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    Errors

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    norhazli ibrahim
    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in measurements. It explains that all measurements have some amount of uncertainty or error. There are two types of errors: systematic errors, which occur consistently in the same direction, and random errors, which can be positive or negative. Systematic errors cannot be reduced by averaging but can be reduced by improving instruments or methods. Random errors can be reduced by averaging multiple measurements. The document provides examples of sources of errors and techniques to account for uncertainties in reported values.

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    Errors

    Uploaded by

    norhazli ibrahim
    17 views8 pages
    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in measurements. It explains that all measurements have some amount of uncertainty or error. There are two types of errors: systematic errors, which occur consistently in the same direction, and random errors, which can be positive or negative. Systematic errors cannot be reduced by averaging but can be reduced by improving instruments or methods. Random errors can be reduced by averaging multiple measurements. The document provides examples of sources of errors and techniques to account for uncertainties in reported values.

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    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in measurements. It explains that all measurements have some amount of uncertainty or error. There are two types of errors: systematic errors, which occur consistently in the same direction, and random errors, which can be positive or negative. Systematic errors cannot be reduced by averaging but can be reduced by improving instruments or methods. Random errors can be reduced by averaging multiple measurements. The document provides examples of sources of errors and techniques to account for uncertainties in reported values.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    17 views8 pages

    Errors

    Uploaded by

    norhazli ibrahim
    This document discusses errors and uncertainties in measurements. It explains that all measurements have some amount of uncertainty or error. There are two types of errors: systematic errors, which occur consistently in the same direction, and random errors, which can be positive or negative. Systematic errors cannot be reduced by averaging but can be reduced by improving instruments or methods. Random errors can be reduced by averaging multiple measurements. The document provides examples of sources of errors and techniques to account for uncertainties in reported values.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 8

    ERRORS AND UNCERTAINTIES IN

    MEASUREMENTS
    There is no measurement that is 100% accurate.
    - because any reading of a scale on an instrument has a limit to
    its accuracy . ( There are other reasons ).
    e.g. 0 1 cm 2 cm

    What is the length, x ?


    Your answer may be x = 0.93 cm.
    But the second decimal place is only a guess and any
    reading more accurate that 2 decimal places is clearly
    impossible.
    There is therefore a certain amount of uncertainty in any
    measurement. This uncertainty is called the error in the
    measurement.
    Lets say , the error in the above reading for x is estimated
    to be x.
    Then the reading for x is written as
    x = 0.93  x cm
    Usually, for a scale reading, the estimated error is
    taken as ½ the smallest division on the scale.

     x = 0.93  0.05 cm
    There are 2 classes of errors :

    1. Systematic error : usually occurs repeatedly. That is, the


    error is the same for every measurement taken.
    e.g.1. ‘Zero error’ : due to instrument that does not start from
    zero
    e.g.2. Absolute error : the type of error for x ,mentioned earlier.

    Systematic error is usually constant ( fixed magnitude),


    and cannot be reduced by averaging.

    Systematic error may be reduced by :


    -Readjusting the instrument, rebuilding the instrument.
    -Using a more accurate instrument.
    Sources of systematic error :
    i. Scale error : -includes zero error and absolute
    error.
    -scale calibrated at 20oC but used at a different
    temperature.
    ii. Instrument error : - Coiled meter that’s in a
    non uniform magnetic field.
    - micrometer screw gauge with non uniform
    thread distance.
    iii. Human error : Biasness in taking reading.
    iv. State of the environment : temperature,
    gravity, charge in the surrounding, pressure,
    etc.
    v. Experimental setup.
    Random error :
    Usually has the same probability of being either positive
    or negative from the actual value.
    e.g. i. Parallax error .
    ii. The non uniformity of the quantity to be measured.
    – diameter of a test-tube.
    Random error can be reduced by averaging or finding
    the min value.
    e.g. To measure the diameter of a wire, 6 micrometer
    readings were made.
    d(mm) : 1.25 , 1.24 , 1.22 , 1.26 , 1.24 , 1.22

    Min d = 1.24 mm

    deviation, d  d : 0.01, 0.00, 0.02, 0.02, 0.00, 0.02

    Min deviation = 0.01



     d = 1.24  0.01 mm
    Question 1 : A student takes the following readings of the diameter of a
    wire : 1.52 mm, 1.48 mm, 1.49 mm, 1.51 mm, 1.49 mm.
    Which of the following would be the best way to express
    the diameter of the wire in the student’s report ?

    A between 1.48 mm and 1.52 mm


    B 1.5 mm
    C 1.498 mm
    D (1.498  0.012)mm
    E (1.50  0.01)mm

    Ans
    Question 2 : Which of the following experimental
    techniques reduces the systematic error
    of the quantity being investigated ?
    A. Timing a large number of oscilations to find a period .
    B. Measuring several internodal distances on a standing
    wave to find the mean internodal distance.
    C. Measuring the diameter of a wire repeatedly and
    calculating the average.
    D. Adjusting an ammeter to remove its zero error before
    measuring a current.
    E. Plotting a series of voltage and current readings for an
    ohmic device on a graph and using its gradient to find
    resistance.

    Ans
    Answer :
    1. E Back to Question 1
    2. D Back to Question 2

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