Measurements

Question 1

Define systematic error

Answer 1

Systematic errors are errors of measurements in which the measured quantities are different from the true value by a fixed magnitude and constant sign.

Question 2

Define random error

Answer 2

Random errors are errors of measurements in which the measured quantities are different from the mean value with varying magnitudes and different signs.

Question 3

Reducing random errors

Answer 3

Random errors can only be minimized (but not eliminated) through various approaches.

Question 4

Reducing systematic errors

Answer 4

Systematic errors can be eliminated to obtain the true value of a measured quantity

Question 5

Define Accuracy and account for the type of error

Answer 5

Accuracy is a measure of how close the average of the measured values is to the true value. A highly accurate set of measured values has a small systematic error (ie. The mean of the values is close to the true value – small deviation of the mean to the true value)

Question 6

Define precision and account for the type for error

Answer 6

Precision is a measure of how close each measured value agrees with one another. A highly precise set of measured values contains small random errors (ie. All the values are close to each other – small spread of values).

Question 7

Actual, Percentage and fractional uncertainty S.f. values

Answer 7

Actual 1sf fractional and percentage 2 sf