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Error - Analysis 21
Error - Analysis 21
Error is the difference between a measurement and the true value of the
measurand (the quantity being measured).
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Error/Uncertainty Analysis
In science, the word error does not carry the usual connotations of the
terms mistake or blunder. Error in a scientific measurement means the
inevitable uncertainty that attends all measurements.
As such, errors are not mistakes; you cannot eliminate them by being very
careful. The best you can hope to do is to ensure that errors are as small
as reasonably possible and have reliable estimate of how large they are.
No measurement is perfect
• The uncertainty (or error) is an estimate of a range likely to include
the true value
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Examples of the importance of understanding uncertainty
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Types of errors
A random error makes the measured value both smaller and larger than
the true value.
Examples:
• Calibration of a balance
• Liquids evaporating.
• Spattering of chemicals
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Reading scales
The reading error in a measurement indicates how accurately the scale can
be read.
analog scales
In analog readouts the reading error is usually taken as plus or minus half
the smallest division on the scale, but can be one fifth of the smallest
division, depending on how accurately you think you can read the scale.
digital scales
In digital readouts the reading error is taken as plus or minus one digit on
the last readout number.
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Examples
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Values from textbooks, handbooks, etc.
Examples:
Tabulated values:
Fluid Density (g/cm3)
water 0.99820
gasoline 0.66-0.69
ethyl alcohol 0.791
turpentine 0.8
glycerin 1.260
mercury 13.55
Examples:
Tabulated values:
Fluid Density (g/cm3)
water 0.99820 ± 0.00001
gasoline 0.66-0.69 ± 0.01
ethyl alcohol 0.791 ± 0.001
turpentine 0.8 ± 0.1
glycerin 1.260 ± 0.001
mercury 13.55 ± 0.01
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Significant figures
The number 13.2 is said to have 3 significant figures. The number 13.20 is
said to have 4 significant figures.
Significant figures are critical when reporting scientific data because they
give the reader an idea of how well you could actually measure/report your
data.
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Exercise: Significant figures
Number
48,923
3.967
900.06
0.0004
8.1000
501.040
3,000,000
10.0
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Exercise: Significant figures
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Reporting uncertainties
(i) ‘best estimate’ of the value, (ii) uncertainty in the value, (iii) and
appropriate units
where
and
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Rule for Stating Uncertainties
Examples
The last significant figure in any stated answer should usually be of the
same order of magnitude (in the same decimal position) as the uncertainty.
92.8 ± 0.3 .
93 ± 3,
90 ± 30.
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Other best practices:
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Poor examples from the project reports of CBE students (Juniors)
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Fractional uncertainties
δx
fractional uncertainty =
xbest
δx
Because the fractional uncertainty is therefore usually a small number,
xbest
length = 50 ± 1 cm
length = 50 cm ± 2%
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Discrepancies
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iClicker questions
(a) zero
(b) one
(c) five
kg/m3 and have estimated the uncertainty to be 0.352 kg/m3. What is the
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Chemical and Biological Engineering II (CBE 102)
Exercise: Error Analysis (I)
3. Two students measure the length of the same rod and report the results
135 ± 3 mm and 137 ± 3 mm. Draw an illustration to represent these two
measurements. What is the discrepancy between the two
measurements, and is it significant?
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Exercise: Solution
1.
a. 5.03 ± 0.04 m
b. There is a strong case for retaining an extra digit: 1.5 ± 1 s
c. (-3.2 ± 0.3) x 10-19 C
d. (5.6 ± 0.7) x 10-7 m
b. (3.27 ± 0.04) x 103 grams-cm/s
2.
1.12 ± 0.02, which has three significant figures.
3.
Discrepancy = 2 mm, which is not significant.
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