Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 

  
Lesson 1.3 
Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement 
 
Contents 
Introduction 1 

Learning Objectives 2 

Warm Up 2 

Learn about It! 4 

Accuracy vs. Precision 4 
Precision of Measurements 7 
The Precision of an Analog Device 7 
The Precision of a Digital Device 8 
Basic Statistical Calculations 8 
Arithmetic Mean 9 
Standard Deviation 13 
Measurement Tips to Reduce Uncertainties 20 

Key Points 21 

Key Formula 21 

Check Your Understanding 22 

Challenge Yourself 24 

Bibliography 25 

Key to Try It! 25 

 
   

 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

Lesson 1.3 
Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement 
 

  Introduction 
The  Global  Positioning  System  (GPS)  is  widely  used  in  several  applications,  such  as  in 
mobile  phones,  in-car  navigation,  and  search  and  rescue  equipment.  GPS  receivers  can 
automatically  work  out  the  position  of  a  person  or a specific place. However, it is not 100% 
accurate.  There  are  times  when  your  desired  location  in  the  navigation  app  is  several 
meters  away  from  your  actual  location.  Some  conclusions  and  discoveries  in  the  sciences 
are  “not  absolute”  and  might  change  after  some  time  as  technology  and  scientific 
knowledge  advance.  Even  a  simple  measurement  in  a  school  laboratory  has  a  level  of 
uncertainty.  What  is  uncertainty,  and  how  do  we  address  it  in  measurements?  In  this 
lesson, we will be able to answer these questions by exploring their contexts.  
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    1 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
 
 

Learning Objectives  DepEd Competency 

● Differentiate accuracy from 
In this lesson, you should be able to do the  precision 
(STEM_GP12EU-Ia-2).   
following: 
 

● Differentiate  accuracy  from 

precision. 
● Describe  the  precision  of  some 
measuring devices. 
● Solve  problems  involving  mean 
and standard deviation. 
● Identify  some  tips  to  reduce 
uncertainties in measurements. 

  Warm Up       
  Hit the Target!    15 minutes 
This  activity  aims  to  differentiate  accuracy  and  precision  by  targeting  a  marked  area  in  a 
piece of paper. 
 

Materials 
● a sheet of carbon paper 
● steel ball or large marble 
● blank sheet of paper 
● ruler 
● pencil 

 
Procedure 
1. Divide the class into six groups.  
2. For each group, draw ‘cross-hairs’ in the center of a blank sheet of paper.  

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    2 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
3. Place  the  carbon  paper  under  the  sheet  of  paper  with  a  target.  Make  sure  that  the 
ink side is facing the paper with the cross-hair, as shown in Fig. 1.3.1. 
 

 
Fig. 1.3.1. A sample setup that shows the position of the carbon and target papers. When 
the ball hits the setup, a mark will be left on the target paper.  
 
4. Place  the  setup  on  the  floor  once  the  group  is  ready.  Each  person  in  the  group 
should  be  able  to  take  turns  in  tossing  the  ball  1  meter  away  from  the  setup  while 
aiming at the cross-hair. Each person should be given three trials.  
5. After  the  activity,  draw  a  circle  on  the  target  paper  depending  on  the  hit  marks 
present  on  it.  Use  the  furthest  marks  as  the  ends  of  the  diameter of the circle. Mark 
the center point of the circle with a heavy dot.  
6. Measure  the  distance  of  the  center  of  the  circle  from  the  center  of  the  cross-hair. 
Post each group's paper on the board along with the measured distance.  
7. The  group  with  the  smallest  measured  distance  between  the center of the circle and 
the center of the cross-hair wins. 
 
Guide Questions 
1. What  does  the  center  point  of  the  circle  mean?  What  does  the  size  of  the  circle 
represent? 
2. How  is  the  distance  from  the  cross-hair  to  the  center  of  the  circle  related  to  the 
accuracy  of  your  shots?  How  does  the  center  of  the  circle  containing  all  the  hits 
related to the precision? 
3. Among  the  group,  which  is  the  most  accurate?  The  most  precise?  Defend  your 
answer.  
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    3 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

  Learn about It! 

