Working As A Physicist Flashcards
Define accuracy.
How close a measurement is to its true value
Define precision.
How close a set of repeated results are to each other
Define resolution.
The smallest measurement a device can record
How do you find the uncertainty of a set of multiple results
Mean +/- half the range
Define error
Difference between measured value and true value
How does systematic error affect accuracy and presidium
Accuracy is worse but precision is unaffected
How can you reduce random error
Use a smaller resolution or repeat the experiment
If the range is small what can be said?
Results are precise
When adding or subtracting data, what happens to uncertainty?
Add the absolute uncertainties
When multiplying or diving data, what happens to the uncertainty?
Add the percentage uncertainty
When raising to a power, what happens to the uncertainty?
Multiply the percentage uncertainty by the power
Define uncertainty.
The range of values the true value could lie in.
Explain how the student could reduce uncertainty in the measurement diameter.
-Measure diameter in multiple places and calculate mean
-Calculating a mean reduces the effect of random error.
How do you show the direction of a magnetic field into the page?
A cross (like a dart)
