Ch.0 Part 2 Measurements and Errors

Length

ruler(error ±1 mm), calipers (error ± 0.1 mm), micrometer (error ± 0.01 mm)

Accuracy

How close the measurements are to the true value, on average.

Precision

A measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another

systematic uncertainty

These cause readings to differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time a measurement is made.

Random Uncertainty

An uncertainty produced by unknown and unpredictable variations in the experimental situation (Can be reduced by taking repeated trials and average).

Find the period and frequency if the time base is 5 ms/cm

Period: 4 cm x 5 ms/cm

20 ms = .02 s

Frequency: f=1/T

1/.02 = 50 Hz

What is the reading on the micrometer?

2.50 mm +.09mm

2.59mm

What is the reading on the vernier caliper?

1.16 cm

Uncertainty Calculations

Calculating Error (add/sub)

Calculating Error (mult/div)

Calculating Error (Exponents)