Experimental Error Flashcards
1
Q
Gross Error
A
user error resolved by repeating experimentation
2
Q
Systematic error
A
flaws in experiment or experimental design
3
Q
Random error
A
due to uncontrolled variables or lack of strict controls
4
Q
Precision
A
- mechanical reproducibility
- how close are the data points to each other?
5
Q
Accuracy
A
- correctness
- how close to desired value
6
Q
Absolute uncertainty
A
amount measure off from correct value
7
Q
Relative uncertainty
A
comparing absolute uncertainty to the size of measurement
8
Q
Sf rules for multiplication and division
A
round down to value w/ least amount of sigfigs
9
Q
Sf rules for addtn and subtraction
A
- round down to smallest number of decimal places
- lowest error risk
10
Q
Sf rules for pwrs and logs
A
- follow mantissa and not characteristic value
- highest error risk
11
Q
Sf rule for constants
A
constants are infinitely significant
12
Q
Sf rule for mix of mathematical operations
A
use rules associated with greatest error risk
13
Q
Rule of 5’s
A
round to next even value to even round up and round down frequencies
14
Q
Sf’s for reports
A
- wait to round till end of calcuations
- look to limitation of value collecting device to determine proper # sf’s
15
Q
Sf rules
A
- all non zero #’s significant
ZEROS significant if - after decimal
- btwn 2 nonzeros
- 0 after decimal is accurate/ precise number
- constants (exact numbers) infinite significance
