Measurements

All experiments that are designed to obtain a quantitative result for a physical
quantity
involve measurements. These measurements must be of some combination of the base
quantities length, mass, time, temperature and current. (To complete the list, we
should
include quantity of substance and luminous intensity, but these are not encountered
in experimental work in A/AS Physics.) In the following sections we will look at
the
methods available for measuring the base quantities in a school or college
laboratory.
By understanding the principles of the available methods, we will be able to make
an
informed decision about the choice of a particular technique, with respect to
making
the experiment as precise and reproducible as possible, and avoiding sources of
systematic error. For all of the quantities, the effective choice will be limited
by what
instruments are available in your laboratory. However, in one type of examination
question, on planning and design, you may be asked to devise an experiment and draw
on your theoretical, rather than practical, knowledge of various types of
apparatus.
At A/AS level, students generally assume that the calibration of the instruments
they
use is correct. However, it is worth thinking about how to compare the calibration
of
one instrument against another, even if this is a check you will very seldom make.