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Revision Notes U3

The document discusses various measurement techniques used in physics, including common instruments like rulers, balances, protractors, and thermometers. It explains that more precise instruments like micrometer screw gauges and Vernier calipers can measure length more accurately. It also discusses the concept of resolution, which is the smallest change an instrument can detect. Finally, it covers the different types of measurement errors like random and systematic errors, and how to quantify and reduce uncertainty in measurements.

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S M Nashimuddin
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
117 views

Revision Notes U3

The document discusses various measurement techniques used in physics, including common instruments like rulers, balances, protractors, and thermometers. It explains that more precise instruments like micrometer screw gauges and Vernier calipers can measure length more accurately. It also discusses the concept of resolution, which is the smallest change an instrument can detect. Finally, it covers the different types of measurement errors like random and systematic errors, and how to quantify and reduce uncertainty in measurements.

Uploaded by

S M Nashimuddin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Measurement Techniques

Measurement Techniques
 Common instruments used in Physics are:
o Metre rules – to measure distance and length
o Balances – to measure mass
o Protractors – to measure angles
o Stopwatches – to measure time
o Ammeters – to measure current
o Voltmeters – to measure potential difference
 More complicated instruments such as the micrometer screw gauge and Vernier
calipers can be used to more accurately measure length

 
 When using measuring instruments like these you need to ensure that you are fully
aware of what each division on a scale represents
o This is known as the resolution
 The resolution is the smallest change in the physical quantity being measured that
results in a change in the reading given by the measuring instrument
 The smaller the change that can be measured by the instrument, the greater the degree
of resolution
 For example, a standard mercury thermometer has a resolution of 1°C whereas a
typical digital thermometer will have a resolution of 0.1°C
o The digital thermometer has a higher resolution than the mercury thermometer
o
o  Measuring Instruments Table

Errors & Uncertainties


Random & Systematic Errors
 Measurements of quantities are made with the aim of finding the true value of that
quantity
 In reality, it is impossible to obtain the true value of any quantity, there will always be
a degree of uncertainty
 The uncertainty is an estimate of the difference between a measurement reading and
the true value
 Random and systematic errors are two types of measurement errors which lead to
uncertainty

 
Random error

 Random errors cause unpredictable fluctuations in an instrument’s readings as a result


of uncontrollable factors, such as environmental conditions
 This affects the precision of the measurements taken, causing a wider spread of
results about the mean value
 To reduce random error: repeat measurements several times and calculate an average
from them

Systematic error

 Systematic errors arise from the use of faulty instruments used or from flaws in the
experimental method
 This type of error is repeated every time the instrument is used or the method is
followed, which affects the accuracy of all readings obtained
 To reduce systematic errors: instruments should be recalibrated or the technique
being used should be corrected or adjusted

 To reduce systematic errors:
o Instruments should be recalibrated, or different instruments should be used
o Corrections or adjustments should be made to the technique

Systematic errors on graphs are shown by the offset of the line from the origin

 
Zero error

 This is a type of systematic error which occurs when an instrument gives a reading
when the true reading is zero
 This introduces a fixed error into readings which must be accounted for when the
results are recorded

Precision & Accuracy


 Precision of a measurement: this is how close the measured values are to each other;
if a measurement is repeated several times, then they can be described as precise
when the values are very similar to, or the same as, each other
 The precision of a measurement is reflected in the values recorded – measurements to
a greater number of decimal places are said to be more precise than those to a whole
number

Accuracy: this is how close a measured value is to the true value; the accuracy can be
increased by repeating measurements and finding a mean average

The difference between precise and accurate results


Calculating Uncertainty
 There is always a degree of uncertainty when measurements are taken; the uncertainty
can be thought of as the difference between the actual reading taken (caused by the
equipment or techniques used) and the true value
 Uncertainties are not the same as errors
o Errors can be thought of as issues with equipment or methodology that cause a
reading to be different from the true value
o The uncertainty is a range of values around a measurement within which the
true value is expected to lie, and is an estimate
 For example, if the true value of the mass of a box is 950 g, but a systematic error
with a balance gives an actual reading of 952 g, the uncertainty is ±2 g
 These uncertainties can be represented in a number of ways:
o Absolute Uncertainty: where uncertainty is given as a fixed quantity
o Fractional Uncertainty: where uncertainty is given as a fraction of the
measurement
o Percentage Uncertainty: where uncertainty is given as a percentage of the
measurement

 To find uncertainties in different situations:


 The uncertainty in a reading: ± half the smallest division
 The uncertainty in a measurement: at least ±1 smallest division
 The uncertainty in repeated data: half the range i.e. ± ½ (largest – smallest value)
 The uncertainty in digital readings: ± the last significant digit unless otherwise
quoted
How to calculate absolute, fractional and percentage uncertainty

 
Measuring instruments
1 . Micrometer Screw Gauge :.

How to operate a micrometer

 50 div represent = 0.5mm

1 div = 0.01 mm

Screw gauge Reading = linear scale + circular scale x constant

Screw gauge Reading = 2.6 mm + 17 x 0.01 = 2.77 mm


Example 1:

Answer 1 :
Reading = linear scale + circular scale x constant
= 5.5 + 0 x 0.01
= 5.5 mm

Example 2 : Answer 2

Reading = linear scale +


circular scale x constant
= 12 + 40 x 0.01
= 12.4 mm
2 . Vernier Calipers :

How to operate vernier calipers

 
Worked example 3:
Answer 3:
Reading = Main scale reading + vernier scale reading x constant
= 11 mm + 13 x 0.05 mm
= 11.65 mm

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