Error Analysis

School :- SMK Seafield, Jalan USJ 2/5, Subang Jaya, Selangor D.E.
Candidate :- ________________________________________
I / C No. :- ________________________________________ Date :- ( Expt. Day ) .
Expt. No. :- 1 Index No. :- __________________________

Topic :- Physical Quantities and Units

Title :- Introduction to Error Analysis
Objective :- To estimate the accuracy of experimental result.
Theory :- Error or uncertainty is the difference between an estimated measured value and the true value.
Error can be positive or negative whose magnitude is called absolute error.
Error can be caused by :
1. limitation of measuring instruments
2. nature of measured quantities
3. physical conditions of the surroundings
4. physical constraints of experimenters, etc.

Error can be classified as systematic error and random error.

Error analysis is a procedure used to compute errors for derived quantities from errors in primary data.

Let x , y, and z = some measured physical quantities

∆x, ∆y and ∆z = absolute errors of x, y, and z respectively
p = some derived physical quantity.
∆p = absolute error of p
k = constant
a, b, and c = numbers
 Error Analysis (2)
Addition or Subtraction
If p  x y ,
then p  x  y .

Multiplication or Division
If p  xx y or p  x y ,
p  x y   x y 
then fractional error =     or p    p .
p  x y   x y 
p
and percentage error = x 100 % .
p
In general
xa yb
If p  k , ( with k no error )
zc
p  x y z   x y z 
then fractional error =  a b c  or p =  a b c p ,
p  x y z   x y z 
p
and percentage error = x 100 % .
p

Apparatus :- (i) A measuring cylinder,

(ii) A glass rod
(iii) A triple beam balance
(iv) A micrometer screw gauge
(v) A half – metre rule.
 Error Analysis (3)
Procedure :-
Part I : To estimate the error in the determination of density of water.
(a) The mass mo of an empty measuring cylinder is determined using a triple beam balance..
(b) A volume V of 200 cm3 of water is measured using a measuring cylinder.
(c) The total mass m1 of the filled measuring cylinder is then determined again using the balance.
(d) Procedures (a) to (c) are repeated and the respective average values found for mo , V, and m1 .
(e) Values of mo , V, and m1 are tabulated
(f) The density of water, ρw , is calculated using the formula,
m1  mo
w  .
V
(g) The error Δρw for ρw for the result is calculated using the expression,
 (m1  mo ) V 
w     x w .
 1
( m  m o ) V 
Part II : To estimate the error in the determination of density of glass.
(a) The diameter d and the length l of a glass rod are measured and recorded.
(b) The glass rod is weighed and its mass m is also recorded.
(c) Procedures (a) to (b) are repeated and the respective average values found for d ,l , and m .
(d) Values of d, l, and m are tabulated.
(e) The density of the glass rod, ρg , is calculated using the formula,
m
g  ,
1 V
where V   d l .
2

4
(f) The error Δρg for ρg for the result is calculated using the expression,
 m  2d l  
g       x g .
 m  d l 
 Density (4)
Results :- Part I : Determination of the density of water

Mass of Mass of Volume of

measuring cylinder measuring cylinder water
No.
and water ( mo ± 0.05 ) g ( V ± 1 ) cm3
( m1 ± 0.05 ) g

(i)

( ii )

mean

Part II : Determination of the density of glass

Diameter Length Mass

No.
( d ± 0.005 ) mm ( l ± 0.05 ) cm ( m ± 0.05 ) g
(i)
( ii )
( iii )
( iv )
(v)
(vi)

mean
 Density (5)
Calculation :-
m1  m0
(I) Density of water , w 
V
 g cm  3
g cm  3
 kg m  3

m
( II ) Density of glass , g 
V
m

1 2
d l
4
 kg m  3
kg m  3
 kg m  3
Error analysis :

 w  (m1  mo ) V   w
( I)     and x 100 % = %
w  1
( m  m o ) V  w
  %
 %
 Density (6)
 (m1  mo ) V 
w     x w
 1
( m  m o ) V 
 kg m  3
 kg m  3
kg m  3 ( 1 sig. fig. )

g m  2d l  g

( II)     and x 100 % = %
g m  d l  g
  %
 %
( 1 sig. fig. )

 m  2d l  
g       x g .
 m  d l 
 kg m  3
 kg m  3
kg m  3 ( 1 sig. fig. )

Hence, w  (  ) kg m  3

and g  (  ) kg m  3
 Density (7)
Discussion :-
(a) Precautions
1. Any zero error of the triple - beam balance may be eliminated by turning the zero adjustment screw.
2. Ensure that the pointer of the triple - beam balance is stable before its reading is taken.
3. Ensure that no water remains attached to the inner wall of the measuring cylinder above the water
level before its volume is taken.
4. Ensure that the volume of the water is read from the flattened part of the meniscus with the
measuring cylinder placed on a level surface when its volume is taken to avoid parallax error.
5. As the diameter d of the glass rod is small, its contribution of fractional error to the fractional error
of the density of glass calculated is large. Moreover, the diameter itself may not be perfectly uniform
throughout its entire length. Hence the diameter d must be measured to a high degree of accuracy
by taking readings at perpendicular directions at different locations along its length using a
micrometer screw gauge. The mean is then calculated for further computations.
6. Any zero errors of the half - metre rule or micrometer screw gauge must be recorded and
corrections made for the readings taken with them ( or eliminated by resetting for the latter ).
7. Ensure that the direction of vision is perpendicular to the scale of the measuring equipment at the
point whose reading is required to avoid parallax error.

(b) Reliability of results

1. It is assumed that the water used is free of contamination whose presence can affect its density.
2. The glass rod is assumed to be straight with a perfect cylindrical shape ( i.e. with any chipped off
1
or protrusions, small though, especially at its ends, neglected ) so that V   d l exactly.
2

4
 Density (8)
(c) comment
1. A larger amount of water , e.g. 1000 cm3 , measured with a bigger capacity measuring cylinder
of the same or better accuracy may improve accuracy by giving smaller fractional errors in its
mass and volume which lead to a smaller fractional error of the density calculated.
2. Similarly, a glass rod with bigger dimensions of length and diameter can improve accuracy in their
respective measurement by contributing smaller fractional errors and consequently the density
obtained. Alternatively, a glass block in the shape of a cuboid of a few cm dimensions may be
used instead.

Conclusion :-
( I ) Density of water , w  (  ) kg m  3

( II ) Density of glass, g  (  ) kg m  3