Uncertainties and

Deviations in
Measurement
The Global Positioning
System (GPS receivers)
can automatically
work out the position
of a person or a
specific place.
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However, there are
times when your
desired location in the
navigation app is
several meters away
from your actual
location.
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 Some conclusions and discoveries in the
sciences are “not absolute” and might change
after some time as technology and scientific
knowledge advance.

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What is uncertainty, and how
do we address it in
measurements?

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Measurement

Measurement is quantifying a property of an object.

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 Measurement

Suppose you want to measure the thickness of this book.

What unit of measurement will you use?

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Measurement

What instrument or equipment will you use in

measuring the thickness of this book?

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Measurement

Can a measuring tape be used in measuring the

thickness of the book?

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 Measurement

Can a ruler be used in measuring the thickness of the

book?

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 Measurement

Can a vernier caliper be used in measuring the thickness

of the book?

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 Measurement

Which of the instruments or equipments shown is best to

use in measuring the thickness of the book? Why?

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How does accuracy differ from
precision?

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 Measurement

How do we describe a good measurement?

● Error: difference between the true value and the

measured value.

● Uncertainty: net effect of error; quantifies the doubt

that exists in any reported value of the measurement.

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 Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy
It indicates how close the measured value is to the true
value.

21.7 ± 0.2 mm

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 Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy
The actual range can be calculated by a value higher and
lower by 0.2 mm from the true value.

21.5 mm to 21.9 mm

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 Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy
Accuracy can also be expressed in terms of fractional
error or percent error.

21.7 ± 0.9 %

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 Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy
When accuracy is not explicitly stated, it can be indicated
by the correct number of significant figures.

21.7 ⟶ 3 SF

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 Accuracy and Precision

Precision
It describes the scatter or the variability of a set of
measurements made.

21.7, 21.6, 21.5 ⟶ precise

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 Accuracy and Precision

Which measurement is precise? Which is accurate? Which is both

accurate and precise? Which is neither accurate nor precise?
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Accuracy and Precision

Does high accuracy means high precision?

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Accuracy and Precision

Does high precision means high accuracy?

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 Precision of Measurements

The Precision of an Analog Device

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Precision of Measurements

Can you precisely read the measurement in A? Why?

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 Precision of Measurements

Can you precisely read the measurement in B? Why not?

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As a rule of thumb, the highest
precision that can be achieved in an
analog device such as a ruler is half a
division.

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 Precision of Measurements

The Precision of a Digital Device

The voltage of a battery can be measured using a multimeter.

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 Precision of Measurements

The Precision of a Digital Device

Suppose you repeatedly measured the voltage of a battery
and got 5.61 V.

5.61
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 Precision of Measurements

The Precision of a Digital Device

How will you know its uncertainty?

5.61
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 Precision of Measurements

The Precision of a Digital Device

There are manufacturers who specify the uncertainty of the
digital device.

5.61 5.61±0.005
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As a rule of thumb, the precision of a
digital measuring device is limited to the
last decimal point or last digit.

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 Basic Statistical Calculations

Measuring the thickness of a book once may result in low

accuracy.

21.7 mm

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 Basic Statistical Calculations

Measuring the thickness of a book multiple times may

increase accuracy.

21.7 mm,
21.5 mm,
21.6 mm.
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What is the difference between
the arithmetic mean and the
standard deviation?

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 Basic Statistical Calculations

Arithmetic Mean,
Also known as average mean, it gives an estimate of the
‘true’ value.

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 Basic Statistical Calculations

Arithmetic Mean,
● Measurements between 4 to 10 are usually sufficient.
● To calculate,

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In a physics laboratory activity, you are tasked to
measure the mass of a cup of water. You were able
to get five readings as follows: 2.5 kg, 2.6 kg, 2.5 kg,
2.4 kg, and 2.6 kg. What is the average mass?

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In a physics laboratory activity, you are tasked to
measure the mass of a cup of water. You were able
to get five readings as follows: 2.5 kg, 2.6 kg, 2.5 kg,
2.4 kg, and 2.6 kg. What is the average mass?

The average mass of a cup of water is 2.52 kg or 2.5 kg.

