AS Physics Unit 1

Uncertainties

• Systematic error: Zero error / wrongly calibrated scale

• Random error: Reading scales from different angles / wrongly interpolating between scale readings

• Systematic error effect: reading larger/smaller than the reading by constant amount

• Random error effect: scatter in readings about the true reading

• Accuracy: how close/closeness of the value to the true value 

• Precision: range of the values/measurements / size of the smallest division on the measuring instrument                

Force

• Force: rate of change of momentum

• Equilibrium: Resultant Force = 0 / Resultant Torque = 0 / constant velocity

• Mass: Property that resists change in motion

• N’s 2nd law: Resultant Force is proportional to the rate of change of momentum

• Elastic Collision: Energy + KE + Momentum conserved

• Inelastic Collision: Energy + Momentum conserved, KE not conserved / KE converted into sound/heat / particles stick together after collision

• Elastic Collision: total KE before collision = total KE after collision / relative speed of approach = relative speed of separation

• Centre of…