Unit 1- Experimental + Math Skills

Uncertainties 4/9/25

Uncertainty of a measurement can be equal to:
-Resolution of measuring instrument (smallest division of instrument.) When measuring 2 points eg. rulers
-Half the resolution of measuring instrument for each value you must line up (when measuring one point eg. thermometer)
-Value larger than resolution (based on judgement of methodology) if there’s difficulty in procedure to measure
-Half the range of repeated reading

Uncertainty to same decimal point of measurement

How to read a micrometer

First look at top line of sleeve and write down number in mm
Look at bottom line and see if on a line. If so, add 0.5mm or 0.0 if not
Look at thimble and see what line it stands on eg. 45 would be 0.45mm (measures 1/100th of mm)
Add all numbers together

8/9/25 SI units

SI = International system of units

Quantity: Unit: Short form
Distance: Metre: m
Time: Seconds: s
Mass: Kilogram: kg
Temperature: Kelvin: K
Current: Ampere: A
Amount of substance: Moles: mol
Light intensity: Candela: cd

Writing units on one line

m/s → ms^-1
m/s² → ms^-2
kg/m³ → kgm^-3
Don’t write them as fractions but use negative exponents instead