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Random and Systematic Errors

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muhammadahmedu2008
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42 views8 pages

Random and Systematic Errors

Uploaded by

muhammadahmedu2008
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Random and Systematic

errors
Muhammad Ahmedov
Systematic errors
• Definition: Systematic errors are consistent, repeatable
errors that occur in the same direction each time, leading
to a bias in measurements. These errors can be due to
flaws in the measuring instrument or method, and they
affect the accuracy of measurements.
Examples

• Instrumental Errors: Occur when there is a flaw in the measuring


instrument (e.g., a scale that is improperly calibrated). For example, if a
weighing scale is incorrectly calibrated to always read 0.5 kg higher, every
measurement will be systematically overestimated by 0.5
• Observational Errors: Happen when the observer consistently misreads
the measurements, such as always looking at a dial from an angle (parallax
error).
• Zero Errors: A specific type of systematic error where an instrument shows
a reading when it should display zero. For example, if a voltmeter reads
0.2V even when not connected, all measurements will have an added 0.2V
bias
Effect of systematic errors
• Systematic errors cause all measurements to be
consistently inaccurate in the same way, shifting them
away from the true value. They reduce accuracy but do
not affect precision since the errors are consistent.
• Correction: Systematic errors can often be corrected
through calibration or adjusting measurements by a fixed
amount.
Random errors
• Definition: Random errors are unpredictable variations in
measurement that occur without a consistent pattern.
They can result from slight, uncontrollable variations in
the measurement process and affect the precision of
measurements.
Examples
• Environmental Fluctuations: Small, unpredictable changes in
environmental conditions like air currents, light fluctuations, or
temperature can cause random errors in measurements.
• Human Factors: Slight differences in how measurements are read
or recorded, such as slight variations in eye positioning when
reading an analog scale.
• Instrument Limitations: Limitations in the precision of an
instrument can introduce small, unpredictable variations. For
example, a stopwatch may introduce a slight error in timing due to
reaction time
Effect of Random errors
• Random errors create scatter in data, making repeated
measurements vary around the true value. They reduce
precision but do not shift all measurements consistently
in one direction, so they do not affect accuracy.
• Correction: Random errors cannot be fully eliminated but
can be minimized by taking multiple measurements and
averaging them, which increases the reliability of the
result.
Summary

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