Quiz 1 Flashcards
What are the two types of experimental error?
- Systematic uncertainty
- Random error
What is systematic uncertainty?
Bias measurements in the same direction. Results from technique.
What is Random error?
Results from repeated measurements of the same quantity to show a spread of values both smaller and larger.
What is the uncertainty for analogue?
Uncertainty is +- half of the smallest increment.
What is the uncertainty for digital?
Uncertainty is the smallest division the instrument can read.
What does accuracy mean?
Measurements close to accepted value.
What does precision mean?
Measurements close together.
When can you use absolute certainty?
When the units are the same and your adding or subtracting.
When do you need to use relative uncertainty?
When the units are different and/or your multiplying or dividing.
Does relative or absolute uncertainties ignore coefficients?
Relative uncertainties.
What is a significant figure?
A sig. fig. is:
- any non-zero
- 0’s between non-zeroes
- 0’s at the end of a value (if after a decimal place)
What are the rules for significant figures?
(x or /): least num of sig. figs.
(+ or -): don’t exceed decimals of least precise values.
What us the horizontal, vertical, slope, and intercept for X=Xo+ 1/2at^2
Horizontal: t^2
Vertical: X
Slope: 1/2a
Intercept: Xo
