The document discusses measurement uncertainties and errors, including absolute, fractional, and percentage uncertainties. It provides examples of calculating uncertainties in sums, differences, products, quotients, and propagating uncertainties through calculations. Absolute error is the raw precision or uncertainty, while fractional error is the absolute error over the measured value and percentage error is the fractional error expressed as a percentage. To find uncertainties in sums/differences, you add the individual uncertainties, and to find uncertainties in products/quotients you add the fractional uncertainties.
The document discusses measurement uncertainties and errors, including absolute, fractional, and percentage uncertainties. It provides examples of calculating uncertainties in sums, differences, products, quotients, and propagating uncertainties through calculations. Absolute error is the raw precision or uncertainty, while fractional error is the absolute error over the measured value and percentage error is the fractional error expressed as a percentage. To find uncertainties in sums/differences, you add the individual uncertainties, and to find uncertainties in products/quotients you add the fractional uncertainties.
The document discusses measurement uncertainties and errors, including absolute, fractional, and percentage uncertainties. It provides examples of calculating uncertainties in sums, differences, products, quotients, and propagating uncertainties through calculations. Absolute error is the raw precision or uncertainty, while fractional error is the absolute error over the measured value and percentage error is the fractional error expressed as a percentage. To find uncertainties in sums/differences, you add the individual uncertainties, and to find uncertainties in products/quotients you add the fractional uncertainties.
The document discusses measurement uncertainties and errors, including absolute, fractional, and percentage uncertainties. It provides examples of calculating uncertainties in sums, differences, products, quotients, and propagating uncertainties through calculations. Absolute error is the raw precision or uncertainty, while fractional error is the absolute error over the measured value and percentage error is the fractional error expressed as a percentage. To find uncertainties in sums/differences, you add the individual uncertainties, and to find uncertainties in products/quotients you add the fractional uncertainties.
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Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties
1.2 – Uncertainties and errors
Guidance: • Analysis of uncertainties will not be expected for trigonometric or logarithmic functions in examinations Data booklet reference: • If y = a b then y = a + b • If y = a · b / c then y / y = a / a + b / b + c / c • If y = a n then y / y = | n · a / a | Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Absolute, fractional and percentage uncertainties Absolute error is the raw uncertainty or precision of your measurement. EXAMPLE: A student measures the length of a line with a wooden meter stick to be 11 mm 1 mm. What is the absolute error or uncertainty in her measurement? SOLUTION: The number is the absolute error. Thus 1 mm is the absolute error. 1 mm is also the precision. 1 mm is also the raw uncertainty. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Absolute, fractional and percentage uncertainties Fractional error is given by fractional error Absolute Error Fractional Error = Measured Value EXAMPLE: A student measures the length of a line with a wooden meter stick to be 11 mm 1 mm. What is the fractional error or uncertainty in her measurement? SOLUTION: Fractional error = 1 / 11 = 0.09. FYI ”Fractional” errors are usually expressed as decimal numbers rather than fractions. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Absolute, fractional and percentage uncertainties Percentage error is given by percentage error Absolute Error Percentage Error = Measured Value · 100%
EXAMPLE: A student measures the length of a line with a wooden meter stick to be 11 mm 1 mm. What is the percentage error or uncertainty in her measurement? SOLUTION: Percentage error = (1 / 11) ·100% = 9% FYI Don’t forget to include the percent sign. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Absolute, fractional and percentage uncertainties PRACTICE:
SOLUTION: Find the average of the two measurements: (49.8 + 50.2) / 2 = 50.0. Find the range / 2 of the two measurements: (50.2 – 49.8) / 2 = 0.2. The measurement is 50.0 0.2 cm. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Propagating uncertainties through calculations To find the uncertainty in a sum or difference you just add the uncertainties of all the ingredients. In formula form we have uncertainty in sums and differences If y = a b then ∆y = ∆a + ∆b FYI Note that whether or not the calculation has a + or a -, the uncertainties are ADDED. Uncertainties NEVER REDUCE ONE ANOTHER. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Propagating uncertainties through calculations To find the uncertainty in a sum or difference you just add the uncertainties of all the ingredients. EXAMPLE: A 9.51 0.15 meter rope ladder is hung from a roof that is 12.56 0.07 meters above the ground. How far is the bottom of the ladder from the ground? SOLUTION: y = a – b = 12.56 - 9.51 = 3.05 m ∆y = ∆a + ∆b = 0.15 + 0.07 = 0.22 m Thus the bottom is 3.05 0.22 m from the ground. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Propagating uncertainties through calculations To find the uncertainty in a product or quotient you just add the percentage or fractional uncertainties of all the ingredients. In formula form we have uncertainty in products and quotients If y = a · b / c then ∆y / y = ∆a / a + ∆b / b + ∆c / c FYI Whether or not the calculation has a or a , the uncertainties are ADDED. You can’t add numbers having different units, so we use fractional uncertainties for products and quotients. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Propagating uncertainties through calculations To find the uncertainty in a product or quotient you just add the percentage or fractional uncertainties of all the ingredients. EXAMPLE: A car travels 64.7 0.5 meters in 8.65 0.05 seconds. What is its speed? SOLUTION: Use rate = distance divided by time. r = d / t = 64.7 / 8.65 = 7.48 m s-1 ∆r / r = ∆d / d + ∆t / t = .5 / 64.7 + .05 / 8.65 = 0.0135 ∆r / 7.48 = 0.0135 so that ∆r = 7.48( 0.0135 ) = 0.10 m s-1. Thus, the car is traveling at 7.48 0.10 m s-1. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Propagating uncertainties through calculations PRACTICE:
SOLUTION: ∆P / P = ∆I / I + ∆I / I + ∆R / R ∆P / P = 2% + 2% + 10% = 14%. Topic 1: Measurement and uncertainties 1.2 – Uncertainties and errors Propagating uncertainties through calculations PRACTICE:
SOLUTION: ∆r / r = 0.5 / 10 = 0.05 = 5%. A = r2. Then ∆A / A = ∆r / r + ∆r / r = 5% + 5% = 10%. a. 3 b. 4 c. 3 d. 2
