Section 0: Measurements and their errors Flashcards
What are the 6 fundamental units?
What are the ten prefixes?
What is a random error and how can you mitigate them?
Random errors cause readings to be spread out in an unpredicatable way, they affect presicion. This can be due to noise, or when you’re measuring a random process. You can’t physically mitigate a random error, so to reduce the effects you can take repeat measurements.
What is a systematic error and how can you mitigate them?
Systematic errors cause each reading to be shifted by the same amount, they affect accuracy. The most common example is a zero error on a scale. Other examples include parallax and faults due to reaction times. To reduce the effect of a sytematic error, you complete the same experiment using different apparatus.
Define precise.
The smaller the amount of spread of your data from the mean, the more precise your data is. Precision only depends on the amount of random error in your readings.
What are repeatable results?
Results are repeatable if you can repeat an experiment multiple times and get the same results
What are reproducable results?
Results are reproducable if someone else can recreate your experiment using different equipment or methods, and get the same results you do.
Define accurate.
An answer that is super close to the true answer.
Combining uncertainties through addition and subtraction:
Add or subtract the absolute uncertainties.
Combining uncertainties through multiplication or division.
Add the percentage uncertainties.
Combining uncertainties through raising to a power:
Multiply the percentage uncertainty by the power.