 
You  learned  in  the  previous  lesson  that  measurement  is  quantifying  a  property  of  an 
object—it  can  be  an  object’s  length,  mass,  or  temperature.  Whenever  we  measure,  we 
always  encounter  uncertainties.  For  example,  when  you  measure  the  length  of  your  book 
using  a  ruler,  your  measurement  is  only  reliable  at  the  nearest  millimeter.  Therefore,  you 
can  report  the  thickness  of your book as 15 mm. Reporting its thickness as 15.00 mm would 
be  incorrect since you are not actually sure whether its thickness is actually 15.00 mm, 15.10 
mm,  or  15.95  mm.  However, a micrometer caliper, a device that can measure to the nearest 
0.01  mm,  can  be  used  to  safely  report  the  thickness  of  your  book  as  15.13  mm.  The 
difference  between  these  two measuring devices is in their uncertainty. The thickness of the 
book  reported  using  a  micrometer  caliper  is  a  more  accurate  measurement  than  the  one 
measured using a ruler.  
 
Error  is  defined  as  the difference between the true value and the measured value. It usually 
depends  on  the  measurement  technique  being  used.  The  net  effect  of  error  produces 
uncertainty.  It  quantifies  the  doubt  that  exists  in  any  reported  value  of  the measurement. 
These  two  are  sometimes used interchangeably, but it is still important to note their specific 
definitions.  
 

How does accuracy differ from precision? 

 
 
 
Accuracy vs. Precision 
We  often  encounter  the  terms  accuracy  and  precision  in  science  and engineering, but what 
do these terms really mean?  
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    4 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

 
Fig. 1.3.2. Dartboards showing different scenarios of accuracy and precision: (A) not 
accurate, not precise; (B) not accurate, precise; (C) accurate, not precise; (D) accurate, 
precise 
 
One  of  the  common  demonstrations  of  accuracy  and  precision is the use of a dartboard, as 
shown  in  Fig.  1.3.2.  Let  us  consider  the  bull’s  eye  located  at  the  center  of  the  dartboard  as 
the  ‘true  value’  while  the  darts  represent  the  measurement  values.  The  closer  the  darts  to 
the  bull’s  eye,  the  more  accurate  the  said  set  of  values  are, and the closer the darts to each 
other,  the  more  precise  the  measurements.  In  A,  the  darts  are  neither  close  to  each  other 
nor  close  to  the  bull's  eye.  Therefore,  there  is  neither accuracy nor precision. In B, the darts 
are  close  to  each  other,  but  they  are  located  far  from  the  bull’s  eye. So, we can say that the 
measurement is precise, but it is not accurate. In C, there is mathematical accuracy since the 
darts  are almost equally spaced from the bull’s eye. However, there is no precision. Lastly, in 
D,  the  darts  are  located  near  the  bull’s  eye  and  are  close  to  each  other,  so  they  are  both 
accurate and precise.  
 
Accuracy  indicates  how  close  the  measured value is to the true value.  It is usually reported 
starting  with the best estimate of the measurement, followed by the symbol ±, and a second 
number  indicating  the  uncertainty  of  the  measurement.  For  example,  if  the  length  of  a 
notebook  is  21.7  ±  0.2  mm,  this  means  that  the  true  value  has  a  higher  chance  of  being 
found  between  21.5  mm  and  21.9  mm.  There  are  instances  where  you  might  encounter  a 
measurement  reported  as  2.1154(21)  mm.  It  is  equivalent  to  2.1154  ±  21  mm,  where  the 
number  in  the  parentheses  shows  the  uncertainty.  It  is  simply  a  shorthand  notation  of 
expressing the uncertainty of a measured value.  
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    5 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Accuracy  can  also  be  expressed  in  terms  of  fractional error or percent error. It is also called 
fractional  uncertainty  or  percent  uncertainty.  For  example,  a  resistor  can  be  labeled  as  30 
ohms  ±  10%.  Since  10%  of  30  ohms  is  3  ohms,  it  means  that  the  resistance  of  the  resistor 
lies  between  27  and  33  ohms.  In  some  cases  where  the  uncertainty  is  not  explicitly  stated, 
then it can be indicated in the use of significant figures or the number of meaningful digits, 
as  discussed  in  the  previous  lesson.  These  small  uncertainties  can  be  very  significant  in 
some instances, especially in laboratory experiments. 
 
In  experiments  and  in  other  several  applications,  it  is  important  to  assess  the  technique 
used  in  measurement  to  identify  whether  one  method  will  give  better  accuracy  than  the 
other.  For  example,  the  time  interval  of  two  events  is  more  accurately  measured  by  an 
automatically triggered digital counter than a handheld stopwatch.  
 
