Subject & Code: Measurements and Instrumentation(19EEI373)

Unit-I: Basic Measurement Concepts

Topic for the class: Types of Errors
Date & Time: 26.07.2021 & 2:00-2:50pm
Dr.S.Neeraja
Assistant Professor
Department of EECE
GITAM Institute of Technology (GIT)
Visakhapatnam – 530045
Email: nsajja@gitam.edu

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Learning Outcome

By the end of this session,

Students will be able to understand the concept of types of
errors.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

20-07-2021 Department of EECE EEC451:Satellite Communications 2
 Topics to be covered

 Types of errors

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Types of Errors
 Error is the deviation of measured value from its true value.
 No measurement can be made with perfect accuracy but it is
important to find out what the accuracy actually and how
different errors have entered in to the measurement system.
 A study of errors is a first step in finding ways to reduce them.
Such a study also allows us to determine the accuracy of the
final test result.
 Types of static errors are
Gross errors
Systematic Errors
Random Errors
26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION
Gross Errors
 Gross errors are occurred mainly due to human mistakes in reading or
using instruments& in recording and calculating the results.
 These are cannot be eliminated completely but one should try to
anticipate and correct them. These are minimized.
 Theses errors cannot be treated mathematically
 Eg: Improper use of an instrument.
 This error can be minimized by taking proper care in reading and
recording measurement parameter.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Gross Errors(Contd.)
 Large gross errors can be attributed to carelessness or bad habits such as
improper reading of n instrument, recording the results differently from the
actual reading taken or adjusting the instrument incorrectly.
 Ex: Gross error may also occur when the instrument is not set to zero
before measurement is taken
 Good practice require making more than one reading of same quantity by
using different observers
 Therefore, several readings (at least three readings)preferably under the
condition in which the instrument is switched on-off.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

 Flash Quiz

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

 Systematic Error
 These errors occur due to shortcomings of the instrument, such as defective
or worn parts, or ageing or effects of the environment on the instrument.
 These errors are sometimes referred to as bias, and they influence all
measurements of a quantity alike.
 A constant uniform deviation of the operation of an instrument is known as
a systematic error.
 There are basically three types of systematic errors
(i) Instrumental
(ii) Environmental
(iii) Observational

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Systematic Error - (i) Instrumental Errors
 The Instrumental errors arise due to inherent shortcomings in
the instruments such as defective or worn parts & its mechanical
structure.
 Ex: In the d’ Arsonval movement , friction in bearings of
various moving components may cause incorrect readings
(mainly due to irregular spring tension, stretching of spring,
improper handling, overloading of the instrument. etc).
 Calibration errors are another type of instrumental error due to
this instrument can read low or high reading from its scale.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Instrumental errors can be avoided by
(a) selecting a suitable instrument for the particular
measurement
applications.
(b) applying correction factors after determining the amount of
instrumental error.
(c) calibrating the instrument against a standard.
(d) The procedure of measurement must be carefully planned.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Systematic Error - (II) Environmental Errors

 Environmental errors are due to conditions external to the

measuring device, including conditions in the area surrounding
the instrument, such as the effects of change in temperature,
humidity, barometric pressure or of magnetic or electrostatic
fields, dust, vibrations etc.
 These errors can also be avoided by
(i) air conditioning,
(ii) hermetically sealing certain components in the
instruments, and
(iii) using magnetic and electrostatic shields.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Systematic Error - (III)Observational Errors

 Observational errors are errors introduced by the observer. The most

common error is the parallax error introduced in reading a meter scale,
and the error of estimation when obtaining a reading from a meter scale.
 Ex: pointer of the voltmeter rests slightly above the surface of the
scale parallax error
 These errors are caused by the habits of individual observers. For
example, an observer may always introduce an error by consistently
holding his head too far to the left while reading a needle and scale
reading.
 These are eliminated by providing the mirror beneath the scale and
Knife edge pointer , by using digital displays.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

Another classification

 In general, systematic errors can be subdivided into static and

dynamic errors.
 Static – caused by limitations of the measuring device or the
physical laws governing its behavior.
 Dynamic – caused by the instrument not responding very fast
enough to follow the changes in a measured variable.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

 Random Errors

 These are errors that remain after gross and systematic errors
have been substantially reduced or at least accounted for.
 Random errors are generally an accumulation of a large number
of small effects and may be of real concern only in
measurements requiring a high degree of accuracy. Such errors
can be analyzed statistically.
 These errors are due to unknown causes, not determinable in the
ordinary process of making measurements.
 These errors are treated mathematically.

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

 Random Errors (Contd.)

 For example, suppose a voltage is being monitored by a voltmeter

which is read at 15 minutes intervals. Although the instrument
operates under ideal environmental conditions and is accurately
calibrated before measurement, it still gives readings that vary
slightly over the period of observation. This variation cannot be
corrected by any method of calibration or any other known
method of control.
 One method is increasing the no. of readings and using statistical
means to obtain the best approximation of the true value of the
quantity under measurement

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

 Session Quiz

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

 Thank you

26/07/2021 Department of EECE 19EEI373: MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION