STEM / General Physics| Grade 12 | Module

1st Quarter

Random vs Systematic Error

I. Table of Contents

• Sources of Systematic Errors or Random Errors

• Systematic Error Example and Causes
• How to Reduce Systematic Error?
• Random Error Examples and Causes
• How to Reduce Random Error?
II. Introduction

The main difference between systematic and random errors is that random errors
lead to fluctuations around the true value as a result of difficulty in taking
measurements, whereas systematic errors lead to predictable and consistent departures
from the true value due to problems with the calibration of the equipment. This leads
to two extra differences that are worth noting. Systematic errors occur when all
physical quantity measurements are affected equally and produce consistent
differences in readings. Random error occurs due to chance. Even if we do everything
correctly for each measurement, we'll get slightly different results when measuring the
same item multiple times
 III. Let’s Answer!

A. Offset Error D. Random Error

B. Scale Factor Errors E. Measuring your height
C. Drift

_____1. is affected by minor posture changes.

_____2. affects your measurements in unpredictable ways
_____3. An error caused by not setting an instrument to zero prior to its use
_____4. occurs when successive readings become consistently lower or higher over time.
_____5. a class of systematic errors that are proportional to the magnitude of the input signal
IV. Let’s Discuss!

Error Description Systematic or Random

Error
All measurements will be wrong by
the same percentage if a piece of Systematic Error
Scale Error equipment is not calibrated properly
(ex., a wooden ruler has shrunk).

All measurements will be wrong by

the same amount if a piece of
Zero Error equipment has an offset (ex., a mass Systematic Error
balance gives a reading that is not
zero when there is nothing on it).
The reading will vary depending on Systematic error if you always view
the angle at which you see an the dial from the same angle.
Parallax Error indication while making a Random error if you view the dial
measurement by comparing it to a from a random angle each time
scale (such as reading the dial on a
voltmeter or using a mercury
thermometer).
Though it's ideal to maintain Changes to the control variables can
consistent values for the control result in both systematic and
Errors arising from the environment variables, some may be out of your random errors. One give a
 control, such as air pressure, systematic error. Random changes
temperature, humidity, and will give random errors.
vibrations.
When a measurement depends Random Error
Reaction Time reaction time, you can be too early
or too late in your response.

When using a ruler to measure Random Error

Measurement errors from
insufficient precision
anything that is between two scale
markings, such as something that is
10.25 mm long, you cannot measure
the exact value and must round it up
or down (does it appear to be 10 mm
or 10.5 mm?).

Systematic error largely impacts accuracy since it is constant or proportionate to the measurement. Poor
equipment calibration, environmental factors, and flawed measuring methods are some of the causes of
systematic error. Here are examples of systematic error: Reading a meniscus above or below eye level
always gives an inaccurate reading. The reading is consistently high or low, depending on the viewing
angle. A scale gives a mass measurement that is always “off” by a set amount. This is called an offset
error. Taring or zeroing a scale counteracts this error.
• How to Reduce Systematic Error?
- Systematic error arises from equipment, so the most direct way to eliminate it is to use calibrated equipment, and
eliminate any zero or parallax errors. Even if your measurements are affected, some systematic errors can be
 eliminated in the data analysis. In the analysis we typically draw a graph that gives a straight line, we draw the
line of best fit and measure its gradient.
- Randomizing sampling techniques is also beneficial, especially when drift is an issue.

Systematic errors in experimental observations usually come from the measuring instruments. They may occur because:
- there is something wrong with the instrument or its data handling system, or
because the instrument is wrongly used by the experimenter.

Two types of systematic error can occur with instruments having a linear response:
- Offset or zero setting error in which the instrument does not read zero when the quantity to be measured is zero.
- Multiplier or scale factor error in which the instrument consistently reads changes in the quantity to be measured
greater or less than the actual changes.

These errors are shown in Fig. 1. Systematic errors also occur with non-linear instruments when the calibration of the
instrument is not known correctly.

Systematic errors in a linear instrument (full line). Broken line shows response of an ideal instrument without error.
Random error causes measurements to cluster around the true value, so it primarily affects precision. Causes of
random error include instrument limitations, minor variations in measuring techniques, and environmental factors.
 • How to Reduce Random Error?
- It’s not possible to eliminate random error, but there are ways to minimize its effect.
- Random mistakes may be reduced by repetition and averaging since they are random and can cause numbers to
shift up or down. If sufficient measurements are obtained and averaged (using a line of best fit), a real random
error will average out to zero. This is why making measurements more than once can increase the accuracy of an
experiment's end outcome.

• Examples of causes of random errors are:

- electronic noise in the circuit of an electrical instrument,
- irregular changes in the heat loss rate from a solar collector due to changes in the wind.

Random errors often have a Gaussian normal distribution. In such cases statistical methods may be used to analyze the
data. The mean m of a number of measurements of the same quantity is the best estimate of that quantity, and the
standard deviation s of the measurements shows the accuracy of the estimate. The standard error of the estimate m
is s/sqrt(n), where n is the number of measurements.
Fig. 2. The Gaussian normal distribution. m = mean of measurements. s = standard deviation of measurements. 68% of the
measurements lie in the interval m - s < x < m + s; 95% lie within m - 2s < x < m + 2s; and 99.7% lie within m - 3s
< x < m + 3s.

The precision of a measurement is how close a number of measurements of the same quantity agree with each other. The
precision is limited by the random errors. It may usually be determined by repeating the measurements.

V. Let’s Apply!

_____1. Repeated measurements are _________.

a. not always exactly the same c. calculating a mean value
b. anomalous results d. misreading the temperature
_____2. Repeated measurements are not always exactly the same because of _________.
a. add together the repeated values c. random errors
b. misreading the temperatures d. every time
_____3. An example of a random error would be _________ on the thermometer.
a. random errors c. misreading the temperature
b. identify the cause d. making more measurements
_____4. Random errors can be ________
a. random errors c. reduced
b. not been calibrated d. faulty technique
_____5. Random errors can be reduced by ______
a. does not fit the pattern c. systematic error
b. incorrectly measuring the mass d. making more measurements

ANSWER KEY:
Let’s Answer!
1. E
2. D
3. A
4. C
 5. B

Let’s Apply!
1. A
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. D