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1.4 Understanding Measurements

The document discusses understanding measurements and reducing errors. It explains key terms like sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and types of experimental errors. Regarding sensitivity, the micrometer screw gauge is identified as the most sensitive instrument and most accurate for measurements due to having the most decimal places. Systematic and random errors are defined, and examples like zero error and parallax error are provided to illustrate how to minimize measurement errors.

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MakcikHajar
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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32 views

1.4 Understanding Measurements

The document discusses understanding measurements and reducing errors. It explains key terms like sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and types of experimental errors. Regarding sensitivity, the micrometer screw gauge is identified as the most sensitive instrument and most accurate for measurements due to having the most decimal places. Systematic and random errors are defined, and examples like zero error and parallax error are provided to illustrate how to minimize measurement errors.

Uploaded by

MakcikHajar
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

4
UNDERSTANDING
MEASUREMENTS
BY THE END OF THIS LESSON,
YOU SHOULD ABLE TO:

 Measure physical quantities using


appropriate instruments.
Explain sensitivity
Explain accuracy and consistency
 Explain types of experimental error
 Use appropriate techniques to reduce
errors
Using appropriate instrument to measure:

 Measuring tape – measure the length of


a table
 Metre rule – measure the length of a
book
 Vernier callipers – measure the breadth
of a wooden block
 Micrometer screw gauge – measure the
diameter of a glass rod
THE STUDENTS MEASURE THE
SAME BOOK BUT THEIR
READINGS ARE DIFFERENT.
WHY THE READINGS ARE DIFFERENT???
THE READINGS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE
THE INSTRUMENTS HAVE A DIFFERENT
SENSITIVITY.
Sensitivity :

THE ABILITY OF AN INSTRUMENT


TO MEASURE SLIGHT CHANGE IN
THE PHYSICAL QUANTITY BEING
MEASURE.
1. Which instrument is the most sensitive?
Micrometer Screw Gauge
2. Which measurement is the most accurate?
Micrometer Screw Gauge
3. Why?
It has the most number of decimal places
Answer
PRECISION AND
ACCURACY
Precise -> after taking a lot of
measurements, you notice that they
are all very close to each other.

Accurate -> after taking a


measurement, you find they agree
with the true value
Good Precision -> all the hits are
close to each other
Poor Accuracy -> the hits are not
near their intended target

Poor Precision -> the hits are not


near each other
Poor Accuracy -> the hits are not
near their intended target

Good Precision -> all the hits are close to


each other
Good Accuracy -> all the hits are near
their intended target
Precision
 The degree of closeness of a measured
value to the actual value.

Accuracy
 The degree of uniformity or
reproducibility of the measurements.
Two main type of experimental errors in
measurements:

 Systematic errors
 Random errors
Types of experimental error

1)Systematic error
Source of systematic errors.
○ Inappropriate choice of instrument.

○ Zero error.
Types of experimental error
2) Random Error
Parallax error – occur when the observer’s line of
sight is not perpendicular to the scale.

Human error while doing the measurement such


as when reading the scale or when counting the
number of oscillation.

Outside disturbance such as pressure.


Inappropriate choice of instrument
 To measure the thickness of your text book,
you need to use the more sensitivity
instrument to get the accurate value.

 By choosing the right instrument, you will


reduce the systematic error.

BACK
Zero Error
 Zero error – The starting position of the
pointer is not zero but some other value.

Zero mark on the main scale is not in line with the


zero mark on the vernier scale.
Zero Error
 Two types of zero error:
1. Positive zero error
2. Negative zero error.

 To eliminate the positive zero error, the reading


taken should be adjusted by deducting the value
of error from the measured reading.

 To eliminate the negative zero error, the reading


taken should be adjusted by adding the value of
error from the measured reading.
Zero Error
 To reduce systematic error due to zero error;
The instrument is adjusted so that the pointer
point to zero before making any measurement.
Subtracting the final reading with the value of the
zero error.
Correct reading = callipers reading – zero error

BACK
Parallax error

Why do the students get three different readings for


the same measurement?
It is because the readings are taken from a
different position.
The correct position of the eye when taking
a reading is when the line off sight is
perpendicular to the scale.

BACK
Answer
Answer

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