144 C H A P T E R 3 • Analysis of Experimental Data

In the chapters that follow we shall examine a large number of instruments

and measurement devices and shall see how the concepts of error, uncertainty, and
calibration apply.

3.21 Review Questions

3.1. How does an error differ from an uncertainty?
3.2. What is a fixed error; random error?
3.3. Define standard deviation and variance.
3.4. In the normal error distribution, what does P(x) represent?
3.5. What is meant by measure of precision?
3.6. What is Chauvenet’s criterion and how is it applied?
3.7. What are some purposes of uncertainty analyses?
3.8. Why is an uncertainty analysis important in the preliminary stages of experi-
ment planning?
3.9. How can an uncertainty analysis help to reduce overall experimental
uncertainty?
3.10. What is meant by standard deviation of the mean?
3.11. What is a least-squares analysis?
3.12. What is the correlation coefficient?
3.13. What is meant by a regression analysis?
3.14. What is meant by level of significance; level of confidence?
3.15. How can statistical analysis be used to estimate experimental uncertainty?
3.16. How is Student’s t-distribution used?
3.17. How is the chi-square test used?
3.18. How can statistical analysis be used to determine the number of measurements
needed for a required level of confidence?
3.19. What is the coefficient of determination?
3.20. Why should one always make a graphical plot of data?
3.21. What does it mean when the correlation coefficient is 1.0?

3.22 Problems
Note: Problems marked with [C] may be worked with any appropriate computer
software available to the reader. In some cases, graphing calculators with printout
capabilities may also be employed.

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