University of San Carlos

School of Engineering
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Name: Neil John Perez
July 27, 2015
Subj/Sched: EE515N/3:30-4:30/MW
Ch.2 Self-test Solutions

Date Submitted:
Remarks:

1. Systematic Error is an error obtained where the readings of the measurement

system that are consistently on one side of the correct reading. Random
errors are perturbations of the measurement either side of the true value
caused by random and unpredictable effects, such that positive errors and
negative errors occur in approximately equal numbers for a series of
measurements made of the same quantity. Sources of Systematic Error
include system disturbance during measurement and the effect of
environmental changes. There can be a number of possible sources of

random errors and their source depends on the type of experiment and
the types of measuring instruments being used. Sources of random
error include observational error, Electrical Noise and irregular changes
in the heat loss rate from a solar collector due to changes in the wind.
2. The act of measurement itself can cause disturbance to the system in
a way that something new is being added to the system which can
introduce potential abnormalities to the system. If a thermometer
exposed to a cold environment for a long time is used to obtain the
temperature of the hot water in a beaker, then chances are the cold
temperature of the thermometer would in a way contaminate the
object to be measured by inducing coldness to the hot water which will
add error to the measurement.

3.

4. System designers are therefore charged with the task of either

reducing the susceptibility of measuring instruments to environmental
inputs or, alternatively, quantifying the effect of environmental inputs
and correcting for them in the instrument output reading. A good
measurement technician can substantially reduce errors at the output
of a measurement system by calculating the effect of such systematic
errors and making appropriate correction to the instrument readings.

5.

6.

7. There are actually many ways to combat systematic error in

instruments that are subjected to changing environment. Careful
instrument design is the most useful weapon in the battle against
environmental inputs; by reducing the sensitivity of an instrument to
environmental inputs to as low a level as possible. Another is the
method of opposing inputs compensates for the effect of an
environmental input in a measurement system by introducing an equal
and opposite environmental input that cancels it out. Another is by
using high-gain feedback in the measurement system, Instrument
calibration is a very important consideration in measurement systems
since all instruments suffer drift in their characteristics, and the rate at
which this happens depends on many factors, such as the
environmental conditions in which instruments are used and the
frequency of their use. Errors In the measurement can also be reduced
by calculating the effect of such systematic errors and making
appropriate correction to the instrument readings. Lastly is by utilizing
intelligent measuring instruments that measure the value of

environmental inputs and automatically compensate the value of the

output reading.
8.
9. Using MS Excel the following values are tabulated as well as the Mean,
Median and Standard Deviation are obtained.
Average Petrol
Consumption
25.5
30.3
31.1
29.6
32.4
39.4
28.9
30
33.3
31.4
29.5
30.5
31.7
33
29.2
Mean=31.05
Median=30.5
Standard
Deviation=3.00

10.
a.) A probability density function (PDF), or density of
a continuous random variable, is a function that describes the relative
likelihood for this random variable to take on a given value. (Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probability_density_function)
b.)

c.) Mean=1.537
Standard Deviation=0.021108

Accuracy of the mean=

=0.0066
n

If 1000 measurements are done, accuracy will improve by a factor of 10.

Current
Values
Deviati
ons
from
the
mean
Mean
Std.
Dev.

22.1

21.3

21.7

22

22.2

21.5
0.3

-0.3
21.8
0.3162
28

-0.5

-0.1

0.2

21.8

21.4

21.9

22.
1

-0.4

0.1

0.3

0.4

11.
The
the
Mean

Using MS Excel,
Mean, Std. Dev and
deviation from the
were obtained.

12.
13.

Q(1.5)=

14.

15.

16.

][ ]

17.

0.1
5
+
=0.0025
100
214
10V
Error=
=46.7 2.5 ohms
214 mA

18.

e= 0.012 +0.012+ 0.022+ 0.0052

E rror= 2.5%

19.

e=