you do?

Answer 17

Multiply the percentage uncertainty by the power

Question 18

How can uncertainties be shown on a graph?

Answer 18

By using error bars

Question 19

What does valid mean?

Answer 19

You are measuring what you’re supposed to be measuring

Question 20

What does precise mean?

Answer 20

There is a small range in your repeated data

Question 21

What does repeatable mean?

Answer 21

You can repeat the experiment and get the same results

Question 22

What does reproducible mean?

Answer 22

The same result must be reached by different experimenters, using different equipment and methods

Question 23

What does accurate mean?

Answer 23

A result that is really close to the true value

Question 24

What is a systematic error?

Answer 24

An error that is the same every time so affects the accuracy but not the precision

Question 25

What are random errors?

Answer 25

They are errors that occur naturally ie human error

Question 26

How can random errors be reduced?

Answer 26

Use apparatus with better resolution

Do more repeats