Units and quantities

Question 1

Random error

Answer 1

Measurements that are scattered randomly above and below the true value.

Question 2

Systematic error

Answer 2

An error that does not happen by chance, but instead is introduced by an inaccuracy in the apparatus or the person conducting the investigation.

Question 3

Zero error

Answer 3

Type of systematic error caused when an instrument is not properly calibrated or adjusted.

Question 4

Precision

Answer 4

Is the degree to which repeated values, collected under the same condition in an experiment, show the same result.

Question 5

Accuracy

Answer 5

the degree to which a value obtained by an experiment is close to the actual or true value

Question 6

absolute uncertainty

Answer 6

Shows how large the uncertainty actually is, and has the same units as the quantity being measured.

Question 7

Percentage uncertainty

Answer 7

the absolute uncertainty divided by the measured value expressed as a percentage.

Question 8

For a quantity x=ab

Answer 8

% uncertainty in x = % uncertainty in a + % uncertainty in b.

Question 9

For a quantity x=a^n

Answer 9

% uncertainty in x= % uncertainty in a x n