Lesson 2.2.1

2.2.1 Measurements and uncertainties Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 2.2.1, Measurements and uncertainties: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 1: Foundations of physics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which type of error consistently shifts all measurements in the same direction?

    • Random error
    • Systematic error
    • Human error
    • Parallax error

  2. A micrometer reads +0.04 mm with its jaws fully closed. What is the zero error?

    • +0.4 mm
    • -0.04 mm
    • 0.00 mm
    • +0.04 mm

  3. What term describes how close repeated measurement values are to one another?

    • Resolution
    • Precision
    • Accuracy
    • Validity

  4. How can the effect of random errors on a measurement be reduced?

    • Increasing instrument resolution
    • Averaging repeated readings
    • Calibrating the equipment
    • Zeroing the instrument

  5. How is percentage uncertainty calculated from absolute uncertainty and measured value?

    • (Uncertainty / value) x 100
    • (Value / uncertainty) x 100
    • (Uncertainty x value) / 100
    • (Value - uncertainty) x 100

  6. When adding or subtracting two measurements, how are their absolute uncertainties combined?

    • They are subtracted
    • They are added
    • They are divided
    • They are multiplied

  7. On a graph, what parameter's uncertainty is found using best and worst fit lines?

    • The correlation
    • The origin
    • The variable
    • The gradient

  8. What graphical feature represents the uncertainty range of a plotted data point?

    • Data marker
    • Error bar
    • Worst fit line
    • Trendline

  9. A length is measured as 12.4 ± 0.3 cm. What is its percentage uncertainty to one decimal place?

    • 0.3%
    • 2.4%
    • 2.5%
    • 41%

  10. Two lengths are a = 5.0 ± 0.1 cm and b = 3.0 ± 0.1 cm. What is a - b with its uncertainty?

    • 2.0 ± 0.14 cm
    • 2.0 ± 0.1 cm
    • 2.0 ± 0.02 cm
    • 2.0 ± 0.2 cm

  11. A rectangle has sides 2.0 ± 0.1 m and 4.0 ± 0.2 m. What is its area with uncertainty?

    • 8.0 ± 0.4 m^2
    • 8.0 ± 0.2 m^2
    • 8.0 ± 0.8 m^2
    • 8.0 ± 1.6 m^2

  12. Two readings of 9.8 and 10.2 are compared. What is the percentage difference, using the mean as the reference?

    • 0.4%
    • 4%
    • 2%
    • 8%

  13. A radius is measured as 2.0 ± 0.1 cm. What is the percentage uncertainty in r^2?

    • 5%
    • 2.5%
    • 20%
    • 10%

  14. A current of 0.50 A has uncertainty 0.02 A and a voltage of 6.0 V has uncertainty 0.3 V. What is the percentage uncertainty in R = V/I?

    • 5%
    • 4%
    • 1%
    • 9%

  15. The worst-line gradients on a graph are 2.0 and 2.4 and the best-fit gradient is 2.2. What is the uncertainty in the gradient?

    • ± 0.2
    • ± 0.4
    • ± 0.02
    • ± 0.1

  16. A period is measured as 1.50 s with an absolute uncertainty of 0.02 s. What is the percentage uncertainty?

    • 13%
    • 1.5%
    • 1.3%
    • 0.13%

  17. Five repeat masses are 10.2, 10.4, 10.3, 10.5 and 10.1 g. Using half the range as the uncertainty, what is the result?

    • 10.3 ± 0.5 g
    • 10.3 ± 0.2 g
    • 10.3 ± 0.4 g
    • 10.3 ± 0.1 g

  18. A quantity Q = a^2/b has percentage uncertainties of 3% in a and 4% in b. What is the percentage uncertainty in Q?

    • 7%
    • 10%
    • 14%
    • 1%

  19. A length of 23.4 mm is read with a ruler whose zero error is +0.2 mm. What is the corrected length?

    • 22.2 mm
    • 23.4 mm
    • 23.6 mm
    • 23.2 mm

  20. A quantity is calculated as 5.00 ± 0.05 and then squared. What is the result with its absolute uncertainty?

    • 25.0 ± 0.5
    • 25.0 ± 0.25
    • 25.0 ± 1.0
    • 25.0 ± 0.05

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