C6/6A: Nature of random errors

Question 1

Always present and can never be totally eliminated and are often the major source of uncertainty

Answer 1

Random errors

Question 2

When the same procedure is applied to a very large number of random
uncertainties, a bell-shaped curve results.

Answer 2

Gaussian
curve or a normal error curve.

Question 3

The temperature of the water was also measured to determine its

Answer 3

density.

Question 4

in a set of replicate measurements can be defined as the difference
between the highest and lowest result.

Answer 4

The spread

Question 5

reveals information that is already present in a data set.

Answer 5

Statistical analysis

Question 6

allow us to categorize and characterize data and to
make objective and intelligent decisions about data quality and interpretation.

Answer 6

Statistical methods

Question 7

A ___ is the collection of all measurements of interest to the experimenter, while a ___ is a subset of measurements selected from the
population.

Answer 7

2. population
3. sample

Question 8

Gaussian curves can be described by an equation that contains two parameters, the ___ and the ___

Answer 8

1. population mean µ
2. population standard deviation .

Question 9

refers to quantities such as µ and  that define a population or
distribution.

Answer 9

parameter

Question 10

Data values such as x are

Answer 10

variables.

Question 11

refers to an estimate of a parameter that is made from a sample of data.

Answer 11

statistic

Question 12

the sum of the measurement values divided by
the number of measurements.

Answer 12

sample mean