Precision,  on  the  other  hand,  describes  the  scatter  or  the  variability  of  a  set  of 
measurements  made.  When  the  values  of  the  measurement  have  small  variability, then we 
can  say  that  those  values  are  precise.  For  example,  if  you  measured  the  length  of  your 
pencil  three  times  and  you  got  13.2  mm,  13.3,  and  13.2  mm.  Since  the  values  are  close  to 
each  other,  we  can  say  that  it  is  more  precise  than  a  set  of  values  composed  of  13.5  mm, 
12.8 mm, and 14.2 mm.  
 
However,  one  should  be  careful  in  dealing  with  precise  measurements  if  the  measuring 
device  is  faulty  and  the  experiment  is  flawed.  Even  if  the  measurements  are  very  close  to 
each  other,  this  might  still  mean  that it is far from the true value. High accuracy might imply 
high  precision,  especially  if  errors  in  instruments  are  addressed,  but  the  reverse  is  not 
always  true.  High  precision  does  not  automatically  mean  high  accuracy.  A  high-quality 
measurement should be both precise and accurate.  
 
The  value  of  the  uncertainty  may  be  affected  by  the  quality  of  the  apparatus,  the  ability  of 
the  person  to  calibrate  the  equipment,  and  the  number  of  measurements  performed.  To 
get  an  accurate  measurement,  the  apparatus  should  be  calibrated  properly.  Calibration  is 
done  to  eliminate  or  at  least  reduce  any  bias  on the reading of the instrument. High-quality 
instruments  provide  more  accurate  values.  Meanwhile,  precision  is  affected  by  both  the 
quality of the equipment and the skill of the person using it.   

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    6 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Precision of Measurements 
The Precision of an Analog Device 
Suppose  you  measure  the  length  of  a  bond  paper  with a ruler with a 1 mm gradation. After 
several  measurements,  you  were  able  to  record  297  mm.  In  this  case,  it  seems  reasonable 
enough  to  estimate  the  precision  as  half  the  gradation  or  ±0.5  mm.  Thus,  the  length  of the 
bond paper can be reported as 297.0 ± 0.5 mm.  
 

 
Fig. 1.3.3. (A) illustrates a situation where estimating the uncertainty to be half a division is 
appropriate, while (B) shows that the uncertainty in the measurement is actually lower than 
half the division.  
 

Remember 
As  a  rule  of  thumb,  the  highest  precision that can be achieved in an 
analog device such as a ruler is half a division.  

 
However,  there  are  instances  when  this  estimation  is  not  applicable. Suppose you measure 
the  length  of  the  same  bond  paper  with  a  ruler,  but  this  time  it  has  1  cm  gradation.  If  all 
measurements  would  lie  between  29  and  30  cm,  but  we  estimated  the  precision  as  half  a 
division  or  ±0.5  cm,  then  it  would  be  a  significant  overestimate. There is no simple rule that 
can  be  followed  as  to  what  to  report  in  this  case.  A  skilled  experimenter  can  estimate  the 
length  with  a  finer  resolution  than  the  gradation.  In  this  case,  only  the  experimenter  can 
decide the error estimation, which can vary from person to person.  

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    7 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
The Precision of a Digital Device 
The  voltage  of  a  battery  can  be  measured  using  a  multimeter.  Suppose  you  repeatedly 
measured the voltage of a battery and got 5.61 V. How will you know its uncertainty?  
 
There  are  manufacturers  who  specify  the  uncertainty  of  the  digital  device,  such  as  ‘half  the 
last  digit’.  Given  the  reading  above,  you  might  express  the  uncertainty  as  5.610 ± 0.005 V. If 
you  notice,  there  is  a  zero  at  the  end  of  the  value  even  if  it  is  not  present  in  the  original 
reading.  This estimate is done because the digital instrument does an appropriate rounding. 
If  the  measurement  is  5.618,  then  it  would  appear  as  5.62.  However,  if  it  does not truncate 
the measurement, 5.618 would appear as 5.61. It is difficult to know whether the instrument 
rounded  it  off  or  not;  therefore,  the  conservative estimate is to use the last full digit such as 
5.61 ± 0.01 V.  
 

Remember 
As  a  rule  of  thumb,  the  precision  of  a  digital  measuring  device  is 
limited to the last decimal point or last digit.  

 
Basic Statistical Calculations 

When  you  measure  the  length  of  your  pencil,  it  is  wise  to  repeat  the  measurement  at least 
three  times.  If  you  only  measured  once,  then  there  is  a  possibility  that  a  mistake  in 
measurement  may  go  unnoticed.  However,  if  you  measure  for  the  second  or  third  time, 
then  there  is  a  higher  chance  for  you  to  notice  any  discrepancy  and  get  a  more  accurate 
value.  

In  several  laboratory  activities,  most  of  the  measurements  are  done  in three trials or more. 
These  readings  or  values  can  undergo  statistical  calculations  for  you  to  get  more 
information  out  of  it.  The two most important statistical calculations are finding the average 
or arithmetic mean and the standard deviation for a set of measurements.  
 

What is the difference between the arithmetic 

  mean and the standard deviation? 
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    8 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Arithmetic Mean 
It  is  common  that  the  measurements  that  you  got vary, which does not automatically mean 
that  you  are  doing  something  wrong.  It  may  also  mean  that  there  are  other  common 
reasons  affecting  it.  For  example,  if  you  measure  the  wind  speed outdoors, you may obtain 
different  values  every  time  you  measure  it.  One  reason  is  that  your  measuring  device  may 
not  be  completely  stable.  When  you  measure  the  length  of an object using a tape measure, 
it can minimally stretch or contract and may give you different results as well.  
 
When  there  are  variations,  it  is  best  to  take  repeated  measurements  and  get  its average or 
arithmetic  mean,  as  shown  in  Fig.  1.3.4.  An average or arithmetic mean gives an estimate 
of  the  ‘true’  value. It is usually symbolized by a symbol with a bar above, such as   or called 
‘x-bar,’ which represents the mean value of x.  
 

 
Fig. 1.3.4. An illustration showing the arithmetic mean or average reading among a set of 
values 

The  more  measurements  you  have,  the  more  you  will  get  an  ideal  estimate  of  the mean or 
average.  The  ideal  condition  is  to  get  the  mean  of  an  infinite  set  of  values.  However,  we 
know  that  in  laboratory  experiments or even in simple measurements where there is a time 
constraint,  it  is  challenging  to  obtain  numerous  measurements.  In  this  case,  measurement 
readings between 4 to 10 are already sufficient.  

To  calculate  for  the  mean,  you  simply  add  all  your  measurement  readings  and  divide  it  by 
the number of values. It is shown in a mathematical formula as 
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    9 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

Equation 1.3.1 
 

where: 

(pronounced as ‘x-bar’) is the mean of your set of values 

is the sum of all your x values 

is the number of x values.  

 
 

  Let's Practice!  

Example 1    
In  a  physics  laboratory  activity,  you  are  tasked  to  measure  the  mass  of  a  cup  of  water. You 
were  able  to  get  five  readings as follows: 2.5 kg, 2.6 kg, 2.5 kg, 2.4 kg, and 2.6 kg. What is the 
average mass?  
 
Solution 
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem. 
You are asked to calculate the average mass water.  
 
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem. 
The following readings are given: 2.5 kg, 2.6 kg, 2.5 kg, 2.4 kg, and 2.6 kg 
 
Step 3: Write the working equation.  

 
 
Step 4: Substitute the given values.  

 
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    10 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
 
Step 5: Find the answer. 

 
 
Therefore, the average mass of a cup of water is 2.52 kg or 2.5 kg.  
 

1  Try It!  
While the car was moving, seven readings of its speed were recorded using the 
speedometer. The readings are 25 m/s, 27 m/s, 30 m/s, 35 m/s, 26 m/s, 28 m/s, and 
24 m/s. What is the average speed of the car? 

Example 2  
The  mass  of  a  sample  of  steel  was  measured  three  times  in  a  digital  balance.  Its  average 
mass  is  1.117  g.  The  first  trial  reads  1.125 g, while the second trial acquired 1.067 g. What is 
the mass of the steel in the third trial?  
 
Solution 
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem. 
You are asked to calculate the mass of the steel in the third trial.  
 
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem. 
The following readings are given: 1.125 g and 1.067 g, while the average mass is 
1.117 g. 
 
Step 3: Write the working equation.  

 
 
 
 
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    11 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Step 4: Substitute the given values.  

 
 
Step 5: Find the answer. 

 
 
Therefore, the mass of steel in the third trial is 1.159 g.  
 

