Review Session #1

Uncertainty, Significant
Figures, & Units
THE BRITISH SCHOOL CARACAS | IB PHYSICS
B A R N A BA S R U GY E N D O
 Systems and Units
Fundamental S.I. Units:
Length

Mass

Time

Electric Current

Temperature

Amount of Substance

Luminous Intensity
What are the SI base units for…

N

Pa 

J
Example IB Question
 Types of Error

Random
Error

Systematic
Error
Example IB Question
Three ways to Report

Absolute
Uncertainty
Δy

Fractional
Uncertainty
Δy/y

Percentage Δy/y ×
Uncertainty 100%
 Other General Rules
Your uncertainty should typically only have one
significant digit (two are okay in some situations)

Your precision in the measurement and

uncertainty MUST match
Warm Up IB Question
 Uncertainty in Calculations
Adding or Subtracting

If y = a ± b then Δy = Δa + Δb

To find the uncertainty in a sum or difference you just add the

uncertainties of all the ingredients.
 Try This
A 9.51  0.15 meter rope ladder is hung
from a roof that is 12.56  0.07 meters
above the ground. How far is the bottom of
the ladder from the ground?
 Uncertainty in Calculations
Multiplying or Dividing
If y = a × b ÷ c then Δy/y = Δa/a + Δb/b + Δc/c

To find the uncertainty in a product or quotient you just add the

percentage or fractional uncertainties of all the ingredients.
 Try This
A car travels 64.7  0.5 meters in 8.65  0.05 seconds.
What is its speed?
This is in the Data Booklet 
Example IB Question
Example IB Questions
 Rules for Zeros in Significant Digits
1. All zeros between non-zero digits are 2. Filler zeros to the left of an understood
significant decimal place are not significant.

3. Filler zeros to the right of a decimal place 4. All non-filler zeros to the right of a decimal
are not significant. place are significant.
Mathematics with Sig Figs – [× & ÷]
Multiplication and division – round your answer to the
same number of significant digits as the quantity with the
fewest number of significant digits.

(1.2 cm)(2 cm) =

π(2.75 cm)2 =

5.350 m / 2.752 s =

(0.0075 N)(6 m) =
Mathematics with Sig Figs – [+ & -]
Addition and subtraction – round your answer to the same
number of decimal places as the quantity with the fewest
number of decimal places.

1.2 cm + 2 cm =

2000 m + 2.1 m =

0.00530 m – 2.10 m =

5.23 mm + 3.1256 mm =
 Mixed Practice
56.20 cm + 2.000 cm =

(206 m)(1200 m) =

10.500 km – 0.08 km =

(5708 m)(0.0034) =

367 m / 2.1 s =

892.2 m2 + (78 m)(31.2 m) =

 Testing Tips | Paper 1
• Answer EVERY question!!!!
• The topics are in the same order as your
data booklet
• Eliminate answers where you can
• No calculator (in final exam) so the data
booklet will help but can’t serve as a crutch
 Testing Tips | Paper 2
• Budget your time wisely
• Definitions related to formulas (usually
ratios) can be expressed using the formula
• Pay attention to the value of each question,
the higher the value, they more they want
• Round answers to 3 sig figs unless it’s weird
• Multi-step problems usually give you an in