Type A and Type B Elemental

Uncertainties 2

This chapter discusses elemental uncertainties and their origin. There is no math-
ematics in this chapter. The next chapter deals with the mathematics.
Elemental uncertainties are those associated with a particular measurement. As
such, they are related to the accuracy of measured quantities, rather than the accura-
cy of calculated quantities. Elemental uncertainties are inherent in every transducer,
with better quality transducers usually having less uncertainty (i.e., they are more
accurate) than lower quality transducers. Elemental uncertainties may also be due
to variability in the measurand. For example, if you are measuring the diameter of
a shaft using calipers, the calipers have a certain ‘accuracy.’ Also the shaft diameter
will vary slightly from place to place due to size variations. These are both examples
of elemental uncertainties. For calibrated transducers the calibration certificate will
include the effect of all elemental uncertainties associated with the transducer itself.
While it can be educational to look into the cause for the transducer uncertainty, the
transducer uncertainty will not need to be calculated since the calibration certificate
gives everything that is need. However, there will still be additional uncertainty in
the measurand that needs to be included in the uncertainty analysis.
There are fundamentally two types of elemental uncertainty: those that are re-
peatable and those that vary. The variable uncertainties were previously called ran-
dom uncertainties; they vary from measurement to measurement; from time to time;
and from place to place. Conversely, the common wisdom is that repeatable uncer-
tainties do not vary. We will soon see that this is not actually the case!

Random Uncertainty

If it is possible to identify which statistical distribution (for example, normal distri-

bution, uniform distribution, U-distribution) best models the random uncertainties it
may be possible to identify the properties of the distribution, such as mean, standard
deviation, skewness and kurtosis. Using these properties we can predict a range in

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015 9

C. Ratcliffe, B. Ratcliffe, Doubt-Free Uncertainty In Measurement,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-12063-8_2
10 2  Type A and Type B Elemental Uncertainties

which the next random event is likely to occur, but we are not able to predict the
actual value of that event—this is the very nature of randomness.
Calibration can estimate (quantify) the amount of transducer random elemental
uncertainty, but the calibration cannot reduce it.
One way of reducing the effect of randomness is to take a large number of read-
ings and calculate the average. Statistically, this is reducing the standard deviation
of the mean by increasing the sample size. As an example, random uncertainties
are those that cause a bathroom scale to show a slightly different reading each time
you step off and back on again; averaging several readings will help reduce this
variability.
If you can only take a single measurement, typically the only way to reduce
transducer elemental uncertainty due to randomness is to have a better quality trans-
ducer. Randomness in the measurand is usually reduced by, for example, higher
quality manufacturing of the item being measured. Sometimes environmental issues
can introduce randomness. For example, ground vibration may affect the accuracy
with which a theodolite can be aimed at a target, and electrical interference will
affect electronic apparatus. The amount of random uncertainty can be reduced by
isolating the transducer (physically or electronically) from the environment. None
of these approaches can completely eliminate random elemental uncertainty.

Repeatable, or Systematic, Uncertainty

As was mentioned previously, the common wisdom is that systematic uncertainties

are repeatable and do not vary. However this is not true. Systematic uncertainties
can vary significantly from measurement to measurement. The systematic uncer-
tainty will be the same if all measurement conditions are identical, but for different
measured values or under different measuring conditions, the uncertainty can be
different.
Improving the quality of equipment can reduce systematic uncertainty. Calibra-
tion can also reduce the elemental uncertainty, but only (at best) to the uncertainty
of the calibration process. Systematic uncertainty can never be totally eliminated.
Averaging repeated measurements will not change the systematic uncertainty.
Indeed, since systematic uncertainties are repeatable their effect is not easy to see,
and one can easily be lead to the false conclusion that taking the average of several
measurements will give a number that is close to the true value. Just because you
can get an experiment to give repeatable results does not mean it is accurate!
Systematic uncertainty can be reduced by improved calibration and better qual-
ity equipment, but it can never be eliminated totally. Thus, for a given type of trans-
ducer, elemental uncertainty can only be reduced by using a more sensitive and ac-
curate transducer. This can be expensive. An uncertainty budget can help determine
which transducers in a measurement scenario need to be improved. The topic of
uncertainty budgets is discussed later in this monograph.
Systematic and random uncertainties are demonstrated in the following figure:
Type A and Type B Elemental Uncertainty  11

 
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'ŽŽĚƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ͘ WŽŽƌƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ͘

WŽŽƌƌĂŶĚŽŵƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ͘ 'ŽŽĚƌĂŶĚŽŵƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ͘
WŽŽƌƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ͘ 'ŽŽĚƐLJƐƚĞŵĂƟĐƵŶĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ͘

Type A and Type B Elemental Uncertainty

As mentioned previously, the GUM—the Guide to Uncertainty in Measurement—

was first published in 1992 by ISO/BIPM. It has seen several revisions and is now
accepted in industry as the recognized method for determining uncertainty in all
measurements. The GUM classifies elemental uncertainties in two categories: Type
A and Type B. The GUM requires that uncertainties that can be evaluated by statis-
tical methods be treated as Type A uncertainties, and those evaluated by any other
means be treated as Type B uncertainties.
As described in the GUM, the uncertainty analysis is based on the concept that
there is no inherent difference between an uncertainty component arising from a
random effect and one arising from a correction for a systematic effect. As a con-
sequence, and as stated in the GUM, it is unnecessary to classify components as
12 2  Type A and Type B Elemental Uncertainties