2  Try It!  
In one of the laboratory activities, the distance traveled by a toy car was measured 
five times. The distances measured in the first four trials are 1.50 m, 1.75 m, 1.30 m, 
and 1.50 m. If the average distance is 1.48 m, what is the distance traveled by car in 
the fifth trial? 

 
Example 3  
Five  students  measured  their  heights  and  recorded  them  in  their  worksheets. The readings 
are as follows: 1.50 m, 5.00 ft, 165 cm, 1.70 m, and 154 cm. What is the average height of the 
five students in meters?  
 
Solution 
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem. 
You are asked to calculate the average height in meters.  
 
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem. 
The following readings are given: 1.50 m, 5.00 ft, 165 cm, 1.70 m, and 154 cm. 
 
Before calculating the average, make sure that all quantities have the same units.  

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    12 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

 
 
Step 3: Write the working equation.  

 
 
Step 4: Substitute the given values.  

 
 
Step 5: Find the answer. 
 
 
Therefore, the average height of the five students is 1.58 m.  
 

3  Try It!  
In one of your class activities, you were tasked to measure the mass of one sack of 
rice using different weighing scales. After the activity, you and your groupmates 
recorded the following masses: 50 kg, 48 000 g, 53 kg, 3 slugs, 51 kg, and 52 500 g. 
What is the average mass of one sack of rice in kg?  

 
Standard Deviation 
As  mentioned  earlier,  measurement  readings  may  vary.  When  this  occurs,  we  also  want  to 
know  the  spread  or  dispersion  of  these  values,  which  in  turn  gives  an  idea  about  the 
uncertainty  of  a  measurement.  By  knowing  how  large  the  spread  of  your  data  is,  you  can 
easily evaluate the quality of your measurement.  
 
There  are  instances  when  knowing  the  range  between  the  highest  and  the  lowest  values  is 
sufficient  in  determining  the  spread of your data. However, this becomes problematic if you 
have  a  small  set  of  values  since  the  spread  would  become  large,  even  if  only  one 
measurement reading is very different from others.  

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    13 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

 
Fig. 1.3.5. Spread of values or standard deviation illustrated using a bell curve (normal 
distribution). 
 
The  spread  of  values  can  be  quantified  using  the  standard  deviation.  The  standard 
deviation  of  a  set  of  measurements  indicates  how  different  a  specific  value  is  from  the 
average  of  the  whole  set.  A  small  standard  deviation  indicates that the set of values is close 
to  the  average  or  arithmetic  mean  as  illustrated  in  Fig.  1.3.5.  On  the  other  hand,  a  large 
standard  deviation  indicates  that  the  data  is  spread  over  a  larger  range  of  values.  It  is  also 
used  to  report where most of your data is located compared to the average. It is essential to 
provide  additional  information  about a set of values. For example, whenever you look at the 
average  price  of your favorite product, it does not necessarily inform you about the range of 
prices  available  for  that  specific  product,  especially if the prices are spread out. The value of 
the standard deviation is needed to supply this information. 
 

Remember 
Do  not  be  satisfied  with  finding  the  average.  Make sure to also look 
at  the  standard  deviation  of  how  much  the  values  are  spread  out. 
This  will  help  you  make  an  informed  decision  and  data  analysis not 
only in science and engineering but also in other fields.  

 
The  ‘true’  value  of  the  standard  deviation  can  only  be  calculated  from  an  infinite  set  of 
values.  If  there  is  only  a  moderate  set  of  values,  what  can  be  calculated  is  the  estimate  of 
the  standard deviation. This is symbolized by s used for the estimated standard deviation. 
It can be calculated using the expression below. 
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    14 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

Equation 1.3.2 
 

 
Where 
is the estimated standard deviation 
 
is the result of the ith measurement 

is the mean of the set of values 

is the number of x values.  

 
To  use  the  formula,  you  need  to  calculate  first  the average of all the readings. Then, get the 
difference  between  each  reading  and  the  average.  This  is  followed  by  squaring  each 
difference.  Next,  find  the  total  and  divide  it  by  n-1.  Finally,  the  standard  deviation  is 
calculated by getting the square root of your answer in the previous step. 

  Let's Practice!  

Example 4    
In  one  of  your  science  activities,  you  are  required  to  grow  a  crystal  and  measure  its  length 
every  day  in  10  days.  The  data  you recorded are the following: 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 
mm,  10  mm,11  mm,  12  mm,  13  mm,  and  13  mm.  Calculate  the  standard  deviation  of  the 
length of the crystal. Express your final answer in 3 significant figures.  
 
