Measurements

Question 1

Define scalar and vector quantities

Answer 1

A scalar has magnitude only

A vector has both magnitude and direction

Question 2

Define accuracy

Answer 2

Accuracy is a measure of how close the experimental result is to the true value or accepted value

Question 3

Define precision

Answer 3

Precision is a measure of how close the experimental results are to each other

Question 4

Define uncertainty

Answer 4

It is the total range of values within which the measurement is likely to lie

Question 5

How do you calculate the uncertainty of addition and subtraction?

Answer 5

ΔY = Δa + Δb

Question 6

How do you calculate the uncertainty of values multiplied or divided together?

Answer 6

ΔY/Y = Δa/a + Δb/b

Question 7

How do you calculate uncertainty of powers

Answer 7

ΔY/Y = n(Δa/a)

Question 8

How to calculate uncertainty of complex functions

Answer 8

ΔY= 1/2( Ymax - Ymin)

- Ymax = (a+Δa)
- Ymin = (a+Δa)

Question 9

For the sum or difference of a number of values, the number of ______________

Answer 9

decimal places follows the value with the least number of decimal places.

Question 10

For the product or quotient of a number of values, the number _________

Answer 10

of significant figures follows the value with the least number of significant figures

Question 11

For sinusoidal functions, the number of ____________

Answer 11

significant figures follows the significant figure of the angle

Question 12

For logarithm of values, the number of __________

Answer 12

decimal places of the logged value follows the number of significant figures in the original value