\documentclass[10pt,a4paper]{article} % Packages \usepackage{fancyhdr} % For header and footer \usepackage{multicol} % Allows multicols in tables \usepackage{tabularx} % Intelligent column widths \usepackage{tabulary} % Used in header and footer \usepackage{hhline} % Border under tables \usepackage{graphicx} % For images \usepackage{xcolor} % For hex colours %\usepackage[utf8x]{inputenc} % For unicode character support \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} % Without this we get weird character replacements \usepackage{colortbl} % For coloured tables \usepackage{setspace} % For line height \usepackage{lastpage} % Needed for total page number \usepackage{seqsplit} % Splits long words. %\usepackage{opensans} % Can't make this work so far. Shame. Would be lovely. \usepackage[normalem]{ulem} % For underlining links % Most of the following are not required for the majority % of cheat sheets but are needed for some symbol support. \usepackage{amsmath} % Symbols \usepackage{MnSymbol} % Symbols \usepackage{wasysym} % Symbols %\usepackage[english,german,french,spanish,italian]{babel} % Languages % Document Info \author{amstoffel (amstoffel)} \pdfinfo{ /Title (a-level-physics-measurements-and-their-errors.pdf) /Creator (Cheatography) /Author (amstoffel (amstoffel)) /Subject (A-Level Physics - Measurements and Their Errors Cheat Sheet) } % Lengths and widths \addtolength{\textwidth}{6cm} \addtolength{\textheight}{-1cm} \addtolength{\hoffset}{-3cm} \addtolength{\voffset}{-2cm} \setlength{\tabcolsep}{0.2cm} % Space between columns \setlength{\headsep}{-12pt} % Reduce space between header and content \setlength{\headheight}{85pt} % If less, LaTeX automatically increases it \renewcommand{\footrulewidth}{0pt} % Remove footer line \renewcommand{\headrulewidth}{0pt} % Remove header line \renewcommand{\seqinsert}{\ifmmode\allowbreak\else\-\fi} % Hyphens in seqsplit % This two commands together give roughly % the right line height in the tables \renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.3} \onehalfspacing % Commands \newcommand{\SetRowColor}[1]{\noalign{\gdef\RowColorName{#1}}\rowcolor{\RowColorName}} % Shortcut for row colour \newcommand{\mymulticolumn}[3]{\multicolumn{#1}{>{\columncolor{\RowColorName}}#2}{#3}} % For coloured multi-cols \newcolumntype{x}[1]{>{\raggedright}p{#1}} % New column types for ragged-right paragraph columns \newcommand{\tn}{\tabularnewline} % Required as custom column type in use % Font and Colours \definecolor{HeadBackground}{HTML}{333333} \definecolor{FootBackground}{HTML}{666666} \definecolor{TextColor}{HTML}{333333} \definecolor{DarkBackground}{HTML}{95BAA5} \definecolor{LightBackground}{HTML}{F1F6F3} \renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault} \color{TextColor} % Header and Footer \pagestyle{fancy} \fancyhead{} % Set header to blank \fancyfoot{} % Set footer to blank \fancyhead[L]{ \noindent \begin{multicols}{3} \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{C} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \vspace{-7pt} {\parbox{\dimexpr\textwidth-2\fboxsep\relax}{\noindent \hspace*{-6pt}\includegraphics[width=5.8cm]{/web/www.cheatography.com/public/images/cheatography_logo.pdf}} } \end{tabulary} \columnbreak \begin{tabulary}{11cm}{L} \vspace{-2pt}\large{\bf{\textcolor{DarkBackground}{\textrm{A-Level Physics - Measurements and Their Errors Cheat Sheet}}}} \\ \normalsize{by \textcolor{DarkBackground}{amstoffel (amstoffel)} via \textcolor{DarkBackground}{\uline{cheatography.com/197528/cs/41671/}}} \end{tabulary} \end{multicols}} \fancyfoot[L]{ \footnotesize \noindent \begin{multicols}{3} \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{LL} \SetRowColor{FootBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{p{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Cheatographer}} \\ \vspace{-2pt}amstoffel (amstoffel) \\ \uline{cheatography.com/amstoffel} \\ \end{tabulary} \vfill \columnbreak \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{L} \SetRowColor{FootBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{p{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Cheat Sheet}} \\ \vspace{-2pt}Published 3rd February, 2024.\\ Updated 15th February, 2024.\\ Page {\thepage} of \pageref{LastPage}. \end{tabulary} \vfill \columnbreak \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{L} \SetRowColor{FootBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{p{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Sponsor}} \\ \SetRowColor{white} \vspace{-5pt} %\includegraphics[width=48px,height=48px]{dave.jpeg} Measure your website readability!\\ www.readability-score.com \end{tabulary} \end{multicols}} \begin{document} \raggedright \raggedcolumns % Set font size to small. Switch to any value % from this page to resize cheat sheet text: % www.emerson.emory.edu/services/latex/latex_169.html \footnotesize % Small font. \begin{multicols*}{3} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{3.08574 cm} x{1.89126 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{SI units}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} mass (m) & kilograms (kg) \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} length (l) & metres (m) \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 1) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} time (t) & seconds (s) \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 1) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} amount of substance (n) & moles (mol) \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 1) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} temperature (t) & kelvin (K) \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 1) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} electric current (I) & amperes (A) \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 1) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Derivation of SI Units}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{A derived unit is comprised of a combination of SI units.} \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 2) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{These can be derived by using the definition of the unit, or their equations eg. F=ma} \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{eg. to find the SI units of force (F), multiply the units of mass and acceleration to give kgms\textasciicircum{}-2 (or N)} \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 3) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{This means that every unit can be broken down into its SI base units.} \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{3.08574 cm} p{1.89126 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Prefixes}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Tera (T) & 10\textasciicircum{}12 \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Giga (G) & 10\textasciicircum{}9 \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 1) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Mega (M) & 10\textasciicircum{}6 \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 1) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} Kilo (K) & 10\textasciicircum{}3 \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 1) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Centi (c) & 10\textasciicircum{}-2 \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 1) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Milli (m) & 10\textasciicircum{}-3 \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 1) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Micro (µ) & 10\textasciicircum{}-6 \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 1) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Nano (n) & 10\textasciicircum{}-9 \tn % Row Count 8 (+ 1) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Pico (p) & 10\textasciicircum{}-12 \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 1) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} Femto (f) & 10\textasciicircum{}-15 \tn % Row Count 10 (+ 1) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{These prefixes could be added before any SI units} \tn \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Conversions between units}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{It is possible to convert between different units of the same quantity. Here are some examples listed below:} \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 3) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{1 eV = 1.6 × 10\textasciicircum{}–19 J} \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 1) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{1 kW h = 3 600 000 J or 3.6 MJ (×10\textasciicircum{}6)} \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 1) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.44333 cm} x{3.53367 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Types of Errors}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Random error & Cause variations in both directions and are usually uncontrollable \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 3) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Systematic error & Caused by faults in the experimental method or apparatus \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Zero error & A type of systematic error caused by uncalibrated equipment \tn % Row Count 8 (+ 3) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} Parallax error & A type of systematic error caused by the apparent position of an object due to the viewing angle \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 4) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.34379 cm} x{3.63321 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Reviewing measurements}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Precise & Consistent and fluctuate around a mean value \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 2) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Accuracy & A measurement that is close to the true value \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Repeatability} & The original person can redo the experiement and get the same results \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 3) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} \seqsplit{Reproducibility} & A different person does an experiment differently and gets the same results \tn % Row Count 10 (+ 3) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Resolution} & The smallest change in the quantity being measured that gives a recognisable change in reading \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 4) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Uncertainty}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{The bounds in which the accurate value can be expected to lie} \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 2) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{They should be given to the same number of significant figures as the data.} \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{0.9954 cm} x{3.9816 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Types of Uncertainity}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Absolute} & Uncertainty given as a fixed quantity \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 2) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \seqsplit{Fractional} & Uncertainty as a fraction of the measurement \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Percentage} & Uncertainty as a percentage of the measurement \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Resolution and Uncertainity}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{{\bf{{\emph{Readings}}}} are when one value is found} \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{{\bf{{\emph{Measurements}}}} are when the difference between 2 readings is found} \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{The uncertainty in a reading is +/- half the smallest division} \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{The uncertainty in a measurement is at least +/- 1 smallest division} \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 2) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{The {\bf{{\emph{resolution}}}} of an instrument will affect its uncertainty} \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 2) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Digital readings and given values will either have the uncertainty quoted, or assumed to be +/- the last significant digit} \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 3) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{For repeated data, the uncertainty is {\emph{half the range}}} \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Reducing Uncertainity}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{You can reduce uncertainty in the following ways:} \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{• fixing one end of a ruler so there is only uncertainty in on reading} \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{• measuring multiple times} \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 1) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{• (for fractional and percentage) measure larger quantities} \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Combining Uncertainties}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Adding/subtracting data - ADD ABSOLUTE UNCERTAINTIES} \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 2) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Multiplying/diving data - ADD PERCENTAGE UNCERTAINTIES} \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Raising to a power - MULTIPLY PERCENTAGE UNCERTAINITY BY POWER} \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Uncertainties in graphs}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Uncertainties are shown as error bars on graphs} \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{A line fo best fit on a graph should go through all error bars (excluding anomalies)} \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{The uncertainity in a gradient can be found by lines of best and worst fit} \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{This can be done using the gradients of the steepest and shallowest lines of best fits} \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 2) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{You can also use these two lines to find the uncertainty in the y-intercept} \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Graph}} \tn \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{p{5.377cm}}{\vspace{1px}\centerline{\includegraphics[width=5.1cm]{/web/www.cheatography.com/public/uploads/amstoffel_1702382017_4.-1.2.3-Worst-and-Best-Lines-of-Fit-3.png}}} \tn \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Estimation of physical quantities}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{{\emph{Orders of magnitude}} are powers of ten which describe the size of an object} \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 2) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{These can be used to compare the sizes of objects} \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 1) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Estimation is a skill used to approximate the values of physical quantities, in order to make comparisons, or to check if a value calculated is reasonable.} \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 4) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.19448 cm} x{3.78252 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Variables}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Dependant} & The variable that is being measured \tn % Row Count 2 (+ 2) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \seqsplit{Independent} & The variable that is being changed \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Control & Other variables that stay the same \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} % That's all folks \end{multicols*} \end{document}