Foundations Of Physics

Question 1

What is the unit for mass?

Answer 1

Kilogram (kg)

Question 2

What is the unit for length?

Answer 2

Metre (m)

Question 3

What is the unit for time?

Answer 3

Seconds (s)

Question 4

What is the unit for temperature?

Answer 4

Kelvin (K)

Question 5

What is the unit for electrical current?

Answer 5

Amperes (A)

Question 6

What is the unit for amount of substance?

Answer 6

Mole (mol)

Question 7

What is the prefix and factor for tera?

Answer 7

T (10^12)

Question 8

What is the prefix and factor for giga?

Answer 8

G (10^9)

Question 9

What is the prefix and factor for mega?

Answer 9

M (10^6)

Question 10

What is the prefix and factor for kilo

Answer 10

K (10^3)

Question 11

What is the prefix and factor for deci?

Answer 11

d (10^-1)

Question 12

What is the prefix and factor for centi?

Answer 12

C (10^-2)

Question 13

What is the prefix and factor for mili?

Answer 13

m (10^-3)

Question 14

What is the prefix and factor for micro?

Answer 14

μ (10^-6)

Question 15

What is the prefix and factor for nano?

Answer 15

n (10^-9)

Question 16

What is the prefix and factor for pico?

Answer 16

p (10^-12)

Question 17

How do we convert from prefix to no prefix?

Answer 17

Multiply

Question 18

How do we convert no prefix into prefix?

Answer 18

Divide

Question 19

What is a homogenous equation?

Answer 19

The units on the left are the same as the units on the right

Question 20

Making estimates?

Answer 20

Making a reasonable assumption for a physical quantity and then using this in a calculation

Question 21

What is precision?

Answer 21

How close the results are to each other

Question 22

What is accuracy?

Answer 22

How close you are to the real value

Question 23

What is random error and how do we reduce it?

Answer 23

A random error are unpredictable as a result uncontrollable factors such as environmental conditions

This affects the precision of the measurement which affects the gradient of a graph

To reduce random error: repeat measurements several times and calculate an average from them.

Question 24

What is systematic error and how do we reduce it?

Answer 24

Use of faulty instruments or from flaws in the experimental method

Repeated every time the instrument or method is used, which affects the accuracy of all readings obtained

To reduce systematic errors: instruments should be recalibrated or the technique being used should be corrected or adjusted

Question 25

What is zero error?

Answer 25

Type of systematic error which occurs when an instrument gives a reading when the true reading is zero E.g. scale that starts at 2g instead of zero

Question 26

How do we find the uncertainty in a reading?

Answer 26

+/- half the smaller division

Question 27

How do we find the uncertainty in a measurement?

Answer 27

At least +/- 1 smallest division

Question 28

How do we find the uncertainty in repeated data?

Answer 28

Range/2

Question 29

How do we find the Uncertainty in digital readings?

Answer 29

+/- the last significant digit unless otherwise quoted

Question 30

How do we find the uncertainty in the natural log?

Answer 30

Absolute uncertainty in ln (x) = uncertainty in x over x

Question 31

How do we calculate percentage uncertainty?

Answer 31

Uncertainty/ value

Question 32

How do we combine uncertainties when adding and subtracting

Answer 32

Add the absolute uncertainties

Question 33

How do we combine uncertainties when multiplying / dividing data?

Answer 33

Add the percentage uncertainties

Question 34

How do we calculate uncertainty when raising to a power?

Answer 34

Multiply the percentage uncertainty by the power

Question 35

How do we calculate the percentage uncertainty in the gradient

Answer 35

(Best gradient - worst gradient / best gradient) x 100

Question 36

How do we calculate percentage difference?

Answer 36

(Experimental value - accepted value / accepted value) x100

Question 37

What is a scalar?

Answer 37

Quantity which has only magnitude

Question 38

What is a vector?

Answer 38

Quantity which has both magnitude and direction

Question 39

List of vectors?

Answer 39

Displacement velocity acceleration Force Momentum

Question 40

List of scalars

Answer 40

Distance Speed Mass Time Energy Volume Density Pressure Electric charge Temperature

Question 41

How do we combine vectors?

Answer 41

1) Add two vectors (as arrows) 2) link the vectors head to tail 3) form the resultant vector from linking the tail of one to the head of the other 4) calculate the resultant using Pythagoras theorem

Question 42

How do we calculate the direction?

Answer 42

Found from the angle it makes with the horizontal or vertical Calculating the angle can be done using trigonometry

Question 43

How do we calculate vectors using scale drawings?

Answer 43

1) create a scale (e.g. 1cm = 1m) 2) put the vectors head to tail and draw them to the length of the scale 3) draw the resultant vector using a ruler 4) measure the angle of a resultant vector from the north bearing using a protractor

Question 44

How do we combine vectors with coplanar forces?

Answer 44

1) identify the direction of all the forces 2) arrange these into a vector triangle keeping the same magnitude and directions 3) ensure the direction of the vectors form a close path

Question 45

How do we resolve a single vector?

Answer 45

Break it down into its horizontal and vertical components

Question 46

What is the equation for the horizontal component?

Answer 46

F(x) = F cos θ

Question 47

What is the equation for the vertical component?

Answer 47

F (y) = F sin θ

Question 48

How do we calculate a force perpendicular to the slope?

Answer 48

mg cos θ

Question 49

How do we calculate the force parallel to the slope?

Answer 49

mg sin θ

Question 50

Exam tip for resolving vectors?

Answer 50

Horizontal component is always adjacent to the angle