PREVIOUS LESSON

Scalar and
Vector
Quantity
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, you should be
able to:

measure physical quantities using
appropriate instruments.
explain accuracy and consistency.
explain sensitivity.
explain types of experimental error.
use appropriate techniques to reduce
errors.



Accuracy

- the degree of closeness of a measured
value to the actual value.
- can be improved by
Using measuring instruments that are
more sensitive
Taking several reading
Operating the instrument in the correct
manner
Avoiding parallax error

-the degree of uniformity or
reproducibility of the measurements.
-Example of consistent instrument
are electronic balance and spring
balance.
Consistency
Sensitivity
- the ability of an instrument to measure
slight changes in the physical quantity
being measured.
- example of instruments that very
sensitive is digital stopwatch.
- the smaller scale division, the more
sensitive the measuring
instruments.

Error caused by the condition of the
measuring instrument or the state of the
environment in which the measurement are
taken.
Produced by:
incorrect position of the zero point
(zero error)
incorrect calibration
Can be corrected:
correct reading = reading zero error
obtained
adjusting the zero adjustment screw


Result from:
personal errors (parallax error)
natural errors
the use of wrong technique
Can be minimized:
repeating the measurements
several time and taking
average value
avoid parallax error
PARALLAX ERROR
occurs when the observers line of sight
is not perpendicular to the scale
Measuring Instruments
Measuring
Instrument
Smallest scale
division
Sensitivity
Metre Rule 0.1 cm Low
Vernier Callipers 0.01 cm Moderate
Micrometer
Screw Gauge
0.001 cm High
VERNIER CALLIPERS
MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE
U SHOULD MASTER THIS CONTENT
measure physical quantities using
appropriate instruments.
explain accuracy and consistency.
explain sensitivity.
explain types of experimental error.
use appropriate techniques to reduce
errors.


LETS ENJOY WITH THE
EXERCISE..
NEXT LESSON
Read about scientific
investigation..pages
12-16 on text book..