Fundamentals of Physics: SI Units, Measurement Accuracy, and Error Analysis

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| By Thames

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Quizzes Created: 7053 | Total Attempts: 9,520,816

| Questions: 23 | Updated: Aug 4, 2025

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1. What are the 7 fundamental SI units?

M, kg, s, A, K, mol, cd.

L, lbs, hr, V, Hz, km/h, rad

Cm, mg, ns, mA, C, lb, oz

N, g, min, C, F, km, ft

The correct answer includes the SI units for meter (m), kilogram (kg), second (s), ampere (A), kelvin (K), mole (mol), and candela (cd). Incorrect answers include various units that are not part of the fundamental SI units.

Explanation

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About This Quiz

Explore fundamental concepts in physics focusing on Orders of Magnitude, SI Units, and Measurements. This content enhances understanding of magnitudes, units of measure, uncertainties, and differentiates between vectors and scalars, crucial for academic and professional excellence in scientific disciplines.

2. What's your name?

We’ll put your name on your report, certificate, and leaderboard.

2. Give examples of possible systematic errors.

[1]poorly made instruments, [2]poorly calibrated, [3]zero error(not calibrated scale, less/more than zero), [4]poorly timed, [5]parralax error

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3. Give examples of possible random errors.

Human error, intentional manipulation, system malfunction

Wrong data used, wrong equation, wrong theory, wrong math/computation, misreading scales

Random errors are unpredictable variations in measurements that can result from a variety of sources, including human mistakes, incorrect calculations, and misinterpretation of data.

Explanation

Random errors are unpredictable variations in measurements that can result from a variety of sources, including human mistakes, incorrect calculations, and misinterpretation of data.

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4. What is the difference between accuracy and precision?

Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the acceptance value and precision is how close measurements are to each... Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the acceptance value and precision is how close measurements are to each other

Accuracy is how consistent measurements are while precision is how close a measurement is to the acceptance value.

Accuracy is how close measurements are to each other while precision is how close a measurement is to the acceptance... Accuracy is how close measurements are to each other while precision is how close a measurement is to the acceptance value.

Accuracy is how precise measurements are while precision is how accurate a measurement is.

Accuracy and precision are often confused but have distinct meanings in the context of measurements. Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value, while precision refers to how close measurements are to each other regardless of their accuracy.

Explanation

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5. State two ways to reduce random errors.

[1] decrease measurement precision, [2] rely on a single data point

[1] use outdated equipment, [2] ignore calibration procedures

[1] skip data analysis, [2] only measure once

[1] use more sensitive equipment, [2] taking more measurements and use average data

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6. What is the difference between a vector and scalar?

Vector has magnitude while scalar does not, but both have direction.

Vector has both direction and magnitude, while scalar has neither.

Vector his direction while scalar does not, but both have magnitude

Vector and scalar are interchangeable terms in mathematics.

In mathematics, a vector is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude, whereas a scalar only has magnitude and no specific direction. This fundamental distinction between vectors and scalars is essential for understanding various mathematical and physical concepts.

Explanation

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7. What is a derived unit? Give an example.

A unit based on ancient measurement systems such as cubits and furlongs.

A unit that is defined differently in each country based on their historical measurement standards.

A unit that is only used in theoretical physics and has no practical applications.

A combination of fundamental units. Newton(kg m s^-2), Pascal, Hertz, Joule

Derived units are combinations of fundamental units, such as meters, kilograms, and seconds, to create new units. They are commonly used in scientific measurements and calculations.

Explanation

Derived units are combinations of fundamental units, such as meters, kilograms, and seconds, to create new units. They are commonly used in scientific measurements and calculations.

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8. How can uncertainty be represented on a graph?

Legend

Error bars

Tick marks

Line of best fit

Error bars are used to represent the uncertainty in data points on a graph, whereas the other options mentioned do not specifically address uncertainty.

Explanation

Error bars are used to represent the uncertainty in data points on a graph, whereas the other options mentioned do not specifically address uncertainty.

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9. How do you state a unit in SI format?

State the unit as a fraction instead of using exponents.

Always use the divide sign '/' between units.

SI format does not require specifying units.

[1] never put "/" divide sign, always put as exponent

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10. What are the prefixes for positive exponents?

Pro

Pre

See pic

Per

The question is referring to scientific notation where positive exponents indicate large numbers. The correct prefix for positive exponents is 'see pic' as it can vary depending on the specific number being represented.

Explanation

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11. What is the mathematical term for the prefixes used with negative exponents?

Fractional Powers

Superscripts

Seepic

Radicals

In mathematics, negative exponents are commonly written using scientific notation, which is a way of writing numbers as a product of a decimal number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.

Explanation

In mathematics, negative exponents are commonly written using scientific notation, which is a way of writing numbers as a product of a decimal number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10.

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12. What zeroes are significant in a decimal number?

