Study guide30 Nov 2025, 00:00 Z

Measurement and Uncertainty for IP Physics: From Sig-Figs to Spreadsheet Graphs

In one line

New syllabus = new marks.

Key points

Quote instruments to the correct significant figures, report uncertainties as \$\pm \frac\{1\}\{2\}\$ least-division, and round calculated quantities to the smallest-sf raw datum.
Master absolute → fractional → percentage error conversions; propagate by addition for x / ÷, by sum of percentages for powers.

Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)

Reviewed by

Chee Wei Jie·Academic Advisor (Physics)

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1 Why measurement & uncertainty just became high-stakes
2 Reading instruments & recording to the right sig-figs
3 Absolute, fractional & percentage uncertainty
4 Spreadsheet skills now examinable

Q: What does Measurement and Uncertainty for IP Physics: From Sig-Figs to Spreadsheet Graphs cover?
A: How to align IP Physics measurement and uncertainty skills to SEAB's 2026 syllabuses, including sig-fig rules, uncertainty propagation, and spreadsheet-based analysis.

TL;DR - New syllabus = new marks.
Quote instruments to the correct significant figures, report uncertainties as $\pm \frac{1}{2}$ least-division, and round calculated quantities to the smallest-sf raw datum.
Master absolute → fractional → percentage error conversions; propagate by addition for x / ÷, by sum of percentages for powers.
In H2 Physics (9478), Paper 4 (Practical) can include spreadsheet-based data processing (graphs, trendlines, gradients and areas).
Try the 20-s pendulum timing lab below; analyse your data with Sheets/Excel and you will have practised every assessed skill in one evening.

If you have...	Read this first
1 second	Measurement marks come from quoting, uncertainty, units, and graphs correctly.

Instrument	Least division / resolution	Raw reading rule	Example
Metre rule	$1 \space \pu{mm}$	$\pm \space 0.5 \space \pu{mm}$	$42.0 \space \pu{cm} \pm \space 0.05 \space \pu{cm}$
Thermometer	$1 \space \pu{^\circ C}$	$\pm \space 0.5 \space \pu{^\circ C}$	$23.0 \space \pu{^\circ C} \space \pm \space 0.5 \space \pu{^\circ C}$
Digital stopwatch	$0.01 \space \pu{s}$	quote all decimals	$12.37 \space \pu{s}$

Symbol	Definition
$\Delta x$	Absolute uncertainty (same unit as $x$ )
$\frac{\Delta x}{x}$	Fractional uncertainty (no units)
$\frac{\Delta x}{x}\times100\%$	Percentage uncertainty $\%$

Trial	$t_{20}$ / $\pu{s}$	$T = t_{20}/20$ / $\pu{s}$
1	31.20	1.560
…	…	…

Measurement and Uncertainty for IP Physics: From Sig-Figs to Spreadsheet Graphs

Sources

1 Why measurement & uncertainty just became high-stakes

2 Reading instruments & recording to the right sig-figs

2.1 Analogue versus digital

2.2 Sig-fig decision tree

3 Absolute, fractional & percentage uncertainty

Quick drill

4 Spreadsheet skills now examinable

5 Mini-Lab: Timing a pendulum with your phone & Sheets

5.1 Setup

5.2 Data collection

5.3 Spreadsheet crunch

6 Nine examiner-liked habits to lock in marks

7 Quick self-check

Practice Quiz

8 Further reading

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