Precision and Accuracy Uncertainty in Measurements

Precision and Accuracy Uncertainty  a measurement can only be as good as the instrument or the method used to make it. Ex. Cop’s Radar Gun vs. Car’s Speedometer. Bank sign Thermometer vs. your skin.

Precision and Accuracy Accepted Value  A measurement deemed by scientists to be the “true measurement.” Accuracy  The Closeness or proximity of a measurement to the accepted value. The difference between the actual measurement and the accepted value is called the ABSOLUTE ERROR.

Precision and Accuracy Precision  A proven agreement between the numerical values of a set of measurements done by the same instrument and/or method. The Difference between the set of measurements is expressed as Absolute Deviation..

Precision and Accuracy Precision  refers to the reproducibility of a measurement. Significant Figures  are the digits used to represent the precision of a measurement. SIG. FIGS. are equal to all known measurements plus one estimated digit.

Rules for Significant Digits 1)ALL NON-ZERO DIGITS ARE SIGNIFICANT 2)EXACT NUMBERS  have an infinite number of significant numbers. Exact #s are #s that are defined not measured. Numbers found by counting or used for conversions such as 100 cm = 1 m. 3) Zeros can be both significant or insignficant

Rules for Significant Digits The Three Classes of Zeros A. Leading Zeros  Zeros that precede all of the non-zero digits are NOT significant. Ex mg  has only 2 sig. figs.( the 2 & 5) all three zeros are not significant.

Rules for Significant Digits B. Captive Zeros  Zeros between two or more nonzero or significant digits ARE significant. Ex grams All four #s are significant

Rules for Significant Digits C) Trailing Zeros  Zeros located to the right of a nonzero or significant digit ARE Significant ONLY if there is a decimal in the measurement. Ex lbs  Has four sig. figs lbs  Has only 1 sig. figs

Calculations with Significant Digits Addition and Subtraction:: The answer must be Rounded so that it contains the same # of digits to the right of the decimal point as there are in the measurement with the smallest # of digits to the right of the decimal years years = years Rounds to years 2 places to the Rt.

Calculations with Significant Digits Multiplication or Division The product or quotient must be Rounded so that it contains the same # of digits as the least significant measurement in the problem. Ex. ( ml )(0.305 g/ml ) = g Ans. Must be rounded to 3 sig. figs. mass = g

Rules for Rounding Numbers If the digit immediately to the right of the last significant figure you want to retain is ::  Greater than 5, increase the last digit by 1 Ex) g  56.9 g

Rules for Rounding Numbers If the digit immediately to the right of the last significant figure you want to retain is ::  Less than 5, do not change the last digit. Ex) L  12.0 L

Rules for Rounding Numbers If the digit immediately to the right of the last significant figure you want to retain is ::  5, followed by nonzero digit(s) increase the last digit by 1 Ex seconds  3.79 seconds

Rules for Rounding Numbers If the digit immediately to the right of the last significant figure you want to retain is ::  5, not followed by a nonzero digit and preceded by odd digit, increase the last digit by 1. Ex lbs  2.84 lbs

Rules for Rounding Numbers If the digit immediately to the right of the last significant figure you want to retain is ::  5, not followed by a nonzero digit and preceded by even digit, do not change the last digit. Ex ml  82.6 ml