Rules for propagation of uncertainty Aim: These 2 pages explain how to calculate the random error in a data set.

You may then compare this to the %error to discover whether the error in you lab can be classified as random (cannot easily improve this) or systematic (errors that you can control). You conclusion and evaluation section of lab reports should focus on improvements that will minimize systematic errors. Absolute uncertainty = a number Relative uncertainty = a percentage

Addition and Subtraction: 4.35 +/- 0.02 + 2.12 +/- 0.01 = Rule: Add absolute uncertainties.

6.47 +/- 0.03

Multiplication and Division 44.01 +/- 0.05 / 2.1 +/- 0.05 = 44.01 +/- 0.11% / 2.1 +/- 2.4 % This was derived by taking the +/- value and dividing it by the given valued and then multiplying by 100 to get the percentage 0.05/ 44.01 = 0.11% and 0.05 / 2.1 = 2.4% Next the two relative uncertainties are added : 0.11% + 2.4 % = 2.5 % 44.01 +/ 0.11% / 2.1 +/- 2.4 % = 21 +/- 2.5 % To finish the problem, the relative uncertainty must be converted back into the absolute uncertainty: (21) (2.5%) = +/- .525 but to only one significant figure = +/0.5 So 44.01 +/- 0.05 / 2.1 +/- 0.05 = 21 +/- 0.5 Rule: convert the absolute uncertainties to relative uncertainties, add the relative uncertainties, then convert this relative uncertainty back to absolute uncertainty. Multiplication and Division by a pure number (with no uncertainty) 12.3 +/- 0.01 x 3.00 = 36.9 +/- 0.03 Rule: Multiply or dived the absolute uncertainty by the pure numbers. ERROR ANALYSIS: Example of a calorimetry experiment: T f = 24.5 +/- 0.2 C Ti = 21.5 +/- 0.2 C so change in temp = 2.7 +/- 0.4 C Absolute uncertainty = (0.42) / (2.7) x 100 = 14.8%

Then Q = mc T = (200g ) x ( 4.18 Jg-1) x (2.7 C )= 2257 J Then 2257 J/ .0500 mol = 45.1 kJ mol-1 If the accepted value for reaction is 56.2 kJ mol-1 then % error = (56.2 45.2)/56.2 x 100 = 19.6 %

If you assume that the uncertainties in m, c and n ( number of moles) are all negligible then % error > % uncertainty. This means that the error cannot be explained by random errors alone and the student should try to identify those systematic errors and suggest improvements.

Example 2: Assume that you have found the following values: P = 98.1 +/- 0.23 % kPa V= 0.363 +/- 0.55% dm3 N = 0.0147 +/- 1.05 % mol T = 298.8 +/- 0.07 % K Use R = pv/nT =( 98.1kPa x 0.363 dm3 )/ (0.0147 mol x 298.8 K)= 8.11 kPadm3mol-1K-1 The total uncertainty is the sum of all absolute uncertainties 0.23% + 0.55%+1.05%+0.07% = 1.9% So our calculated value of R = 8.11 +/- 1.9% kPadm3mol-1K-1 Finding % error ( from literature values) (8.314 8.11)/( 8.314 ) x 100 = 2.45 % Since this error is greater than our experimental uncertainty (1.9%), then errors other than random error must have occurred in the experiment. The student would next look for likely sources of systematic error that would cause R value to be lower than expected. If the % error was the same as the absolute uncertainty, the student can attribute the error to random causes.