Chapter 1: Measurement

Physical quantity:
-

Comprised of base quantity and derived quantity

Measure of some quantifiable aspect of nature
Expressed with a numerical value and a unit

The 7 base quantities

Base quantity:
-

Quantity that cannot be expressed in terms of other physical quantities

Base Quantity

Conventional Symbol

SI Base Unit

Symbol for Unit

Length

l/

metre

Mass

kilogram

kg

Time

second

Amount of substance n

mole

mol

Electric current

ampere

Temperature

Kelvin

candela

cd

Luminous intensity* L

Derived quantities:
-

Obtained from a combination of various base quantities and units are determined
from the relation between base and derived quantities
Eg: Area (m2), Density (Kg m-3)

Prefixes of Units

Prefi
x

Multiple

Symbol

Example

femt
o

10-15

10 fm (size of a
nucleus)

pico

10-12

100 pm (size of
atom)

nano

10-9

400 to 700 nm
(wavelength of
visible light) 0.1 nm
(size of atom)

micr
o

10-6

20 m (diameter of
human hair)

milli

10-3

mm (wire diameter)

centi

10-2

2 cm (wavelength of
microwave)

deci

10-1

3 dl (capacity of 1
cup)

kilo

103

70 kg (mass of a
man)

mega

106

95.0 MHz (radio

freq)

giga

109

80 GB (gigabytes)

Tm, astronomical
dist.
Distance between
Earth and Sun = 0.15
Tm

tera

1012

Systematic and Random Errors

Error

deviation of a measurement from the true value

error = measured value true value

Random Errors
-

have different magnitudes and signs when measurements are repeated

Characteristics:
o Unpredictable
o Sign of error: Equally likely to be +ve or ve.
o Magnitude of error varies
Causes:
o Irregularity in specimen measured
o Judgment in timing number of oscillations
o Random nature of radioactivity
Reducing random error
o Taking repeated measurements to obtain an average value
o Plotting a graph to establish a pattern and obtaining the line or curve of best
fit. In this way, the discrepancies or errors are reduced
o Maintaining good experimental technique (e.g. reading from a correct
position)

Systematic Errors
-

have the same magnitude and sign when measurements are repeated.
Characteristics:
o Error is constant in size & always has same sign.
o Cannot be reduced through repetition of measurements. However, it can be
eliminated if detected and corrected.
Causes:
o Zero error of instrument
o Incorrect calibration of instrument
o Incorrect experimental technique
Avoiding systematic error
o Checking for zero error before taking readings
o Plotting a graph. If the graph does not cut the expected intercept, the shift is
probably due to systematic error.

Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy:
-

how close a measured value is to the true value

measure of the correctness of the result

affected by systematic errors

Precision
-

how close the repeated measured values are to each other, without regard to the true
value
measure of how reproducible the results are
affected by random errors

Uncertainty
-

When a measurement is made, the value will always carry an uncertainty (depends on
calibration of instrument, precision of instrument)
Only used when the error carries a sign
Always given to 1 sig fig due to it being an estimated value
Decimal point on measurement follows the decimal point in uncertainty (1.00
0.02A)

Types of uncertainties
-

Absolute
o Denoted by symbol (has the same unit as quantity)
o E.g.: m = 0.2kg = (6.1/100) x 3.3kg
Relative
o Denoted by the (has no units)
o E.g.: m = 6.1% = (0.2/3.3) x 100%

Rules on absolute and relative uncertainty

1) Addition and Subtraction: ADD the Absolute Uncertainties
a. Rule: (A A) - (B B) = (A - B) (A + B)
i. (A A) + (B B) = (A + B) (A + B)
2) Multiplication and Division: ADD the Relative Uncertainties
a. Rule: (A A) / (B B) = (A / B) (A + B)
i. (A A) x (B B) = (A x B) (A + B)
3) For a number raised to a power, fractional or not, the rule is simply to MULTIPLY the
Relative Uncertainty by the power.
a. Rule: (A A)n = (An nA)
4) For multiplying a number by a constant there are two different rules depending on which
type of uncertainty you are working with at the time.
a. Rule: Absolute Uncertainty: c(A A) = cA c(A)
i. 1.5(2.0 0.2) m = (3.0 0.3) m
ii. Note that the Absolute Uncertainty is multiplied by the constant.
b. Rule: Relative Uncertainty: c(A A) = cA A
i. 1.5(2.0 m 1.0%) = (3.0 m 1.0%)
ii. Note that the Relative Uncertainty is not multiplied by the constant.

Consistency check
-

When comparing values which have uncertainties

lA Bl lA + Bl
e.g. l0.2l m l0.3l m Consistent Values

Vectors and Scalars

Scalar quantity
-

Has only magnitude but not direction.

Examples are mass, temperature, energy.

Vector quantity
-

Has both magnitude and a direction. It can be represented by an arrow.

Examples are velocity, momentum, force.