Chapter 2: Foundations Of Physics

Question 1

List the six base SI units, the order is irrelevant

Answer 1

Mass (kg), length (m), time (s), current (A), temperature (K), amount of a substance (mol)

Question 2

List the prefixes in ascending order

Answer 2

pico (-12), nano (-9), micro (-6), milli (-3, centi (-2), deci (-1), kilo (3), mega (6), giga (9), tera (12)

Question 3

What causes uncertainties?

Answer 3

Random and systematic errors

Question 4

What are random errors?

Answer 4

Various errors which seem unpredictable due to not having a set pattern

Question 5

How do you get rid of random errors?

Answer 5

By taking repeat measurements and calculating a mean

Question 6

What are systematic errors?

Answer 6

Zero errors which are exactly the same every time you repeat an experiment. These may be caused by your apparatus. Difficult to spot a systematic error.

Question 7

How to eliminate systematic errors?

Answer 7

Check apparatus at the start of an experiment. Zero the devices properly. If you find the errors during an experiment just subtract the error from the value and use that as your result