Foundations Of Physics

Question 1

What do you need to include when planning an experiment?

Answer 1

-List of equipment and diagram
-What you will vary and how
-What you will keep constant and how
-What you will measure and how (Name the instrument)
-What you will plot on a graph and the shape of the graph

Question 2

Define an error and the types of error as well as how to reduce them

Answer 2

Error - the difference between an individual measurement and the true value
Random error - measurements that very randomly, usually cant control. To reduce, repeat measurements and calculate an average whilst removing anomalies
Systematic - All measurements are bigger/smaller than they should be, usually caused by an instrument which hasn’t been calibrated properly. To reduce, ensure that you start measuring from zero

Question 3

How do you calculate uncertainty for repeated measurements?

Answer 3

Plus or minus half the range (if the range is larger than the resolution, If not, use the resolution).