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Chapter 1-Measurement

This document summarizes key concepts in measurement and errors. It defines prefixes used in the metric system for multiplying or dividing units. It describes systematic and random errors, and how systematic errors can be eliminated if the source is known, while random errors are reduced by repeated measurements. Precision refers to the reproducibility of measurements, while accuracy refers to the agreement with the true value. It also defines base and derived quantities, and how to calculate uncertainties from operations on measured values using formulas.

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antonstefanbiehler
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14 views

Chapter 1-Measurement

This document summarizes key concepts in measurement and errors. It defines prefixes used in the metric system for multiplying or dividing units. It describes systematic and random errors, and how systematic errors can be eliminated if the source is known, while random errors are reduced by repeated measurements. Precision refers to the reproducibility of measurements, while accuracy refers to the agreement with the true value. It also defines base and derived quantities, and how to calculate uncertainties from operations on measured values using formulas.

Uploaded by

antonstefanbiehler
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1

Measurement
_____
Prefixes Systematic Error and Random Error
Name Symbol Factor Systematic errors: cause readings to deviate in a fixed direction and magnitude from the true value. They are fixed in direction and
magnitude.
Tera T × 10 12

Giga G Causes: Instrument error (e.g. zero errors). Environmental conditions. Poor experimental techniques (e.g. parallax error).
× 109
Mega M × 106 Since systematic errors are reproducible, they can be eliminated if the source of the error is known.

Kilo K × 103 Random errors: cause readings to be scattered or spread about the average or mean value of the measurement. They are varying
in both magnitude and direction.
Deci d × 10−1
Causes: Variations in environmental conditions. Irregularity of the quantity being measured. Limitation of equipment.
Centi c × 10−2
Milli m × 10−3 Random error cannot be completely eliminated but can be minimized by finding the average of repeated or combined
measurements.
Micro μ × 10−6
Precision: refers to the reproducibility of a measurement. Repeated measurements which are very close to one another are precise
Nano n × 10−9 measurements. Thus an experiment which has small random errors (small spread of readings) is said to have high precision.
Pico p × 10−12 Accuracy: refers to the agreement between the measured value and the true or accepted value of a quantity. An experiment which
has small systematic errors is said to have high accuracy. The average value is close to the true value.

Base Quantities and Derived Quantities Errors and Uncertainties


Base Quantities: Derived Quantities: 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Physical quantities that cannot be Physical quantities that can be expressed in
defined in other quantities. terms of two or more base quantities Rule Operations Formulae for Combining
Length, Mass, Time, Temperature, Pressure, Force, Moments, Energy, Etc… 1 Addition/
Current, Amount of Substance, 𝑐 =𝑎+𝑏 ∆𝑐 = ∆𝑎 + ∆𝑏
Luminous Intensity Subtraction
𝑑 =𝑎−𝑏 ∆𝑑 = ∆𝑎 + ∆𝑏
2 Multiplication/ 𝑝 = 𝑎𝑏 ∆𝑝 ∆𝑎 ∆𝑏
Scalars and Vectors: A vector quantity is one that has a magnitude and direction (e.g. = +
displacement, velocity, acceleration, momentum, etc.). A scalar quantity is one that has a Division 𝑝 𝑎 𝑏
magnitude only (e.g. energy, mass, speed, distance, etc.). 𝑎 ∆𝑞 ∆𝑎 ∆𝑏
𝑞= = +
 Vector Addition: Parallelogram/triangle method 𝑏 𝑞 𝑎 𝑏
 Change of a Vector: ∆𝑣 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 − 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 3 Factors 𝑟 = 𝑘𝑎 ∆𝑟 = |𝑘|(∆𝑎)

 Resolving Vectors: vector can be split into adjacent (cosine function) and opposite (sine 4 Powers 𝑠 = 𝑎𝑛 ∆𝑠 ∆𝑎
function) components
= |𝑛|( )
𝑠 𝑎

Superphysics.sg

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