Topic 1: Measurements

Sl Units

Base Quantity
- chosen and arbitrarily defined
Derived Quantity, defined based on combination of base quantities

Base Quantities - mass, length, time, electric current, temperature

& amount of substance

Fig 1.1 Prefixes to remember:

Prefix Symbol Multiples Prefix symbol Multiples
centi c 102
kilo k tou milli to'
M 10b mtcro 1o'
u
t8a G 10' nano n 10'
tera T 10r2 pico p to"
Errors and Uncertainties

Fig1.2 Comparing systematic errors and random errors

Systematic Errors
Definition An error of measurement which
cause a random set of readings to
spread consistentlv around a mean
value different from the trub value.
Characteristic Cannot be reduced or eliminated by
taking the average of readings.
Can be eliminated by carefuldesign
of an experiment and good
experimental techniques.
Examples (1) zero errors of instruments
{2) heat loss to surroundings
(3) background count rate of a GM
counter (H2)
Random Errors
An error of measurement that causes
an unpredictable scatter of readjngs
about a mean value such that each
reading has an eoual chance of being
hieher or lower than the meanJalue.
Cannot be eliminated, but can be
minimized by taking the average of
repeated readings.
(1) human reaction time
(2) parallax error

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Fis 1.3 Accuracy vs precision

Precision

Good precision Good precision

6ood accuracy

Poor precision

Note: m is the physicallquantity;

N is its frequency of occurrence;
mo is the true value of the quantity.

EigL.4 Absolute and fractional (or percentage) errors

Absolute error Fractional error Percentage erlor
Symbol At & Ar
x lo0c6
I'
-

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Fig 1-5 Calculation of error
Sum Difference Product Quotient Exponential
T
v
Az Lr Lv hz Ax

w=(t-2*o.L)m r=(o-34:o.o5)'rr y=(S_6:o-z)rn

S*'+x-2y 2wy
3
&
rlr + tr * zAr
=alar^.
+:+- A'ArAI&
-:r +:+z-

z -.Lz dz always has only 1 significant figure

z will then follow the num ber of decimal place which 6z has.

zlaz=(42 17) mm
e.g.
ot z: Lz = (99O l40) mm
or z:t\z= (3.+i0.2)mm
or ziLz= (3.94 1o.07)mm
Steps to calculate the value of a phvsical qua ntitv in term ofthe uncertainW

(1) Express the unknown quantity asthe subject.

l2l Calculate the value ofthe unknown quantity without the uncertainty.
(3) Use Fig. 1.5 above to find the uncertainty of unknown quantity.
(4) Express uncertainty to 1sf.
(5) Round tbe quantityto the same dp as the uncertainty.
(6) Express answer to standard form (not always compulsory but good practice)
\71 Write the quantity with its uncertainty and the unit
iNote: unit should be written outside bracket)

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Scalars and Vedors

Whilst scalars can be added or subtracted by simple arithmetic, vectors cannot - both their
masnitudes and directions must be taken into account.

Vector resolution
Let v be the vectorto be resolved.
Tips: {1)the 2 resolved components must be 9Oo apart;
(2) the 2 resolved components must encompass the original vector v;
{3) the component adjacent to the labeled angle is the 'cos' one (the other must
therefore bethe'sin' one).

vsinP
I
vsin0

-_r v cos p

Fu rther ti p: Whe n solving q u estions that involve th e calculation of resu lta nt of vectors, it is
usuallV easter to resolve the individualforces into their respedive veatical and horizontal
components first,
{10 cos45') N 10N

145'
I -> (10 sin45') N

(7 cos75')
7N *<?1
(7 sinTs') N

'\-- --> l9 sin4Oo) N

i^
140\
(9 cos4o')N 9N

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Now proceed to add up the horizontal and vertical components. Remember to obey the sign
convention you have defined.

Practice

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