Ain Shams University

Faculty Of Engineering
Mechanical Power Engineering Department
2
th
year, Mechanical Engineering
2
n
Semester, 2!""#2!"2
Engineering Measurements
Experiment (1)
Error Analysis of Randomly Scattered Data
Objectives:
The experiment is designed to get experimental data sufficient for:
1. Calculating the mean and the standard deviation of a set of measurements.
2. Plot a probability histogram for the data.
3. Estimating accuracy precision and the random error of the data based on 95%
probability !significant error" using #aussian distribution.
Procedure:
#roups of t$o students are formed to get the measurements as follo$s:
1. %ne of the students thro$s a stone to$ards a target line dra$n on the floor at a
fixed distance of 2 [m from the student !
o
. The other student $ill record the
distance traveled by the stone !
i
.
2. &tep one $ill be repeated for ten times before the t$o students exchange their
places.
". Collect all data of the groups.
#. Calculate the arithmetic mean of the data !
m
.
5. Calculate the accuracy and the precision of the readings.
$. 'ivide the data into intervals of a suitable $idth.
%. Plot the probability histogram of the data !&
i
vs. !
i
".
'. Calculate the standard deviation of the readings (
x
and dra$ the #aussian
distribution based on the calculated values of !
m
and (
x
.
Calculation Notes:
1. (o. of readings ) * )))))
2. *rithmetic mean !
m
+

=
=
N i
i
i
X
N
1
1
+ ))))
3. *ccuracy + ,

value True
value true the from readings of deviation -aximum
+ ).
.. Precision + ,

-ean value
mean value their from readings of deviation -aximum
+ ).
/. 'ata interval $idth + )))) 0m1
2. Probability that a reading $ill fall in an interval +
i
+
readings of number Total
interval an in readings of (umber
3. Probability density function &
i
+
interval of 4idth
Pi
5. &tandard deviation (
x
+

=
=

N i
i
m i X X
N
1
2
" !
1
+ ))))
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The following points have to be included in the experiment report:
1.
!
i
+
i
and &
i
data in tabular form !dra$ a table to present the values of these
variables".
2.
The probability histogram and the #aussian distribution curve.
".
Comment on the difference bet$een the arithmetic mean !
m
and the proposed
distance !
o
. ,o- can !
m
be brought closer to !
o
6
#.
4hat do you call the process of modifying the all readings to cancel the
difference bet$een !
m
and !
o.
5.
The random error of the experiment from #aussian error function distribution
results in:
!
m
+ !
m
, (&. $here & is the confidence interval that corresponds to 7/8
significant error !confidence level".
,int/ & may be found from #aussian table corresponding to the value of !9.7/:2"
+ 9..3/9. Then the result !
1
* & + 1.72"
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Prof.Dr. Mohamed El-
Samanoudy

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