“random” or “systematic” because all components of uncertainty are treated in the

same way. Often, though, it can be educational to separate the two types of uncer-
tainty, and that is the method adopted in both the GUM and this monograph.
Most uncertainties that were formerly called random uncertainties will be treated
as Type A uncertainties. This is because we use the underlying statistical model to
estimate them. Most uncertainties formerly called systematic uncertainties will be
treated as Type B uncertainties. This is because a systematic ‘error’ does not have
any variability, and thus it cannot be analyzed with statistics.
Returning to your bathroom, imagine your bathroom scale has a zero offset so
that it shows 5 lb too light, and the individual readings vary by about 1 lb. When
you use your scale you will measure your weight about 5 lb too light every time. The
zero offset is systematic and is therefore a Type B uncertainty. The variability from
reading to reading of about 1 lb is a Type A uncertainty.

If an uncertainty is based on a statistical analysis, it is to be treated as a Type

A uncertainty. Most random uncertainties are Type A uncertainties.
They vary each time a measurement is made. The uncertainty can be
reduced by averaging lots of measurements, but it can never be totally
eliminated.

Any uncertainty not based on a statistical analysis is to be treated as a Type

B uncertainty.
Most systematic uncertainties are Type B uncertainties.

Both Type A and Type B elemental uncertainties can be reduced by having a

better quality transducer.
Calibration can quantify Type A elemental uncertainty, but not reduce it.
Calibration can reduce the level of Type B elemental uncertainty but there
will always be a residual amount that cannot be determined.

The one exception to the above rule of classifying uncertainties as Type A or B

based on statistics is the treatment of the uncertainty introduced by scale resolution.
There are some good arguments as to why it should be treated as a Type A uncer-
tainty, for example a statistical uniform random distribution is used to assess this
uncertainty. There are also some good arguments as to why it should be treated as a
Type B uncertainty. For this specific case the GUM states that scale resolution is to
be treated as a Type B uncertainty.
Sources of Elemental Uncertainty  13

Sources of Elemental Uncertainty

Let’s look at some of the more common sources of elemental uncertainty.

Repeatability  Repeatability is the ability of a transducer to give the same output

when it is used several times to measure the same thing.

Repeatability is considered as randomly distributed with a normal distribution. It is

a Type A uncertainty.

Thermal Stability  Many systems, both mechanical and electrical, can be sensitive
to temperature. For example, the output from a strain gage depends on the resis-
tance of the metal foil wires that make the gage. The wires’ resistance depends on
temperature, and if a gage is used in a changing temperature environment the output
caused by the temperature change can wrongly be attributed to a changing strain.
While the effect of large temperature changes can be mollified by techniques such
as temperature compensation, there will be some residual non-compensated effect.

Thermal stability is often treated as a random Type A uncertainty with a normal

distribution.

Noise  By “noise” we do not (normally) mean acoustic noise, although there are
some measurements that are sensitive to acoustic noise. Rather, we usually mean
the effect on a signal due to electrical interference from surrounding electrical and
magnetic fields.

Noise is usually treated as a random Type A uncertainty.

14 2  Type A and Type B Elemental Uncertainties

Resolution, Scale Size and Quantization  Most devices do not give continuous out-
put; rather, the output is in the form of a series of steps. For example, when you use
a simple tape measure to measure a length, you might quote the length to the nearest
1/8 in. Wire-wound potentiometers are limited to the change in resistance caused by
the pick-up moving over a discrete coil. Many digital systems include analog-to-
digital conversion, which automatically introduces the “stepped” output, and digital
displays are limited to the resolution of the least significant digit.

Resolution is treated as a Type B uncertainty.

Hysteresis  Hysteresis causes a reading to be different depending on whether the

device is being “loaded” or “unloaded” when the measurement is taken. As an
example, the hysteresis in a spring balance is caused by mechanical problems such
as friction and bearing misalignment in the device. Thus, hysteresis will cause a
mechanical scale to consistently measure the applied weight too low (for increasing
load) or consistently too high (for decreasing load). Other types of device also dem-
onstrate hysteresis although the hysteresis in electrical devices is usually very small.
There are some systems (such as spectrum analyzers) that have user-selectable vari-
able hysteresis.
Sources of Elemental Uncertainty  15

Hysteresis cannot be analyzed by statistics and it is classified as a Type B uncertainty.

Common Mode Voltage  When different voltages are applied to two input terminals
of an amplifier, the amplifier will produce an output. Ideally, if the same voltage
(relative to ground) is applied to the terminals the amplifier will produce zero out-
put. Common mode voltage uncertainty is the uncertainty caused by the amplifier
actually producing some output under these conditions.

Common mode voltage is treated as a Type B uncertainty.

