Measurement and Data Processing Flashcards
How do you measure the uncertainty in analogue instruments?
+/- half the smallest division
how do you measure the uncertainty in digital instruments?
+/- half the smallest division
What are other sources of uncertainty?
reaction time
judging what is the
- equivalence point
- temperature at a particular time
- voltage of a cell
significant figures
digits in the measurement up to and including the first uncertain digit
experimental error
difference between the recorded value and the generally excepted value
what are the two categories of error?
random or systematic
random error
equal probability of result being too high or too low
what causes random error?
- readability of measuring instrument
- effects of changes in surroundings (temperature variations, air currents)
- insufficient data
- misinterpretation of data
how can random error be reduced?
repeated measurements
repeatable
the same person duplicates the experiment with the same results
reproducible
several experimenters duplicate the results
systematic error
- poor experimental design or procedure
- cannot be reduced by repeating the experiment
what causes systematic error?
- measuring volume from top of the meniscus
- overshooting volume in titration
- heat losses in exothermic reaction
uncertainty when add or subtract measurements?
sum of absolute uncertainties
uncertainty when multiply or divide measurements
sum of individual percentage uncertainties