Errors and

Uncertainty
In science, every measurement will
have limitations on its accuracy. To
indicate how well a data point
should be represented, significant
figures and uncertainties are used.
The history of science has many
disastrous examples of where
uncertainties
in
measurements
were not taken into account

WHY DO WE HAVE
UNCERTAINTY ?

1. Measuring Uncertainty the lowest

increment on the measuring device determines
the precision of the instrument. You cannot
have a precision greater than the last digit
marked on the instrument!!!
- ruler marked every mm d = 45.6 cm 0.1 cm
-thermometer marked every o
T = 12 oC 1
oC
Note that uncertainty is limited to the last
place setting. It is incorrect to write l = 18.5
cm 1.5 cm.

2.

Random Errors Many experiments, when

repeated, will yield slightly different results each

time. Random errors are produced by unknown
and unpredictable variations in the experimental
situation.
Ex when shooting bullets, it is unlikely that they have the
same exit speed due to variations in the cartridge,
fluctuations in gunpowder explosion etc
Ex when bouncing a ball, it is unlikely to rebound to the
same height each time bounce is repeated. This may be due
to orientation of ball in air, orientation of ball as it hits
surface, uneven surface etc
A simple technique to deal with random errors is to repeat
the experiment many times. Find the mean of the data
values. Find the variation in the data by taking
Variation = high - low
2
- data would be represented by mean variation
Other sophisticated methods are used such as working out
the standard deviation but we will get into these methods as

3.Systematic Errors are errors associated

with a particular instrument or experimental
technique. Systematic errors are not reduced
by repeating measurements.
-is measuring device perfectly accurate
( calibration)?
- is device zeroed ?
-is the experiment being performed in a wind or
presence of air currents?
-is there a bias on behalf of the experimenter?
( right handed/left handed)
-is odometer on car accurate if tires have been
changed ?
most electrical equipment is assumed to have a
5% systematic error
Small systematic errors means experiment has

The Mathematics of Uncertainty

Data value Absolute Uncertainty
Relative Uncertainty

x
x

x
x

Example:
Height: 16.8
cm
Absolute Uncertainty : 0.5 cm
Note that absolute error has same units as
measurement
Relative Uncertainty :
Relative Uncertainty has no 0.5cm
0.03 3%
16.8cm
units
Note that relative
uncertainty can be improved
by measuring over a longer
time period or greater
length.

Addition / Subtraction of Measurements

When two measurements are combined, the
uncertainty of each should first be expressed in
absolute form.
The absolute uncertainty of the sum/difference
is the sum of the absolute uncertainties in the two
numbers.
Ex: ( 4 m 1m) + ( 12 m 2 m) = 16 m 3
m
Ex:

( 952 6) kg -

( 554 10.) kg

( 398

Multiplication / Division
Numbers should first be expressed as
relative uncertainty
The relative uncertainty in the result is the
sum of the individual relative uncertainty.
Ex: ( 4.0 1.0) mm * ( 12 2) mm
( 4.0mm 0.25) * ( 12 mm 0.2)
( 48 mm2 0.4 )
or ( 48 mm2 40% )