Minimum number of samples

Using Matlab, the sample size was resampled to find the minimum number of
samples required for a relative error of less than 1% for a 95% confidence
interval[Refer to Appendix 1]. The 95% confidence interval was calculated using
a t-distribution because number of samples after resampling, n<30. Also by the
central limit theorem, the temperature readings may not be normally distributed
but the means of temperatures can be approximately normally distributed.
Temperature

Cold Temp (4C)

Minimum Number
Of Samples

5 samples/ min or
1 sample per 5s

% Error At Min
Number of
Samples

0.99%

Room Temp
(18C)
0.403
samples/min or
1 sample per 149s
0.70%

Boiling
Temp(98C)
0.5 samples/min
or
1 sample per 120s
0.65%

As expected, the Cold Temp readings dictate the minimum number of samples
beause the standard deviation of readings are around the magnitude of 0.1. This
standard deviation is miniscule compared to readings at Room Temp(18 C) and
Boiling Temp(98C) but relatively large for 4C(~2.5% error). Hence there needs to
be higher frequency of samples (for higher t.inv values).

Errors
Steady-State
From the experiment, it was determined that the Type K thermocouple with the
smallest diameter i.e. 1mm had the quickest response time. The definition of
steady-state was set to be the first occurrence of average readings
between the 3 thermocouples to lie within the 95% confidence interval
of the last 30 sample averages. The key assumptions for this definition to be
operational was such that each of the thermocouples are accurate or at least
differ by a consistent variation (either all above or below the true value by
a constant). All 3 probes provided similar readings for all experiments but the
boiling water.

Analysis of Steady-State for Boiling Water

100
98
96
6mm

Temperature C

94

3mm
1mm

92
90
88

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Time(s)

Using our definition, the average of final values would be 98.20.1 C which is
slightly above the 6mm(blue) scatter. This causes the 1mm(grey) scatter to have
a long response time because the readings are consistently below the
average(accuracy issue by our definition). We decided to nullify this and that it
was a product of inaccuracy because the 1mm probe responded to changes the
quickest. Further analysis was done on the steady-state values to determine
whether the thermocouples measurements were significantly different.

Error Bars on Steady-State Boiling Water

98.6
98.5
98.4
98.3
98.2

Temperature C

98.1
98
97.9
97.8
97.7

6mm

3mm

1mm

Thermocouple

Diagram 2. Error bars are based on 95% confidence interval n-distribution

Based on the error bars, it can be concluded with 95% confidence that the 3mm
thermocouple was providing different measurements from the 6mm and 1mm.
However, there is insignificant evidence that the 6mm thermocouple and the
1mm thermocouple were providing different measurements.
Calibration and Instrumental Error

In this experiment, the thermocouples were calibrated according to a mercury

thermometer with 0.1C divisions. This means the accuracy of the thermometer is
0.05C, which carries on to the accuracy of the thermocouples. However, due to
the nature of Type K thermocouples, this is not the true accuracy. Type K
manufacturers are willing to sacrifice accuracy for a wide range of sensitivity(-200 to
1260C )[1]. Type K thermocouples have a margin of error of roughly 0.75% or
2.2C[1]. This explains the spread of readings between the 3 thermocouples in
boiling water. Besides that, metallurgical changes can cause a calibration drift to 1C
to 2C in a few hours[1]. As the boiling water experiment was done an hour after
calibration, this might also explain the spread of readings.

Experimental Modifications and Improvements

To address the accuracy issue and measurement differences, it is suggested to
use a different type of thermocouple more suited for the range of temperature of
this experiment. Type T thermocouples are more suited because they are
optimized for a narrower range of -200 to 370C and only am error of 1.0C in
the range of -62 to 125C compared to 2.2C in Type K.

References

[1] http://www.thermometricscorp.com/thertypk.html

Appendix 1