Installation  A pitot tube can be used to measure air speed, for example in aircraft.
An example of installation uncertainty is when a pitot tube is removed and replaced.
Because of the boundary layer effect, if the pitot tube is not put back in exactly the
same place the reading will be slightly different for the same true value of air speed.
Another example is using calipers to measure the diameter of a sphere. Slight mis-
placing of the calipers from the true diameter can result in a measurement that is
slightly too small.

Installation is treated as a Type B uncertainty.

Nonlinearity (or Linearity)  This is a common problem for calibration. It is often

assumed that doubling the input to a transducer will double its output. For many
transducers this assumption may be adequate, however, actual nonlinearity of
the transducer will cause the measurement to have a systematic uncertainty. One
extreme example of nonlinearity is the thermocouple, where the voltage output
is not a linear function of the temperature. In an attempt to take into account the
inherent nonlinearity of the thermocouple, systems designed to measure tempera-
ture with thermocouples incorporate polynomials in the conversion from voltage
to temperature. Since the polynomials do not exactly resolve the issue there is still
some residual systematic uncertainty.
16 2  Type A and Type B Elemental Uncertainties

Nonlinearity is treated as a Type B uncertainty.

Spatial Variation We have already hinted at uncertainty due to spatial variation

when, in the introduction to this monograph, we said that the temperature in a room
would vary from place to place. If we were measuring near a “hot spot”, the ther-
mometer would always read too high. Spatial variation is typically associated with
the measurand (rather than the transducer). As an example, if a shaft has a nomi-
nal diameter of 2 in its actual diameter will vary slightly from place to place, and
this variability is systematic—repeatedly measuring the shaft at the same place will
determine the same diameter.

Spatial variation is a Type B uncertainty.

Loading  Imagine putting a cold mercury-in-glass thermometer into a beaker of hot

water—that is, if you can still find a mercury thermometer and your safety depart-
ment will let you use it! Otherwise, try the experiment with an alcohol-in-glass
thermometer! Some of the heat will go from the water into the thermometer. As a
result, the final temperature of the hot water will be too low because the water has
cooled down a bit. This is an example of a loading issue. Many transducers cause
loading uncertainty. As another example, imagine that during quality control you
have to use a micrometer to measure the thickness of corrugated cardboard. The
micrometer squeezes the cardboard and the thickness you measure depends upon
how firmly you grasp the cardboard. The ratchet in the micrometer is to enable a
more consistent jaw pressure, but there is still some variability from measurement
to measurement.
Accuracy—Pandora’s Box? 17

Loading uncertainties are treated as Type B.

Zero Offset  This is often caused if a device is not “zeroed” properly. That is, when
the device does not give a zero reading when the quantity being measured is zero.
Calibration and setting the zero point both aim to minimize this uncertainty, but
they never totally remove it.

Zero offset is a Type B uncertainty.

Sensitivity  This is the measure of how much the output of a transducer varies as
the input (the measured quantity) varies. For example, the quoted sensitivity of
an accelerometer may be 98.1 mV/g. This indicates that the device will generate
a 98.1 mV signal if the input is 1 × (acceleration due to gravity). While calibration
aims to give the best sensitivity for a transducer, there will still be some residual
error.

Unknown errors in sensitivity cause systematic uncertainty, and they are treated as
Type B uncertainties.

Uncertainties that are random in nature can usually be analyzed with statis-
tics, and are treated as Type A uncertainties.
Systematic uncertainties are repeatable and cannot be analyzed with statis-
tics. Consequently they are normally treated as Type B uncertainties.

Accuracy—Pandora’s Box?

Accuracy is defined as how close the measurement is to the true value. Although
we use the term accuracy, it is really the inaccuracy that is specified. Different
manufacturers have different interpretations of their meaning of the term accuracy,
and in a real-world application you should be careful to ensure you are using the
appropriate definition. However, when accuracy is quoted, it normally includes all
the residual Type A and Type B uncertainties in the measuring system. Accuracy is
often quoted as the percentage of full scale. Thus for a balance that can weigh up
to 250 lb with the accuracy quoted as 1 % of full scale, the uncertainty is ± 2.5  lb
regardless of the reading or divisions on the scale.
Despite the fact that some companies quote a transducer’s accuracy, NIST (Tech-
nical Note 1297, 1994 edition) states, “Because ‘accuracy’ is a qualitative concept,
one should not use it quantitatively, that is, associate numbers with it.”
18 2  Type A and Type B Elemental Uncertainties

Final reminder

Remember that there are many more sources of elemental uncertainty. If you
need to classify them, apply the logic that if the analysis of the uncertainty can
be done with statistics it is a Type A uncertainty. If statistics cannot be used (for
example, if the uncertainty is systematic and repeatable) then it is to be treated as a
Type B uncertainty.
If you wrongly classify a Type A elemental uncertainty as Type B, or vice versa,
the consequences may not be significant. While the mistake will change the attribu-
tion of uncertainty to different components of the uncertainty analysis, the final esti-
mated uncertainty will be the same, irrespective of wrong Type A/B classification!

Wrongly classifying Type A and Type B uncertainties will lead to different

intermediate numbers.
But the final uncertainty will be the same!
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