Solution 
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem. 
You are asked to calculate the standard deviation of the measured lengths.  
 
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem. 
The following readings are given: 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 10 mm,11 
mm, 12 mm, 13 mm, and 13 mm. 
 
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    15 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Step 3: Write the working equation.  

 
 
Step 4: Substitute the given values.  

Calculate the average using . 

So,  
 
Then, find the difference between each reading and the average.  
i.e. ‒5.4 ‒4.4 ‒3.4 ‒2.4 ‒1.4 1.6 2.6 3.6 4.6 4.6 
 
Get the square of each difference. 
I.e. 29.16 19.36 11.56 5.76 1.96 2.56 6.76 12.96 21.16 21.16 
 
Add all the squares of the difference and divide it by n-1.  

 
 
Step 5: Find the answer. 
 
 
The standard deviation is 3.84 mm. 
 

4  Try It!  
Suppose you have a set of readings for the height of a plant in cm: 16, 19, 18, 16, 17, 
19, 20, 15, 17, and 13. What is the standard deviation of the said set of values? 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    16 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

Example 5  
Consider  the  two  data  sets  of  readings  in  one  of  your  laboratory  activities.  Which  of  the 
following sets has a larger standard deviation? 
Set A: 9 g, 11 g, 5 g, 7 g, and 13 g 
Set B: 11 g, 10 g, 19 g, 19 g, and 11 g 
 
Solution 
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem. 
You are asked to calculate the standard deviation of both Set A and Set B. 
 
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem. 
The following readings are given for Set A: 9 g, 11 g, 5 g, 7 g, and 13 g. 
The following readings are given for Set B: 11 g, 10 g, 19 g, 19 g, and 11 g. 
 
Step 3: Write the working equation.  

 
 
Step 4: Substitute the given values.  

Calculate the average using . 

For Set A:  

For Set B:  
 
Then, find the difference between each reading and the average.  
For Set A: i.e. 0 2 ‒4 ‒2 4   
For Set B: i.e. ‒3 ‒4 5 5 ‒3 
 
 
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    17 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Get the square of each difference. 
For Set A: i.e. 0 4 16 4 16 
For Set B: i.e. 9 16 25 25 9 
 
Add all the squares of the difference and divide it by n-1.   
For Set A: 

 
For Set B: 

 
 
Step 5: Find the answer. 

For Set A:  
For Set B:  
 
The standard deviation for Set A is 3.16 g, and 4.58 g for Set B. Set B has a larger standard 
deviation than Set A.  
 

5  Try It!  
A jeweler weighed a 2-carat diamond with masses of 400 mg, 420 mg, 450 mg, 459 
mg, 461 mg, and 439 mg. What is the standard deviation of the said set of values? 
What is the standard deviation if another 2-carat diamond was measured to have the 
following set of mass readings: 400 mg, 402 mg, 400 mg, 404 mg, 410 mg, and 412 
mg?  

 
Example 6  
Different  people  were  made  to  accurately  measure  the  length  of  the  hall.  The  set  of 
readings  is  as  follows:  26  m,  0.028  km,  27.5 m, 29 m, 31 m, 0.033 km, and 2 650 cm. What is 
the standard deviation of this set of values in m? 
 
 
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    18 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Solution 
Step 1: Identify what is required in the problem. 
You are asked to calculate the standard deviation of the measured lengths.  
 
Step 2: Identify the given in the problem. 
The following readings are given: 26 m, 0.028 km, 27.5 m, 29 m, 31 m, 0.033 km, 
and 2 650 cm. 
 
Before proceeding to the calculations, convert first all the lengths in meters.  

 
 
Step 3: Write the working equation.  

 
 
Step 4: Substitute the given values.  

Calculate the average using . 

So,  
 
Then, find the difference between each reading and the average.  
i.e. ‒2.71 ‒0.71 ‒1.21 0.29 2.29 4.29 ‒2.21 
 
Get the square of each difference. 
I.e. 7.3441 0.5041 1.4641 0.0841 5.2441 18.4041 4.8841 
 
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    19 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
Add all the squares of the difference and divide it by n–1.  

 
 
Step 5: Find the answer. 
 
 
The standard deviation is 2.51 m. 
 

