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Uncertainties

The document defines key terms related to uncertainties in measurements: 1. It defines valid, repeatability, reproducibility, systematic error, random error, zero error, accuracy, precision, resolution, and uncertainty. 2. It provides more detailed explanations and examples for some terms, such as defining systematic error as a consistent, repeatable error due to equipment or technique, and defining precision as the smallest measurement that can be made. 3. It discusses calculating percentage uncertainties and provides rules for combining uncertainties when measurements are used in calculations.

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Chowdhury Mohammed Tawhid Tasneef
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50 views17 pages

Uncertainties

The document defines key terms related to uncertainties in measurements: 1. It defines valid, repeatability, reproducibility, systematic error, random error, zero error, accuracy, precision, resolution, and uncertainty. 2. It provides more detailed explanations and examples for some terms, such as defining systematic error as a consistent, repeatable error due to equipment or technique, and defining precision as the smallest measurement that can be made. 3. It discusses calculating percentage uncertainties and provides rules for combining uncertainties when measurements are used in calculations.

Uploaded by

Chowdhury Mohammed Tawhid Tasneef
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Uncertainties

1. Define valid.
2. Define repeatability.
3. Define reproducibility.
4. Define systematic error.
5. Define random error.
6. Define zero error.
7. Define accuracy.
8. Define precision.
9. Define resolution.
10.Define uncertainty.
Uncertainties

1. Valid – measurements are of the required data, can be used to give the required data and have been obtained using an acceptable method. A
conclusion can be made, which can be believed as it reflects reality.

2. Repeatability – an experiment or measurement that gives that same results when it is repeated by the original experimenter using the same method
and equipment.

3. Reproducibility - Similar results are obtained by different investigators with different equipment

4. Systematic error – a consistent, repeatable error due to the equipment, method or technique i.e. the error has a pattern or trend or bias.

5. Random error – the unpredictable varying of a quantity from one measurement to the next. It can only be reduced by carrying out repeats and
calculating a mean.

6. Zero error – a systematic error due to a non-zero reading when the quantity to be measured is zero. This makes all measured values too high or too
low.

7. Accuracy - Measurements that are close to the true value.


8. Precision - Measurements that cluster closely together.
9. Resolution - The smallest measurement that can be made using a piece of equipment.

10. Uncertainty - How much at most a measurement can be off from the true value.
What are Uncertainties?

What do you think this is?


Clue - It is very old!

This is GRB 090429B and it is thought to be


the remnants of one of the first stars “born”
after the Big Bang.

It is 13,140,000,000 ± 20,000,000 years old


Uncertainty - How much at most a measurement can be off from the true value.
If a farmer says his field is 1250 metres long give or take a metre’’

He is not entirely sure of the true value but he is sure it lies somewhere between 1249m and 1251m.

1250m is a reading and the ‘give or take’ expresses doubt or uncertainty. A metre is the extent of this
uncertainty, ± 1m

Instrument (typical)

Uncertainty
mm scale (ruler) 1mm or 0.1cm
Stop watch 0.01s
Weighing scale 1g
Thermometer with 0.10C

The smallest division measurable in an instrument can be defined as its precision.


We can use this value as the absolute uncertainty.
Example
A piece of string was measured to be 8.3cm

= (8.3 ± 0.1) cm

The uncertainty ± 0.1 cm is called the absolute uncertainty in

The fractional uncertainty or relative uncertainty in is = ± = ± 0.012


where is the absolute uncertainty in

Percentage uncertainty in is defined as () x 100%


Percentage uncertainty = Fractional uncertainty x 100%

Percentage uncertainty in is ± 0.012 x 100 = ± 1.2%


Calculating Percentage Uncertainties

Reading on meter = 12.6V


Finest division = 0.2V

𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑥 100


% 𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦=
𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛

0.2 𝑥 100
%  𝑈𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 = =1.6 %
12.6
Task
Calculate the percentage uncertainties for the following measurements:
1 2

0.3%
0.03%

3. 100m record of 9.6s 1.0%

4. Extension of 0.002m (2mm) 50%

5. Extension of 0.045m (45mm) 2.2%


Combining Uncertainties

Suppose I want to work out the density of the block.


𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑘𝑔)
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 3
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 (𝑚 )
Mass = 0.500 ± 0.001 kg
Volume = (6.25 ± 0.25) x 10-5 m3

To work out the uncertainty in the density, I have to combine the uncertainty in the
mass with the uncertainty in the volume.
Steps
1. Work out the percentage uncertainty in the volume and the mass.
4.20%
2. Then add these together.
THE RULES

What happens in the formula What to do to calculate uncertainties


Add percentage uncertainty of A with
AxB or A÷B percentage uncertainty in B

Double the percentage uncertainty of A


A2
Multiply the percentage uncertainty by n
An
Questions
The period T of a pendulum is related to its length l by the equation where g is
the acceleration of due to gravity.

1. Rearrange to show that


.
2. In an experiment = 0.500m, T = 1.42s. Calculate a value for g.

3. Estimate the percentage uncertainty in g.

4. Estimate the absolute uncertainty in g to 2 d.p.


The period T of a pendulum is related to its length l by the equation where g is
the acceleration of due to gravity.

1) Rearrange to show that 2) In an experiment = 0.500m, T = 1.42s.


Calculate a value for g.
(Square both sides)
(Multiply both sides by g) Substitute values in to

(divide both sides by )


3) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in g.

l = 0.500m, T = 1.42 s

Ablolute uncertainty () = 0.001


Ablolute uncertainty () = 0.01 4) Estimate the absolute uncertainty in g to 2 d.p.

% uncertainty in Fractional uncertainty =


Absolute uncertainty () = Fractional uncertainty x g
% uncertainty in T

From the rules


• is divided T so we need to add the percentage
uncertainties together
• But T is squared so we count this twice.

% uncertainty in g = (0.2%) + 2(0.7%)


% uncertainty in g = 1.6%
1. ∆ h=0.1 𝑚
2.

∆𝑡 0. 01
3. 𝑥 100= 𝑥 100=2.04 %
𝑡 0.49
𝑎 𝑡2 2 𝑆 2 𝑥 1.2 −2
4. 𝑆=𝑢𝑡 + 𝑎= 2 = 2
=10.0 𝑚𝑠
2 𝑡 0.49
%
∆𝑎 12.4 𝑥 10.0 −2
6. 𝑥 100=12.4 %  ∆ 𝑎= =1.24 𝑚𝑠
10.0 100 𝑎=10.0 ± 1.24 𝑚𝑠 − 2
Practice
Answers
Answers

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