Uncertainties Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 3 causes of uncertainties?
A
- Random uncertainty
- Systematic uncertainty
- Reading uncertainty
2
Q
What is a random uncertainty?
A
An uncertainty caused by random and unpredictable changes in the experimental conditions.
3
Q
What is a systematic uncertainty?
A
An uncertainty caused by faulty equipment or experimental technique. Measurements taken are all either too big or too small.
4
Q
What is a reading uncertainty?
A
A measure of how well a scale can be read.
5
Q
How can random uncertainties be calculated?
A
Repeat the experiment and find the mean value. Then use the formula to find the uncertainty. (maximum value - minimum value) / number of values
6
Q
How can reading uncertainties be calculated?
A
Analogue scale - (smallest division)/2
Digital scale - least significant digit