6  Try It!  
The temperature of hot water was measured 10 times in one experiment. Different 
people measured the same container of hot water with different thermometers. The 
following readings are provided: 70 °C, 75 °C, 72 °C, 158 °F, 167 °F, 176 °F, 69 °C, 66 
°C, 65 °C, and 345.15 K. What is the standard deviation of the set of values in °C? 

 
Measurement Tips to Reduce Uncertainties 
Some  of  the  measurement  tips  that  you  can  do  to  reduce  the  uncertainty  in  your 
measurement  are  as  follows.  These  reminders  are  useful  not  only  in  school  laboratory 
experiments but also in your future scientific endeavors.  
1. Follow  the  instructions  in  using  the  instrument  and  taking  care  of  it.  Calibrate 
measuring instruments and use the calibration corrections given. 
2. Use experienced staff and training for measurement when using a new device. 
3. Check or validate software if needed. 
4. Choose  the  best-measuring  instruments  and  use  calibration  facilities  with  the 
smallest uncertainties.  
5. Check  measurements  by  doing  it  repeatedly  or  letting  other  people  repeat  it  from 
time to time.  
6. Use rounding off correctly in your calculations.  
7. Check calculations especially when you copy them from one place to another.  
8. Always  record  your  measurements  and  calculations.  Write  the  readings  right  after 
measuring. It is also better to keep track of the date and time whenever you measure 
something.  Any  additional  observations  should  also  be  noted.  This  will  be  useful  in 
times of doubt about the values you measured.  

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    20 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

How can you eliminate or reduce uncertainties in 

  your measurement?  
 
 

Key Points 
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
● Error is the difference between the ‘true’ value and the measured value.  
● Uncertainty  defines  the  net  effect  of  the  error.  It quantifies the doubt that exists in 
any reported value of the measurement. 
● Accuracy describes how close the measured value is to the ‘true value’. 
● Precision describes the scatter or the variability of the measurement values made.  
● When  a  series  of  measurements  are  done,  statistical  calculations  such  as  finding 
the arithmetic mean and standard deviation can be calculated.  
● There  are  several  tips  that  can  be  done  to  eliminate  or  reduce  the uncertainties in 
measurements.  
___________________________________________________________________________________________  
 
Key Formula 
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 
 

Concept  Formula  Description 

Mean  Use this formula to calculate 

the arithmetic mean or 
  average of a set of values.  
where: 
● (‘x-bar’) is the mean of 
your set of values 

● is the sum of all 

your x values 
● is the number of x 
values.  

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    21 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

Standard Deviation  Use this formula to calculate 

the standard deviation of a 
set of values.  
 
 
where: 
●   is  the  estimated 
standard deviation 
●   is  the  result  of  the  ith 
measurement 
● is the mean of the set of 
values 
● is the number of x 
values.  

 
___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

  Check Your Understanding 

 

A. Identify the term(s) being described in each item. 

___________________  1. It  is  used  to  indicate  any  uncertainty  in  measurement  if  the 
  uncertainty is not explicitly stated.  
 
___________________  2. It  quantifies  the  doubt  that  exists  in  any  reported 
 
 
measurement value.  
___________________  3. It  describes  how  close  the  measured  value  is  from  the  ‘true’ 
 
value.  
 
___________________  4. It  describes  the  scatter  or  the  variability  of  the 
  measurements made. 
 
___________________  5. It  is  the  sum  of  all  the  measured  values  divided  by  the 
  number of times the measurement is done.  
 
___________________  6. It  indicates  how  different  a  specific value is from the average 
  of a set of measurements.  
 
 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    22 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 

___________________  7. It affects the value of the uncertainty during measurement. 

 

___________________  8. This  symbol  is  used  to  report  any  uncertainty  in  the 
 
measurement.  
 
___________________  9. It  is  the  highest  precision  that  can  be  achieved  in  an  analog 
  device. 
 
___________________  10. It is the basis for estimating the precision of a digital device.  

B. Write true if the statement is correct. Otherwise, write false.  

 

___________________  1. High precision always implies high accuracy. 

 

___________________  2. When  measurement  values  are  very  close to each other, it is 

 
 
accurate.  
___________________  3. When  measurement  values  are  close  to  the  true  value,  it  is 
 
precise. 
 
___________________  4. The  larger  the  standard  deviation,  the  more  the  values  are 
  spread from the average. 
 
___________________  5. The  more  measurements  you  have,  the more you will get an 
ideal estimate of the mean or average. 
 

