Physical Quantity Base Quantity Derived Quantity Random Error

Scalar Quantity Vector Quantity Consistency Parallax Error

Accuracy Sensitivity Systematic Error Zero error

Physical quantities – quantities that can be measured

Derived quantities – physical quantities derived from combinations of base quantities

through multiplication or division or both

Base quantities – physical quantities that cannot be defined in terms of other quantities

Scalar quantities are physical quantities that have magnitude only. (energy,work done，
pressure is scalar)

Vector quantities are physical quantities that have magnitude and direction.

Consistency of an instrument is the ability of the instrument to measure a quantity with

little or no deviation among measurements.

Deviation means the difference between the measured value and its mean value.

Accuracy of measurement is how close the measurement made is to the actual value

Sensitivity of a measuring instrument is its ability to detect quickly a small change in the
value of quantity to be measured.

An error is the difference between the measured value and the actual value.

Systematic errors are errors in measurements due to the condition of the measuring
instrument or the state of the environment in which the measurements are taken.

Zero error is due to non-zero reading when the actual reading should be zero. This error is
usually due to the fact that the pointer of the instrument does not return to zero when it is
not being used.

Random error occurs due to mistakes made by the observer using incorrect positioning of
the eye of the instrument when making a measurement. It may also occur when there is a
sudden change of environmental factors like temperature, air circulation or lighting.

Parallax error is a random error due to the inaccurate positioning of the eye when taking the
reading of a measurement.

Smaller minimum scale division-smaller change in measurement –same variation-bigger

deflection
Increase accuracy-reduce error

Repeat measurement and take average/avoid parallax/ take into account zero error

Wrong reading （××× ×）

Perpendicular to scale and meniscus when taking reading

Avoid end error by starting at 1

Put scale in contact with object to be measured

Triple Beam Balance has sensitivity of 0.1g

Vernier callipers tail is to measure depth