Summary
Summary Measurements and their Errors
- Institution
- AQA
This is a brief summary of Topic 1 in A-Level Physics, Measurements and their Errors
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Physics Notes – Measurements and Their Errors(Topic 1)
SI Base Units
The base units are the units that all other SI units can be derived from. There are six that you need to know at
A-Level:
Kilogram (kg) – Mass
Metre (m) – Length
Second (s) – Time
Amps (A) – Current
Kelvin (K) – Temperature
Moles (mol) – Amount of a Substance
You can add prefixes to the base units for different orders of magnitude. For example: 1kg is 1000g (kilo means
1000).
All other units can be expressed in terms of the base units. For example: 1J = 1kgm 2s-2
You can add prefixes to the base units for different orders of magnitude. These are the prefixes you need to
know:
T, tera (1012)
G, giga (109)
M, mega (106)
k, kilo (103)
c, centi (10-2)
m, milli (10-3)
µ, micro (10-6)
n, nano (10-9)
p, pico (10-12)
f, femto (10-15)
Use the multipliers to convert between units.
Significant Figures
Your calculated quantities should have the same number of significant figures as the value with the least
number of significant figures in your calculation.
In tables, data should all be to the same signification figure. This changes, however, with results that are in
different multiples of ten, in which case all of the data should be to the same decimal place rather than
significant figure.
The number of decimal places of the logarithm of a value should be the same as the number of significant
figures as the value. For example, In(60) should be quoted as 4.09.
Experimental Key Terms
Random Error – Measurements vary due to unpredictable circumstances. They cannot be corrected only
mitigated by making more measurements and calculating a new mean.
Systematic Error – Measurements may differ from the true value by a consistent amount each time. Can be
corrected using different techniques to take measurements.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller dylanfairhurst. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £3.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
55628 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now