C. Solve  the  following  problems  using  the  concept  of  uncertainty, 

mean, and standard deviation. 

1. Give the range of values for the length of a book if it is reported as 120 mm ± 2 mm.  
2. Provide  the  range  of  values if a resistor is reported to have a resistance of 35 ohms ± 
15%. 
3. Calculate  the  arithmetic  mean  of  the  following  set  of  values:  15 g, 9 g, 8 g, 13 g, 12 g, 
10 g, and 11 g. 
4. What  is  the  speed  of  a  car in the third reading (in m/s) if the first two readings are 55 
km/h and 22 m/s and have an average speed of 25 m/s? 
5. Groups  A  and  B  measured  the  distance  traveled  by  a  toy  car  in  one  of  their 
laboratory  experiments.  Group  A  recorded  the  following  distances:  5.4  m,  4.5 m, 5.0 
m,  6.5  m,  3.2  m,  and  5.0  m.  Group B recorded the following distances using a similar 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    23 
 
  
Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 
 
setup:  5.5  m,  5.0  m,  5.1  m,  4.8  m,  4.9  m,  and  5.4  m.  Which  group  has  a  higher 
standard deviation? 
 

  Challenge Yourself 
 

A. Answer the questions briefly. Show your solution, if necessary.  

1. A  new  stopwatch  was  used  during  the  practice  of  a  high  school  track.  Its  manual 
indicates  that  it  has  an  uncertainty  of  ±  0.05  s.  Members  of  the  sprint  teams 
regularly  practice  their  100-m  sprints  ranging  from  12.49  s  to  16.01  s.  They  are 
planning  to  beat  the  school’s  last  track  meet  record,  wherein  the  first  place  has  a 
record  of  13.04  s  while  the  second  place  has  a  record  of  13.07  s.  Will  the  new 
stopwatch help in timing the sprint team? Defend your answer.  
2. A  list of the prevailing prices (in Philippine peso) for diesel in Quezon City for January 
2020  and  January  2019  is  listed  below.  Calculate  and  compare  their  standard 
deviations.  

Date  Petron  Shell  Caltex  Unioil  Seaoil  Total 

January 2020  40.70  43.15  43.20  40.70  42.25  41.00 

January 2019  33.80  33.50  33.45  34.15  33.70  33.95 

 

B. Answer the questions in two to three sentences only.  

1. Is a pH of 5.76 both more accurate and precise than a pH of 6.8? Why? Why not? 
2. If a measurement is precise, must it also be accurate? Explain your answer.  
3. A  dart  player  can  easily  check  whether  his  or  her  throws  are accurate by evaluating 
how far the darts are from the bull’s eye.   
a. How is this different from the scientists measuring natural phenomena? 
b. Is  there  a  way  for  scientists  to  check  the  accuracy  of  their  measurements? 
Explain your answer.  
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    24 
 
  

Unit 1: Physical Quantities and Measurements 

 

  Bibliography 
 
Bell,  Stephanie.  A  Beginner’s Guide to Uncertainty of Measurement (Issue 2). UK: Crown House, 
2001. 
 
Faughn,  Jerry  S.  and  Raymond  A.  Serway.  Serway’s  College  Physics  (7th  ed).  Singapore: 
Brooks/Cole, 2006. 
 
Hughes,  Ifan  G.  and  Thomas  P.A.  Hase.  Measurements  and  their  Uncertainties:  A  Practical 
Guide to Modern Error Analysis. UK: Oxford University Press, 2010.  
 
Kirkup,  L.  and  R.  B.  Frenkel.  An  Introduction  to  Uncertainty  in  Measurement.  UK:  Cambridge 
University Press, 2006. 
 
Serway,  Raymond  A.  and  John  W.  Jewett,  Jr.  Physics  for  Scientists  and  Engineers  with  Modern 
Physics (9th ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014. 
 
Young,  Hugh  D.,  Roger  A.  Freedman,  and  A.  Lewis  Ford.  Sears  and  Zemansky’s  University 
Physics with Modern Physics (13th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012. 
 

  Key to Try It! 

1. 28 m/s 
2. 1.35 m 
3. 49.05634 kg or 50 kg 
4. 2.11 cm 
5. 24.01 mg; 5.16 mg 
6. 4.48°C 
 

 
 

 
1.3. Uncertainties and Deviations in Measurement    25