ZNOTES.
ORG
UPDATED TO 2023-2025 SYLLABUS
CAIE AS LEVEL
PHYSICS
SUMMARIZED NOTES ON THE THEORY SYLLABUS
Prepared for Ravi for personal use only.
CAIE AS LEVEL PHYSICS
1. Errors in Apparatus 3. Treatment of Significant
Error Improvement Figures
Meter ruler
Put coloured paper behind/ Actual error: recorded only 1 significant figure
eye-level perpendicular The number of decimal places for a calculated quantity is
Parallax error
/extend mark to wood equal to the number of decimal places in the actual error
/shadow projection
Difficult to hold ruler still Mount ruler in stand Quantity Justification
Difficult to measure, since the Clamp rule / ensure the rule is s.f. of the calculated quantity To s.f. of measure value
ruler moves vertical using a set square To the precision of the
s.f. of measure value
Newton meter instrument
Ensure force parallel to ruler
Difficult to pull Newton meter
e.g. use a long string/pulley Always give calculated quantity s.f. equal or one more
parallel to ruler/ bench
and weights than the measured value
Difficult to judge reading on Use Newton meter with a ‘max
meter when detached: ruler hold’ facility/video & playback
moves suddenly/ Force = 0
after detachment
or freeze frame/ use force
sensor & logger
4. Uncertainties
Use system of pulley &
Difficult to zero Newton-meter
when horizontal
weights/use force sensor with 4.1. Uncertainties in Measurement
data-logger
Objects with an unfixed For a quantity x = (2.0 ± 0.1) mm
diameter (Circular objects)
Difficult to measure diameter Use Vernier callipers or Absolute uncertainty = Δx = ±0.1mm
since the object is flexible/not micrometre screw gauge to Fractional uncertainty = Δx x = 0.05
circular measure average diameter
Percentage uncertainty = Δx x × 100
Difficult to form perfect Method to make uniform Combining errors:
sphere/diameter varied spheres/discs e.g. moulds
When values are added or subtracted, add absolute
Protractor error
Protractor “wobbles” / difficult Use protractor with horizontal
If p = 2x+y
3 or p =
2x−y
3 , then Δp =
2Δx+Δy
to measure; container curved line level to table 3
at the bottom/difficult to line top/freestanding or clamped When values are multiplied or divided, add % errors
up protractor When values are powered (e.g. squared), multiply
Parallax error in θ Use mirror scale the percentage error with the power
3Δy
If r = 2xy 3 or r = 2x
y3
, then Δr
Δx
r = x + y
General:
Error: two readings are not enough Instrument Uncertainty
Improvement: take several readings and plot a Ruler 0.1 cm
graph Protractor 2 o
Stopwatch (Max-Min) / 2
2. Errors in Experiments Ammeter 0.05 A
5. Systematic and Random
Errors
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CAIE AS LEVEL PHYSICS
Systematic error:
Constant error in one direction; too big or too small
Cannot be eliminated by repeating or averaging
If systematic error is small, measurement accurate
Accuracy: refers to the degree of agreement
between the result of a measurement and the true
value of quantity.
Random error:
Random fluctuations or scatter about a true value
Can be reduced by repeating and averaging
When random error is small, measurement precise
Precision: refers to the degree of agreement of
repeated measurements of the same quantity
(regardless of whether it is correct or not)
6. Vernier Scale
Measures objects up to 0.01mm
Place object between anvil & spindle
Rotate thimble until object firmly held by jaws
Add together value from the main scale and rotating
scale
8. General Tips
Measures objects up to 0.1mm If range given e.g. 0 to 20, try to get a measurement from
a large spread of the range.
Place object on the rule Record all measurements needed to obtain final value
Push the slide scale to the edge of object. including intermediary steps
The sliding scale is 0.9mm long & is divided into 10 For example, if a length l is derived from l = l2 − l1
equal divisions. then l1 and l2 should appear in the table.
Check which line division on sliding scale matches with a Column labelled with the name of symbol and units
line division on the rule
Subtract the value from the sliding scale (0.09 ×
Divisions) by the value from the rule.
7. Micrometre Screw Gauge
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authorised for personal use only by Ravi at undefined on 25/11/24.
CAIE AS Level
Physics
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