BAHAGIAN PENDIDIKAN DAN

LATIHAN KEMAHIRAN MARA

EXPERIMENTAL WORKSHEET 2
SUBJECT NAME
SEMESTER
UNIT TITLE
SESSION TITLE

TASK
NAME OF
LABORATORY :
MEASUREMENT LAB

MEASUREMENT AND INSTRUMENTATION

3
UNIT 1- BASIC CONCEPTS OF INSTRUMENTATION AND
MEASUREMENT
ERROR IN EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ERRORS IN MEASUREMENT

DURATION :
2 HOUR

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PAGE : 1 of 4

TITLE: DETERMINING ERROR IN EXPERIMENTAL DATA

OBJECTIVES
To investigate sources of error in measurements and to apply the equations provided to
analyze the error.
Discussion
Error is defined as the deviation of a reading (or set of readings) from the expected value of
the measured variable. When we make measurements, some error is inevitable as no
measurement can yield the exact value of any quantity. There are several sources of error in
any experimental data. The primary concerns about analyzing experimental data are the
sources of error and the extent to which the error has affected the validity of the data.
This experiment consists of two parts. Part 1 is about error introduced by component
tolerances. Although there other sources of error in your data, such as instrument errors or
observational errors, the experimental data will be treated as though the only source of error
is due to variations in resistance values owing to manufacturing tolerances.
Part 2 covers errors in reading, which may be classified as gross error or observational error.
The instructor will provide a single resistor of unknown value, R x. Each student, in turn,
measures and records on a piece of paper his or her value of the resistor. All readings should
be made with the same ohmmeter. Students should not disclose their measurement to their
classmates until the instructor or a designated student has recorded all measurements on the
blackboard.
Equations
The following equations are used in performing this experiment
1.

Rave

R1 R2 ... Rn
n

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1

( Rmax Rave ) ( Rave Rmin )

2
2. Range of error =
Rave R x
100
R
x
3. Percent of error =
%
Where
Rx = actual value of the resistor
Rave = average value of the resistor

Rb Ra
4.

Eo
Ein E o . See Fig. 1.1

Figure 1.1 Experimental circuit

Apparatus
1. 1 dc power supply
2. 1 high-input-impedance voltmeter
3. 10 composition resistors, 2.2k
4. 1 composition resistor, 1k
REFERENCES
1. Analog Circuit Design, Art, Science, and Personalities, edited by Jim Williams,
Butterword Heinemann 1991.
2. Electronic Instruments and Measurements, Larry D. Jones & A. Foster Chin,
Prentice Hall, 1991.

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2

STEPS

WORKING DETAILS
PROCEDURE
Part A Error Caused by Component Tolerance
1. Set up the experimental circuit shown in Fig. 1.1.
2. Connect the voltmeter across Rb and adjust the input voltage until the
output is exactly 10V. Record the value of E in in the data table provided. Do
not change Ein throughout the remainder of the experiment.
3. Replace the decade resistor with one of the 2.2k composition resistors
and again record the value of Eo in the data table provided.
4. Place each of the remaining 2.2k resistors in the circuit, one at a time,
and record the value of Eo for each resistor.
5. Use equation 4 to compute the value of R b for each of the ten resistors.
6. Compute the average value of Rb. Enter in the data table.
7. Compute the range of errors in the values for R b. Enter in the data table.
8. Compute the percentage of error for the average value of R b, computed
in step 6, against the color-coded value of the resistors. Enter in the data
table.
Part B Error in Reading (Perform whenever Rx is available)
1. Each student measures and records the value of the resistor provided by
the instructor, using the meter provided by the instructor.
2. The instructor or a designated student will record the students readings
on the blackboard, after all readings have been made. The students will
enter these values in the data table.
3. Compute the average of the readings from step 2, using equation 1.
Enter in the data table.
4. Compute the range of errors in the readings from step 2, using equation
2. Enter in the data table.

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5. Compute the percentage of error of the average resistance computed in
step 3 compared to the actual value of the resistor as measured by the
instructor on a resistance bridge. Enter in the data table.
Table 1 Data Table

Component Tolerance Error

Eo

Rb values

Error in Reading

Ein

Resistance values

Average
Resistance

Average Rb

Range
errors

Range
errors

of

of

Percentage
of error

Percentage
of error

Actual value
of R