Errors and uncertainties

Question 1

Causes of random error

Answer 1

• reading scale from different angles introduces parallax error
• wrongly interpolating between scale readings
• timing oscillations without the use of a reference marker

Question 2

Causes of systematic error

Answer 2

• zero error
• wrongly calibrated scale
• reaction time of experimenter

Question 3

Accuracy

Answer 3

Refers to the closeness of a measured value to the true value

Question 4

Precision

Answer 4

Refers to how close a set of measured values are to each other

Question 5

Precise vs non precise

Answer 5

1. Measurements have a small range
2. Measurements have a wide range

Question 6

Accurate vs Non Accurate

Answer 6

1. Average of measurements are close to the true value
2. Average of the measurements are not close to the true value

Question 7

Uncertainty

Answer 7

The size of the range of values within which the ‘true value’ of a measurement is likely to lie