Uncertainty & Errors in

Measurement

Waterfall by M.C. Escher

Objectives
Difference

between random errors

(uncertainties) and systematic
errors
Difference between precision and
accuracy
Repeatable
Reproducible
Outliers

Calculations involving addition &

subtraction
When adding and subtracting quantities,
the absolute uncertainties are added.
Example:
(a) Mass of 1st zinc = 1.21g 0.01g
Mass of 2nd zinc = 0.56g 0.01g
Total mass of the 2 pieces of zinc =
(b) Final burette reading = 38.46 cm 3 0.05 cm3
Initial burette reading = 12.15 cm 3 0.05
cm3
Volume titrated =
WS

Calculations involving
multiplication & division
When multiplying or dividing quantities,
then the percent (or fractional)
uncertainties are added.
Example:
Molarity of NaOH(aq) = 0.20 M ( 0.05 M)
Percentage uncertainty =
Volume of NaOH(aq) = 25.00 cm3 ( 0.10 cm3)
Percentage uncertainty =
Therefore, the no. of moles of NaOH =
May convert % uncertainty back to absolute uncertainty.

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Example
When the temperature of 0.125kg of
water is increased by 7.20C. Find the
heat required.
Heat required
= mass of water x specific heat capacity x
temperature rise
= 0.125 kg x 4.18 kJ kg-1 0C-1 x 7.20C
=

Since the temperature recorded only has 2 sig fig,

the answer should be written as ____________

WS

Multiple math operations

Example: 5.254 + 0.0016
34.6

2.23110 -3

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Quoting values with

uncertainties

Measured value Value you

uncertainty
should quote
253.4 0.3
253.56 0.1
0.06200
0.0001
261.4 8
261.4 20
261.4 100
The uncertainty is usually quoted to one significant figu
Your measurement should be stated so that the
significant is in the last significant figure.

Errors (uncertainties) in raw data

When a physical quantity is taken,
the uncertainty should be stated
These uncertainties may be
estimated by
from the smallest division from a
scale
from
the last significant figure in a
.
digital measurement
from data provided by the
manufacturer

Digital Instruments
If the balance is accurate to
+/- 0.001g, the measurement is
45.310g
If the balance is accurate to +/- 0.01g,
the
measurement is 45.31g
Uncertainty for digital instrument :
+/- the smallest division

Analogue Instruments
A burette of value 34.1cm3
becomes 34.10cm3 (0.05cm3)
Note: the volume is cited to 2
decimal places so as to be
consistent with the uncertainty.
Uncertainty for analogue instrument:
half of the smallest division.

Higher

levels of uncertainty is
normally indicated by an
instrument manufacturer.

WS:Practice

Random Errors
Arise

from the imprecision of

measurements and lead to readings
being above or below the true value.

Random Errors are caused

by
The

readability of the measuring

instrument.
The effects of changes in the
surroundings such as
temperature variations and air
currents.
Insufficient data.
The observer misinterpreting the
reading.

Minimizing Random Errors

By
using more precise measuring
equipment
repeating measurements so that
te random errors cancel out.

Systematic Errors
Arise

from a problem in the

experiment set-up that results in
the measured values deviating
from the true value in the same
direction, that is always higher or
always lower.

Examples of Systematic Errors

Miscalibration

of a measuring device.
Measuring the volume of water from
the top of the meniscus rather than
the bottom will lead to volumes
which are too ________.
Overshooting the volume of a liquid
delivered in a titration will lead to
volumes which are too ______ .
Poor insulation in calorimetry
experiments

Minimizing Systematic
Errors
Control

the variables in your lab.

Design a perfect procedure
( not ever realistic)

Percentage Uncertainty &

Percentage Error
Systematic error can be identified by
comparison with accepted literature
values.

accepted value-experimental value

Percentage error =
100%
accepted value

absolute uncertainty
Percentage uncertainty =
100%
measured value

Practice Qn
(a) Density

=
(b) Percentage uncertainty of
(i) Mass
(ii) Volume
(iii) Density

(c) Percentage error

Comment on the error

The

percentage error (4.5%) is

greater than the percentage
uncertainty (2.9%)
The literature value does not fall
within the range 0.63 +/- 0.02 g/ml.
Since random error is estimated by
the uncertainty and it is smaller than
the percentage error, systematic
errors are at work making the
measured data inaccurate.

Data from Preparation of a Standard

Solution
0.001g
( Electronic Balance is accurate to
Mass of anhydrous Na2CO31.104
= g 0.001g
Titration
3

0.05cm
( Burette is accurate to

Initial
Volume
0.05cm3

Final
Volume
0.05cm3

Volume of Acid
0.10cm3

60.00

53.50

6.50

53.50

47.00

6.50

47.00

40.00

7.00

Average :

6.70

0.5cm
( Measuring cylinder is accurate to
)
3
3
3
3
6.70
cm

0.10
cm
10.0cm 0.5cm
of Na2CO3 is titrated with

HCl.

Percentage uncertainties due to

measurements
0.001
100% 0.0906%
Mass of Na2CO3 =
1.104
0.05
100% 0.7463%
Volume of HCl =
6.70

Volume of Na2CO3 =0.5 100% 5%

10.0

Total percentage uncertainty

0.0906% 0.7463% 5% 5.837%

How do we quote the value in the

report?
Molarity of HCl from experiment
1.104 1000 10 2 1000

0.3109
=
106 100 1000 1 6.70

Absolute uncertainty of molarity of HCl

5.837
0.3109 0.02 one significant figure
100

Therefore the concentration of HCl is

0.31 0.02moldm 3

Comparing % error & % random

uncertainty

Since the percentage error

(55.45%) is greater than the
percentage random uncertainty
(5.837%), it is suggested that the
experiment involves some
systematic errors.

How trustworthy is your reading?

Example
A mercury thermometer could
measure the normal boiling
temperature of water as 99.50C
(0.50C) whereas
A data probe recorded it as
98.150C (0.050C) .
Which is more accurate? more
precise?

If all the temperature reading is 20 0C

but the true reading is 190C .
This gives us a precise but
inaccurate reading.
If you have consistently obtained a
reading of 200C in five trials. This
could mean that your thermometer
has a large systematic error.
systematic error
random error

accuracy
precision

systematic error
random error

accuracy
precision

Graphical Technique
y-axis

: values of dependent
variable
x-axis : values of independent
variables

Plotting Graphs
Give

the graph a title.

Label the axes with both quantities and
units.
Use sensible linear scales no uneven
jumps.
Plot all the points correctly.
A line of best fit should be drawn clearly. It
does not have to pass all the points but
should show the general trend.
Identify the points which do not agree with
the general trend.

Line of Best Equation

Temperature (0 Volume of Gas
C)
(cm3)

Change in volume of a fix ed gas heated at a constant pressure

74.0

20.0

60.0

72.0

30.0

63.0

70.0

40.0

64.0

68.0

50.0

67.0

66.0

60.0

68.0

70.0

72.0

Volume (cm3)

64.0
62.0
60.0
58.0
56.0
54.0
10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

temperature (0C)

60.0

70.0

80.0

Graphs

can be useful to us in
predicting values.
Interpolation determining an
unknown value within the limits
of the values already measured.
Extrapolation requires
extending the graph to determine
an unknown value that lies
outside the range of the values
measured.