INSTITUTO POLITECNICO NACIONAL

ESCOM

Instrumentation Laboratory.

Practice 1

Determination of errors in instruments

Objective

At the end of practice the student will learn to handle errors in measuring
instruments in this way to find the most accurate possible value of the variable in
question.

Material

1 analog multimeter
1 digital multimeter
1 oscilloscope
1 variable source VCD
One function generator
4 banana-banana cables
2 banana-cayman cables
2 oscilloscope cables
1 BNC-BNC cable
protoboard
resistors
Introduction

The difference between the observed value (measured by test) of a physical

quantity and its true value is called observation error.

i= X X
i v

Where:

i = It is the observation error

Xi = The different values that takes the physical quantity

Xv = The true value of the measured physical quantity.

All magnitudes obtained by testing, in general, contain errors determined by

several causes. According to their causes measurement errors are divided into:

1) Systematic and instrumental errors caused by defects in the measuring

instruments, inaccuracies graduation scales, inaccuracies in measuring pressures
or forces, deformations, etc. It allows reducing the systematic errors to be careful
when installing and running experience, or to identify and correct nature. These
errors can be minimized, or accurately enough taken into account by means of the
so-called type B. Uncertainty

2) Casual or random errors, which depend on the sensitivity of the measuring

instruments, changing conditions (environmental) external (temperature, humidity,
pressure, etc.). These errors are impossible to eliminate and reduce their influence
is often repeated measurement, so that they can be considered in determining its
distribution law, and by statistical treatment to determine the call type A.
Uncertainty

3) Errors or oversights clubs, as the name says are due to obvious errors in the
measurement process (misreading of the scale, malfunction, changes in feed
stream), these errors must be identified and the data discarded.
 Development of the practice

1.-Calculation of more accurate value

Using digital Ohmmeters, each participant of the team will measure twice the
resistance of resistor 470 to fill Table 1

Participants Digital ohmmeter 1 Digital ohmmeter 2

Participant 1 472.8 471.71
Participant 2 473 473.2
Participant 3 473.1 471.69
Participant 1 473 471.73
Participant 2 473.3 471.80
Participant 3 472.8 471.84

In this case the measured variable is the resistance which we will call variable X,
for each type of ohmmeter we made Xi measurements, so proceed to calculate the
average Xprom using the next mathematical expression:

Xi
Xprom=
n

Xprom Analog ohmmeter = 473

Xprom Digital ohmmeter = 471.86

Proceed now to fill Table 2 with calculated values of waste, taking into account the
following expression , observe how they can be < 0 take the absolute value as
follows :

Xi= Xi Xprom

Xi Xi
(Digital ohmmeter 1) (Digital ohmmeter 2)
X1 = .2 X1 = .276
 X2 = 0 X2 = 2.786
X3 = .1 X3 = .296
X4 = 0 X4 = .256
X5 = .3 X5 = .186
X6 = .2 X6 = .146
Below we calculate the average of the absolute value of residuals (r) using the
following expression:

1
Ri
r= n

r (Digital ohmmeter 1) r (Digital ohmmeter 2)

r = 0.133 r = 0.65766

Now assuming that the set of actions X1, X2, ... Xn have a Gaussian distribution
can obtain a simple formula for the standard error (rm) as follows.

m = Analog ohmmeter m = Digital ohmmeter

m = 0.07434 m = 0.3676

We obtained the standard error and is called Peters formula so we express the
result as:

Y = Xprom m

Y Digital ohmmeter 1 = 473 0.07434

Y Digital ohmmeter 2 = 471.986 0.3676

2.-Indirect measurements
Assemble the circuit of Figure 1 and, without even energizing, set the value of the
variable resistors to 1. Use for this the ohmmeter with the greatest accuracy was
obtained in the previous exercise, and note that "measured value" in table 4.

Later energize the circuit from the reference voltage delivered by the power supply,
proceed to measure voltage and current on each of the resistors and fill Table 3.

Supply V RI VR2 I RI I R2
Voltage (E)
 2 0.979 V 0.98 V 1.12 mA 1.12 mA
4 1.991 V 1.88 V 2.22 mA 2.22 mA
6 3.013 V 2.95 V 3.29 mA 3.29 mA
8 4.06 V 3.89 V 4.43 mA 4.43 mA
10 5.12 V 4.90 V 5.51 mA 5.51 mA

Using Ohm's law, determine the value of resistance. This value is considered as
the "real value" indirectly obtained for each of the reference voltages listed in Table
4. Then determine the error rate of the ohmmeter used

VR 1 VR2
R 1= R 2=
I I

Measured valueReal Value X 100

Real Value
%Error=

Supply R1 R2 R1 R2 % %
Voltage (V) Error Erro
Measured Measured Real value Real value
R1 r
value value
R2
2 906 921 874.10 875 3.64 5.25
4 896.84 846 1.02 8.86
1
6 915.80 896.65 1.07 2.71
 8 916.47 878.10 1.14 5.79
10 1044.89 889.29 13.2 3.56
9

3. Pattern Measurement
Using the oscilloscope set the function generator to a sine wave with an of
amplitude 10Vp-p with a frequency of 60 Hz

Consider the oscilloscope as a pattern instrument, next up determine the error

percentage from the voltmeter and fill Table 4

VRMS Vpp VRMS Vpp % Error % Error

real real measured measured (VRMS) (Vpp)
3.6 V 10 3.54 10.01 0.88 0.1

Questionnaire
1. - The following resistance measurements of a given coil of wire in Ohms ()
were obtained. Calculate the standard error and the most accurate resistance
value.

5,615 5,624 5,620 5,628 5,613

5,622 5,618 5,633 5,624 5,659

Xprom = 5625.6

Ri:

10.6 1.6 5.6 2.4 12.6

.6 7.6 7.4 1.6 33.4

Ri: 83.4

R: 8.34

Typical Error: 3.475

Most Accurate Resistance Value: 5,625.6 3.475

2. Why is it important to determine the error of the measuring instruments?

Because wherever measurements are made open a minimum of error, and this is
due to the different types of errors that exist. So when we make a measurement we
should approach the true value of what we are measuring to have real value.

3. - What types of errors do you know?

Error due to the measuring instrument: Whatever the accuracy of the design
and manufacture of an instrument always have imperfections. These, with
the passage of time, we have to add the imperfections through wear. The
we can avoid having a good tool.
Error Due to operator: The operator influences the results of a measurement
by the imperfection of their senses as well as possessing the ability to
perform the action. Existing trends to avoid these sources of error are the
use of measuring instruments in which largely eliminates operator
intervention.
Error Due to environmental factors: This error arises because the
humedadmy influences other factors. You can avoid this error having a
space exclusively to measure.

4. - List some sources of error

Normality and abnormality

Sources of variation
random error
systematic error

Conclusions
In this practice we learned to observe and handle errors in measuring instruments,
comparing them with different tools that help us see the values we are calculating.
Having an error in the measuring instrument can result from various causes. Those
who can somehow predict calculate removed by calibration and compensation are
called deterministic or systematic and relate to the accuracy of the measurements.
Although it is impossible to know all the causes of the error is necessary to know
all the important causes and have an idea to assess the most common mistakes.
The main causes that produce errors can be classified into:

Error due to the measuring instrument.

Error due to operator.

Error due to enviromental factors.

Error due to geometrical tolerances

Bibliography
http://es.slideshare.net/RossiGarciaRoman/errores-en-la-mediciones-y-fuentes-de-
error-41628013

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Error_de_medici%C3%B3n

http://tecnologiaeinformatica.bligoo.es/fuentes-de-error-y-herramientas-para-las-
mediciones-de-estos