Introduction to Experimental Error

Errors 1 1/9/03 Introduction to Experimental Error Susan Cartwright 1. What is Experimental Error ? The number that we quote as Experimental Error might be more accurately described as Experimental precision . It is an estimate of the inherent uncertainty associated with our Experimental procedure, and is not dependent on any presumed right answer . Example: Suppose we are asked to measure the length of a block of glass. Our Experimental Error depends on the method of measurement. Method Typical Error cheap ruler mm draughtsman s ruler mm calipers with vernier mm travelling microscope mm interferometer mm (if n known accurately) Which of these methods we should actually use depends on how accurately we need to know the length of the block: is it just used as a support, or is it part of a precision optical device?

known that under these circumstances people do not produce all possible decimals 0.1, 0.2, …, 0.9 with equal probability), and radioactive decay rates where only one or two counts occur in the specified time interval. • The estimated error, ±, is not the ‘outer limits’ of the variation of x: in fact, there is a x x 0 N x 0 ( ). 1 1; 1 ...

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