Practical Skills Flashcards
Define ‘random error’
Unpredictable variation between measurements that leads to a spread of values about the true value
How can we reduce a random error
By taking repeat measurements
Does random error affect accuracy or precision
Precision
Define systematic error
Causes all readings to differ from the true value by a fixed amount
How can we reduce a systematic error
A different technique or apparatus should be used
Does spermatic error affect accuracy or precision
Accuracy
Define accuracy
A measure of hope close a measurement is to the true value
Define precision
A measure of how close a measurement is to its mean value. It only gives an indication the magnitude of random errors, not how close the data is to its true value
Define resolution
The smallest change in quantity that causes a visible change in the reading that a measurement instrument records
Define repeatable
The same experimenter can repeat a measurement using the same method and equipment and obtain the same value
Define reproducible
An experiment can be repeated by a different experiment using the same method and obtain the same results
Define uncertainty
The interval that a value is said to lie within with a given level of confidence
