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Physics A-Level OCR A > Mod 1 and 2 definitions > Flashcards

Mod 1 and 2 definitions Flashcards

1
Q

What are absolute uncertainties?

A

The interval that a value is said to lie within, with a given level of confidence

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2
Q

What is accuracy?

A

A measure of how close a measurement is to the true value.

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3
Q

What are Analogue Apparatus?

A

Measuring apparatus such as rulers, beakers and thermometers that rely on the experimenter reading off a scale to determine the measurement.

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4
Q

What are anomalies?

A

Data points that don’t fit the pattern of the data.
You should determine why an anomalous result has occurred before removing it.
Repeat readings help remove anomalies.

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5
Q

What are control variables?

A

Variables that must remain the same throughout an experiment so as to not affect the results.

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6
Q

What are dependent variables?

A

The variable being measured in an experiment. It is dependent on the independent variable. The dependent variable should be plotted on the y-axis of a graph.

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7
Q

What is digital apparatus?

A

Measuring apparatus such as ammeters, voltmeters and digital calipers that digitally measure and display a measurement.

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8
Q

What is a fiducial marker?

A

A thin marker, such as a splint, that is used to ensure readings are taken from the same place each time. They are used to improve the accuracy of measurements.

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9
Q

What is a gradient?

A

The change in the y-axis value over the change in the x-axis value between two points. If the graph is curved, a tangent can be drawn to calculate the gradient at a specific point.

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10
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

The variable that is changed by the experimenter in an experiment. The independent variable should be plotted on the x-axis of a graph.

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11
Q

What is a line of best fit?

A

A line drawn on a graph to demonstrate the pattern in the plotted data points

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12
Q

What are percentage uncertainties?

A

The uncertainty of a measurement, expressed as a percentage of the recorded value.

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13
Q

What is precision?

A

A measure of how close a measurement is to the mean value. It only gives an indication of the magnitude of random errors, not how close data is to the true value.

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14
Q

What are prefixes?

A

Added to the front of units to represent a power of ten change.

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15
Q

What is the exponent for peta (P)?

A

x10^15

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16
Q

What is the exponent for tera(T)?

A

x10^12

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17
Q

What is the exponent for giga(G)?

A

x10^9

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18
Q

What is the exponent for mega(M)?

A

x10^6

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19
Q

What is the exponent for kilo(k)?

A

x10^3

20
Q

What is the exponent for milli(m)?

A

x10^-3

21
Q

What is the exponent for mirco(u with tail)?

A

x10^-6

22
Q

What is the exponent for nano(n)?

A

x10^-9

23
Q

What is the exponent for pico(p)?

A

x10^-12

24
Q

What are random errors?

A

Unpredictable variation between measurements that leads to a spread of values about the true value. Random error can be reduced by taking repeat measurements.

25
Q

What does repeatable mean?

A

The same experimenter can repeat a measurement using the same method and equipment and obtain the same value.

26
Q

What does reproducible mean?

A

An experiment can be repeated by a different experimenter using a different method and different apparatus and still obtain the same results.

27
Q

What is resolution?

A

The smallest change in a quantity that causes a visible change in the reading that a measuring instrument records.

28
Q

What is resolution of forces?

A

The splitting of a force into its horizontal and vertical components?

29
Q

What are scalar quantities?

A

A quantity that only has a magnitude, without an associated direction. Examples include speed, distance and temperature.

30
Q

What are SI units? State the 7 SI units.

A

The standard units used in equations. They are: metres, kilograms, seconds, amps, lumen, Kelvin and moles.

31
Q

What are significant figures?

A

A measure of a measurement’s resolution. All numbers except zero are counted as a significant figure. When zeros are found immediately after a decimal place, they too are counted.

32
Q

What are systematic errors?

A

Causes all readings to differ from the true value by a fixed amount. Systematic error cannot be corrected by repeat readings, instead a different technique or apparatus should be used.

33
Q

What is a triangle of forces?

A

A method of finding the resultant force of two forces. The two forces are joined tip to tail and the result is then the vector that completes the triangle.

34
Q

What are vector quantities? Give 3 examples

A

A quantity that has both a magnitude and an associated direction. Examples include velocity, displacement and acceleration.

35
Q

What are vernier sclaes?

A

The type of scale used on calipers and micrometers, that involve reading from a fixed scale and a moving scale to produce accurate measurements.

36
Q

What is a zero error?

A

A form of systematic error, caused when a measuring instrument doesn’t read zero at a value of zero. This results in all measurements being offset by a fixed amount.

37
Q

What is validity?

A

a measurement is valid if it measures what it’s supposed to be measuring and if the measurement taken is only affected by one independent variable

38
Q

What is a true value?

A

this is the value that should’ve been obtained if there were no experimental flaws or sources of error

38
Q

How do you calculate percentage uncertainity?

A

absolute uncertainity / measurement x 100

39
Q

How to find the absolute uncertainty in a reading?

A

± half the smallest division

40
Q

How to calculate uncertainty in repeated data?

A

half the range i.e. ± ½ (largest - smallest value)

41
Q

When doing calculations with uncertainties. What do you do when doing Addition/subtraction of two measurements?

A

Addition/subtraction of two measurements: add the absolute uncertainties

42
Q

When doing calculations with uncertainties. What do you do when doing Multiplication/division of two measurements?

A

Multiplication/division of two measurements: add the relative uncertainties

43
Q

When doing calculations with uncertainties. What do you do when Multiplying a constant by a measurement?

A

Multiplying a constant by a measurement: multiply the absolute uncertainty by the constant. The relative uncertainty is not affected.

44
Q

When doing calculations with uncertainties. What do you do when raising a measurement to a power?

A

Raising a measurement to a power: multiply the relative uncertainty by the power

45
Q

What is relative uncertainty?

A

absolute uncertainty/ measured value

Or the percentage uncertainty in decimal form

Physics A-Level OCR A (25 decks)

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