Systematic errors
What Systematic errors means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Systematic errors
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Reference: AQA
Consistent shifts of all readings from the true value, caused by apparatus faults such as a zero error, miscalibration or a flawed technique like parallax.
Errors that shift every reading by the same amount or in the same proportion, affecting accuracy but not precision.
Topics that use Systematic errors
- Limitation of physical measurements (AQA A-Level)
- Measurements and uncertainties (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Averaging
- Precision
- Random errors
- Absolute and percentage uncertainties
- Absolute uncertainty
- Combination of absolute and percentage uncertainties
- Gradient and intercept
- Graphical representation of uncertainty
Using Systematic errors in the exam
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