Errors and uncertainties Flashcards
1
Q
Causes of random error
A
- reading scale from different angles introduces parallax error
- wrongly interpolating between scale readings
- timing oscillations without the use of a reference marker
2
Q
Causes of systematic error
A
- zero error
- wrongly calibrated scale
- reaction time of experimenter
3
Q
Accuracy
A
Refers to the closeness of a measured value to the true value
4
Q
Precision
A
Refers to how close a set of measured values are to each other
5
Q
Precise vs non precise
A
- Measurements have a small range
- Measurements have a wide range
6
Q
Accurate vs Non Accurate
A
- Average of measurements are close to the true value
- Average of the measurements are not close to the true value
7
Q
Uncertainty
A
The size of the range of values within which the ‘true value’ of a measurement is likely to lie
