Scientific Measurements

and Statistics
 Scientific
Measurement
describes a property of an object

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 Basic Categories

Mass Volume Time

Length Temperature

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 Accuracy and Precision
Accuracy Precision
Nearness of the measured value to the real or Reproducibility or closeness of the measured value
actual value in series of measurements

MEASURED VALUES MUST BE BOTH ACCURATE AND

PRECISE

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Statistics involved
Mean, Median, Standard
Deviation, and Variance

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 WHEN REPORTING VALUES
Mean Median
- arithmetic average of data set - central value of the data set

- Formula: - Odd numbered data set:

 middle value is selected

- Even numbered data set:

 mean of middle pair

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 REPORTING/EVALUATING RANDOM
ERRORS
Standard deviation Variance
- “Spreadness” of the data - Measure of precision

- Formula: - Formula:

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 Find the mean, median, std. dev, and variance

Coin 1 (mm) Coin 2 (mm) Coin 3 (mm) Coin 4 (mm) Coin 5 (mm)

2.301 2.295 2.299 2.304 2.307

 - Mean: - Median:

x̅ = Arrange in increasing order:

2.295 mm, 2.299 mm, 2.301 mm, 2.304 mm, 2.307 mm
x̅ = 2.301 mm
M = 2.301 mm

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 Coin 1 (mm) Coin 2 (mm) Coin 3 (mm) Coin 4 (mm) Coin 5 (mm) Mean (mm)

2.301 2.295 2.299 2.304 2.307 2.301

 - Standard deviation: - Variance:

s2 = (4.604 x 10-3) 2
- s = 4.604 x 10-3 mm s2 = 2.120 x 10-5 mm2

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When to use
which?
Choosing reported value: Mean or Median?

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 Q-test
Statistical tool for questionable
values/outliers

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 retained

Q-value < Q-crit

Reported Value:
Median

 
Questionable Q
Value

Reported Value:
Recalculated Mean
Q-value > Q-crit

rejected

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 Evaluate the outlier in the data set at 95% CL

Precipitate 1 (g) Precipitate 2 (g) Precipitate 3 (g) Precipitate 4 (g) Precipitate 5 (g)

0.4218 0.4237 0.4209 0.4215 0.4213

 - Mean: - Median:
Arrange in increasing order:
x̅ =
0.4209 g, 0.4213 g , 0.4215 g s, 0.2418 g, 0.4247
x̅ ≈ 0.4218 g g
M = 0.4215 g

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 - Q-crit at 95% level, N=5: 0.710
 - Q-value:
- Q-value < Q-crit: 0.4237 is retained from the
- Q = data.

- Reported value: median: 0.4215 g

- Q = 0.6786

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 SUMMARY
Solve for standand Choose which reported
Find mean and median
deviation and variance value

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