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While the car was moving, seven
readings of its speed were recorded
using the speedometer. The readings
are 25 m/s, 27 m/s, 30 m/s, 35 m/s, 26
m/s, 28 m/s, and 24 m/s. What is the
average speed of the car?

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The mass of a sample of steel was measured three
times in a digital balance. Its average mass is 1.117 g.
The first trial reads 1.125 g while the second trial
acquired 1.067 g. What is the mass of the steel in the
third trial?

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The mass of a sample of steel was measured three
times in a digital balance. Its average mass is 1.117 g.
The first trial reads 1.125 g while the second trial
acquired 1.067 g. What is the mass of the steel in the
third trial?

The mass of steel in the third trial is 1.159 g.

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In one of the laboratory activities, the
distance traveled by a toy car was
measured five times. The distances
measured in the first four trials are 1.50
m, 1.75 m, 1.30 m, and 1.50 m. If the
average distance is 1.48 m, what is the
distance traveled by the car in the fifth
trial?
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 Basic Statistical Calculations

Standard Deviation
It indicates how different a specific value is from the
average of the whole set.

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Make sure to look at the standard
deviation of how much the values are
spread out. This will help you make an
informed decision and data analysis not
only in science and engineering but also
in other fields.

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 Basic Statistical Calculations

Estimated Standard Deviation,

● Estimated when the data set is small.
● To calculate,

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Different people were made to accurately measure
the length of the hall. The set of readings is as
follows: 26 m, 0.028 km, 27.5 m, 29 m, 31 m, 0.033 km,
and 2 650 cm. What is the standard deviation of this
set of values in m?

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Different people were made to accurately measure
the length of the hall. The set of readings is as
follows: 26 m, 0.028 km, 27.5 m, 29 m, 31 m, 0.033 km,
and 2 650 cm. What is the standard deviation of this
set of values in m?

The standard deviation is 2.51 m.

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The temperature of hot water was
measured 10 times in one experiment.
Different people measured the same
container of hot water with different
thermometers. The following readings
are provided: 70 °C, 75 °C, 72 °C, 158 °F,
167 °F, 176 °F, 69 °C, 66 °C, 65 °C, and
345.15 K. What is the standard deviation
of the set of values in °C?
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Measurement Tips to Reduce Uncertainty
● Follow the instructions in using the instrument and
taking care of it. Calibrate measuring instruments and
use the calibration corrections given.

● Use experienced staff and training for measurement

when using a new device.

● Check or validate software if needed.

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 Measurement Tips to Reduce Uncertainty

● Choose the best-measuring instruments and use

calibrations facilities with the smallest uncertainties.

● Check measurements by doing it repeatedly or letting

other people repeat it from time to time.

● Use rounding off correctly in your calculations.

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 Measurement Tips to Reduce Uncertainty

● Check calculations especially when you copy them

from one place to another.

● Always record your measurements and calculations.

Write the readings right after measuring.

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How can you eliminate or
reduce uncertainties in your
measurement?

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Write true if the statement is correct otherwise, write
false.

1. High precision always implies high accuracy.

2. When measurement values are very close to each

other, it is accurate.

3. When measurement values are close to the true value,

it is precise.
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● Error is the difference between the ‘true’ value
and the measured value.

● Uncertainty defines the net effect of the error. It

quantifies the doubt that exists in any reported
value of the measurement.

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● Accuracy describes how close the measured
value is to the ‘true value’.

● Precision describes the scatter or the variability

of the measurement values made.

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● When a series of measurements are done,
statistical calculations such as finding the
arithmetic mean and standard deviation can
be calculated.

● There are several tips that can be done to

eliminate or reduce the uncertainties in
measurements.
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 Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Mean
calculate the arithmetic
where
mean or average of a
● (‘x-bar’) is the
set of values.
mean of your set of
values
● is the sum of
all x values
● n is the number of all
x values
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 Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Standard Deviation
calculate the standard
where
deviation of a set of
● s is the estimated
values.
standard deviation
● xi is the result of the
ith measurement
● is the mean of the
set of values
● n is the number of all
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