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Deviation
Name:
Group members:
Date:
Instructor:
1. Review the rules of rounding numbers. Express the following numbers in scientific
notation, using only three significant figures.
Number
0.0320
23.370909092
2183980390
2053
1.0252
43353
3145.8888
104500001
.0000320099
10.11
2. Review the rules for significant figures in mathematical operations. Solve the following expressions.
Expression
323343 + 300
200. 54.6
8836 5
443/5
5.42
Answer
Physics 71.1
3. The following data are the results of measuring an observable using repeated trials:
5.34 .05 5.44 .05 5.3 .5 5.4 .1
How should the measurement be reported (central value uncertainty)? Write
your calculations below and box your final answer.
4. If the accepted value of the measurement of the observable in the previous question
is 5.5, is the measurement acceptable? Explain.
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EXPERIMENT
Measurement, Uncertainty, and Deviation
Objectives
In this experiment, the student is expected to:
determine the uncertainty of measured or calculated data from observables.
report correctly the measured or calculated data.
determine if the measured data is acceptable.
Introduction
Measurement and Uncertainty
A measurement is any property, called the observable, that is quantified. It is always
obtained by using an instrument, such as a weighing scale, a meter stick, a stop watch, or
even a hand as a basis for length. It is usually presented as a number and a unit, such as
54.0 kilograms, 82 meters, or 2.02 seconds. Measurements are very essential in physics.
It is a perennial goal of physicists to measure the smallest of the smallest of particles, to
the biggest of the biggest of galaxies, in order to understand the universe better.
Measurements can never be exact. Because of the limitations of the measuring device,
fluctuations in the environment, judgment of the experimented, and other things, no
matter how good a measuring device is, there is always a margin of doubt that exists.
This margin of doubt is quantified as the uncertainty. The uncertainty tells about
the quality of the measurement. It gives a range of values where the true value of the
measurement must lie. A smaller uncertainty means a better measurement.
Absolute and Relative Uncertainty
Uncertainties can be reported in two ways, as an absolute uncertainty and as a relative
uncertainty. Below is an example of a measurement with an absolute uncertainty:
54.0 .5 kg
(1)
This uncertainty means that the true value must lie between 53.5 kg and 54.5 kg. The
absolute uncertainty has the same unit as the central value of the measurement, which in
this case is 54.0. As a rule of thumb, the absolute uncertainty must always have only one
Measurement, Uncertainty, and Deviation
Physics 71.1
Correct
102.5 .5
103 1
2110 10
Incorrect
766.002 .52
55 0.11
98.2 12
significant figure, and the central value must have a significant figure only to the place
value of the absolute uncertainty.
On the other hand, relative uncertainties provide a percentage of the central value
wherein the true value must lie. An uncertainty can be converted from absolute to relative
and also from relative to absolute. If we convert the absolute uncertainty given above,
we have to divide it by the central value and multiply it by 100%:
54.0 ((.5/54.0) 100%) kg
(2)
54.0 kg 1%
(3)
Because the absolute uncertainty only has one significant figure, the relative uncertainty, which is obtained by dividing the absolute uncertainty, must also have only one
significant figure. This time, it is not required for the relative uncertainty to have the
same place value as the central value.
Uncertainty Propagation
The measurement itself is usually not the end point of an experiment. Most of the
time, the measurement is used to compute for other values. It is important to maintain
the correct value of the uncertainty, or else it might give an impression that using the
measurements in calculations improves the measurements, which can never be the case.
Uncertainty can only increase or remain the same after operating with measurements.
The rules in propagating uncertainties through mathematical operations are listed below.
Addition and Subtraction In adding or subtracting two measurements, one must
make sure first that they are of the same units. Measurements of different units cannot
be added to or subtracted from each other. The uncertainties of the measurements add
up, regardless if you add or subtract the central values. For example, if you subtract 82
1 m from 105 4 m, we will get 23 5 m. The uncertainty becomes 5, from adding
up 1 and 4, even though we subtracted the two central values. In case the uncertainty
gains more than one siginificant figure because of the operation, it must be rounded back
to one significant figure, and the central value must adjust accordingly.
Multiplication and Division In multiplication and division, it is fine even though
the factors have different units. The resulting value will adjust depending on the units
of the factors. As for their uncertainties, because their uncertainties have different units,
they cant just be added up as in addition and subtraction. One must first convert them
to relative uncertainties, before adding them together.
As an example, consider the height of a person, h = 1.61 .01 m, and the persons
mass, m = 65 2 kg. The Body-Mass Index (BMI) is equivalent to the persons mass in
kilograms over the square of the persons height. To compute for the persons BMI, all
uncertainties can first be converted to relative uncertainty. This would result to h = 1.61
.6 % and m = 65 3 %. Now, undergoing the operations, the relative uncertainty of
4
Introduction
Physics 71.1
(4)
(5)
If the relative deviation is reported as a percentage, it is also called the percent error.
Acceptability of a measurement
If we know the accepted value, we can also tell if the measurement is acceptable or not.
It will only be acceptable when the accepted value is included in the range provided
by the uncertainty of the measurement. We can do this by checking if the accepted
value is greater than the lowest point of the range and less than its highest point, or
alternatively, if we already have the deviation, just compare it with the uncertainty.
Measurement, Uncertainty, and Deviation
Physics 71.1
Introduction
Physics 71.1
Name:
Group members:
Date:
Instructor:
Data Sheet
1. Check if the following measurements are correctly reported. If yes, write C. If
not, write the correct way to report the measurement.
Measurement
5.03 .05
10.5 2.5
110 12
553.5 1
250 10
311.2 5 %
3. The following data are the results of measuring an observable using repeated trials:
76.5 .5 75.0 .5 76.22 .01 74.3 .2 75.7 .3
How should the measurement be reported (central value uncertainty)? Write
your calculations below and box your final answer.
Physics 71.1
5. If the accepted value of the volume of the box in the previous question is 2700.
cm3 , is the measurement acceptable? Discuss your answer.
Questions
1. What is the importance of reporting uncertainties? Why cant measurements be
exact without any doubt?
2. Can a measurement system be precise but not accurate, or be accurate but not
precise? Cite a situation when this can happen.
Introduction
Physics 71.1
3. Why do you think the absolute uncertainty is expressed using only one significant
figure, and why must the central value follow it? What difference would it make if
more than one significant figure is used in the uncertainty?
4. What are the examples of errors in measurement that repeated trials can minimize?
List down at least two errors.
5. Some physical constants are irrational, such as the value of . Why is it acceptable
to use only a rounded value of instead of using as many digits as you can when
using it in calculations? Discuss your answer.