Zeroes before the decimal point

[1] zeroes after the decimal point AND after a nonzero number ie 0.04 or 0.0404 or 0.04040 [2] zeros between... [1] zeroes after the decimal point AND after a nonzero number ie 0.04 or 0.0404 or 0.04040 [2] zeros between nonzero numbers ie 404 or 4.04 or 4.404

Any zeroes in a decimal number are not significant

Only zeroes after a nonzero number have significance

In a decimal number, zeros after the decimal point AND after a nonzero number as well as zeros between nonzero numbers are significant. This means that zeros before the decimal point or at the end of a number without any other nonzero digits are not considered significant.

Explanation

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13. How do you calculate the absolute uncertainty?

Multiplying the smallest measurable measure by 2

Half of the smallest measurable measure

Adding the smallest measurable measure

Subtracting the smallest measurable measure from the largest measure

When calculating the absolute uncertainty, you take half of the smallest measurable measure to determine the range of possible values around the measured quantity.

Explanation

When calculating the absolute uncertainty, you take half of the smallest measurable measure to determine the range of possible values around the measured quantity.

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14. How is relative uncertainty calculated?

Add the absolute uncertainty to the measurement.

Multiply the absolute uncertainty by the measurement.

Divide absolute uncertainty to the measurement

Subtract the absolute uncertainty from the measurement.

Relative uncertainty is calculated by dividing the absolute uncertainty by the measurement.

Explanation

Relative uncertainty is calculated by dividing the absolute uncertainty by the measurement.

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15. If two quantities are multiplied, how do you calculate the uncertainty of the product?

Add the relative uncertainties of each variable and multiply it by the product

Divide the uncertainties of each variable before multiplying them.

Subtract the uncertainties of each variable before multiplying them.

Take the square root of the uncertainties of each variable before multiplying them.

When two quantities are multiplied, the correct way to calculate the uncertainty of the product is by adding the relative uncertainties of each variable and then multiplying it by the product. This method accounts for how uncertainties propagate through multiplication.

Explanation

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16. If two quantities are added, how do you calculate the uncertainty of the sum?

Divide the absolute uncertainties.

Multiply the absolute uncertainties.

Subtract the absolute uncertainties.

Add all the absolute uncertainties

When adding two quantities with uncertainties, it is important to remember that uncertainties add up, hence adding all the absolute uncertainties is the correct way to calculate the uncertainty of the sum.

Explanation

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17. What is the largest order of magnitude for mass?

10^30 grams

10^52 mass of universe

10^5 kilograms

10^1000 pounds

The correct answer is 10^52 mass of universe because it represents the highest order of magnitude for mass, being the total mass of the universe. The other options provided are significantly lower in magnitude and do not accurately represent the largest possible mass value.

Explanation

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18. What is the smallest order of magnitude for mass?

10^-30 electron

10^-40 electron

10^-10 electron

10^-20 electron

The correct answer is 10^-30 electron, representing the smallest order of magnitude for mass in terms of electrons.

Explanation

The correct answer is 10^-30 electron, representing the smallest order of magnitude for mass in terms of electrons.

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19. What is the largest order of magnitude for length?

10^28 radius of observable universe

10^18 diameter of Milky Way galaxy

10^12 width of Earth

10^25 size of largest known star

The correct answer reflects the immense scale of the observable universe compared to other length measurements in cosmology.

Explanation

The correct answer reflects the immense scale of the observable universe compared to other length measurements in cosmology.

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20. What is the smallest order of magnitude for length?

10^-15 diameter of proton

10^-10 meters, size of a grain of sand.

10^-2 meters, length of a pencil.

10^-5 meters, length of an ant.

The correct answer 10^-15 meters represents the smallest order of magnitude for length, which is the diameter of a proton, the subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The incorrect answers provide examples of lengths that are larger in magnitude than the diameter of a proton, thus not being the smallest order of magnitude for length.

Explanation

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21. What is the largest order of magnitude for time?

10^9 days

10^19 age of the universe

10^6 seconds

10^12 centuries

The correct answer, 10^19 age of the universe, represents the largest order of magnitude for time as it encompasses the entire age of the universe. The other options do not span such immense durations and are significantly smaller in comparison.

Explanation

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22. What is the smallest order of magnitude for time?

1 second

1 millisecond

10^-23 passage of light across a nucleus

1 hour

The correct answer reflects the smallest order of magnitude for time in terms of the passage of light across a nucleus, which is significantly smaller than the other options provided.

Explanation

The correct answer reflects the smallest order of magnitude for time in terms of the passage of light across a nucleus, which is significantly smaller than the other options provided.

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23. Which isotope is associated with the standard measurement of time?

Carbon-12

Hydrogen-1

Uranium-235

Cessium-133 (9 192 631 770 vibrations of the cesium-133 atom)

Cesium-133 is used for defining the second in the International System of Units due to its stable atomic vibrations. Uranium-235, Carbon-12, and Hydrogen-1 do not play a role in the standard measurement of time.

Explanation

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