Uncertainty in

Measurement

Measurements
The number associated with a measurement is
obtained using some measuring device
All measuring devices have a small amount of
certain digits
The last digit of a measurement is treated as an
estimation or uncertain digit
Measurements are recorded with all the certain
digits plus the first uncertain digit

Uncertainty
Measurements always have some degree of
uncertainty
Depends on the precision of the measuring
device
In this case, precision specifies the number of
certain digits for a measuring device.

Measurement Precision

Example: two grapefruits are measured using different

devices

GRAPEFRUIT 1
GRAPEFRUIT 2

Bathroom Scale
1.5 lb
1.5 lb

Balance
1.476 lb
1.518 lb

First Uncertain Digit

Uncertainty in Measurement
Do the two grapefruits have the same mass?
Depends on which set of results you consider

Significant figures indicate the certain digits

plus the first uncertain digit
Uncertainty in the last number (estimated
number) is usually assumed to be 1 unless
otherwise indicated

Uncertainty in Measurement

Example:

1.86 kg 1.86 0.01 kg

Therefore the actual measurement may be

anywhere from 1.85 to 1.87 kilograms
We will learn more about significant figures in a
later unit.

Example
In analyzing a sample of polluted water, a chemist
measured out a 25.00 mL water sample with a
pipet. At another point in the analysis, the chemist
used a graduated cylinder to measure 25 mL of a
solution. What is the difference between the
measurements of 25.00 mL and 25 mL?
25.00 mL 24.99 mL to 25.01 mL
25 mL 24 mL to 26 mL

Reliability of Measurement

ACCURACY degree of agreement of a

particular value to the true value

Is your measurement correct?

PRECISION degree of agreement of several

measurements of the same quantity

Is your measurement reproducible?

Precision vs Accuracy

Neither precise nor

accurate

Precise but not

accurate

Accurate and
precise

Error

RANDOM ERROR measurement has an

equal probability of being high or low

Error occurs in estimating the value of the last digit

of a measurement

SYSTEMATIC ERROR error occurs in the

same direction every time (either high or low)

Usually the result of the calibration of the device

Precision, Accuracy and Error

Large
Neither
random
preciseerror
nor
accurate

Precise
Small random
but not
errors,
accurate
large
systematic error

Small
Accurate
random
and
precise
errors