dealing with experimental uncertainty

Question 1

uncertainty

Answer 1

a range, estimated by the experimenter, which is likely to contain the true value of whatever is being measured

Question 2

absolute vs relative uncertainties

Answer 2

absolute: uncertainty expressed in physical units
relative: uncertainty expressed as a fraction of the value measured

Question 3

significant figures

Answer 3

an implicit way of indicating uncertainty, the last digit considered uncertain

Question 4

random error

Answer 4

an error present every time you take the measurement
- varies in size and direction
- follows statistical rules
- can be reduced by repeating experiment + using mean/average

Question 5

systematic error

Answer 5

an error that biases your measurements in a predictable way
- may not be found
- once found, results can be modified to reduce them

Question 6

illegitimate error

Answer 6

a one time mistake in the procedure that produces a bizarre value
- can be subtle and subconscious/accidental
- would case an outlier, therefore results are ignored

Question 7

precision of a measure

Answer 7

the total amount of random error present

Question 8

accuracy of a measure

Answer 8

how close a measured value is to the true value or accepted value

Question 9

scientific law

Answer 9

meant to describe, in concise terms, an action or set of actions
- true and universal
- can be equation

Question 10

hypothesis

Answer 10

an educated guess based upon observation
- has not been proved

Question 11

theory

Answer 11

an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times