Uncertainties in measurement

All measurements in physics can be taken with infinite precision.

• True

• False

Precision is a measure of the degree of scale of a measuring instrument.

• True

• False

As technology progresses we are able to measure quantities to greater degrees of precision.

• False

• True

Resolution is:

• the same as reliability

• the same as accuracy

• the same as precision

• the same as quantity

When repeat measurements cannot be taken, uncertainty is:

• the same as the resolution of the instrument

• the same as the precision of the instrument

• taken as half of the resolution of the instrument

• taken as one quarter of the resolution of the instrument

Absolute uncertainty is:

• the same as half of the resolution of the instrument

• the same as the percentage uncertainty

• calculated by resolution/value x 100

• never constant

Absolute uncertainty and percentage uncertainty will always be constant when taking a range of measurements.

• True

• False

When adding quantities in a formula:

• You add the percentage uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

• You add the absolute uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

• You subtract the absolute uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

• You add one percentage to one absolute uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

When multiplying quantities in a formula:

• You add the percentage uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

• You add the absolute uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

• You subtract the absolute uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

• You add one percentage to one absolute uncertainty to calculate the total uncertainty

After working out a physical quantity, you always have to state the total absolute uncertainty to express the possible range of values, for that quantity.

• True

• False