IGCSE/GCSE/O & A Level/IB/University Student Forum

Qualification => Subject Doubts => GCE AS & A2 Level => Sciences => Topic started by: student on May 02, 2010, 02:11:48 pm

Title: Physics practical..
Post by: student on May 02, 2010, 02:11:48 pm

From this file (http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/GCE-Physics-TSM-Issue-2.pdf).

Good practice in timing oscillations is to time from the centre of the oscillation (as
the mass will be travelling fastest at this point reducing the error in determining the starting and
stopping times).

Would anybody please explain that.. How does that reduce the error?
Thanks.

Title: Re: Physics practical..
Post by: 7ooD on May 02, 2010, 06:54:18 pm

i think it is because it gives more time to oscillate because if it was travelling slowly then it will stop quickly and you wont be able to measure the time accurately