The Central Science

3 Uncertainty in Data
REVIEW Recall the definition of the Review Vocabulary term.
VOCABULARY
dimensional analysis A systematic approach to problem
dimensional analysis
solving that uses conversion factors to move from one unit to another.

NEW VOCABULARY Define each New Vocabulary term.

accuracy
accuracy
precision
Refers to how close a measured value is to an accepted value
error
precision
percent error
The respete ability, or reproducibility, of a measurement.
significant figure
error
The difference between an experimental value and an accepted value.

percent error
The ratio of an error to an accepted value.

significant figure The number of all known digits reported

measurements plus one estimated digit.

Accuracy and Precision Explain percent error by completing the statement and equation below.
Percent error is the ratio of an error to an accepted value .

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Percent error = error/accepted × 100
value

Get It? Summarize why error is important.

Error is important because it helps you learn from your mistakes thats

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 3 Uncertainty in Data (continued)
Solve Read Example Problem 5 in your text.

YOU TRY IT
Problem
Calculate the percent errors. Report your answers to two places after
the decimal point. The table below summarizes Student B’s data.

Trial Density (g/cm3) Error (g/cm3)

1 1.40 -0.19
2 1.68 0.09
3 1.45 -0.14
1. Analyze the Problem
Known: Denisty error

Unknown: Percent error

Use the accepted value for density and the errors to calculate percent
error.

2. Solve for the Unknown

Substitute each error into the percent error equation.
percent error =​  __
         
  
Error  ​ × 100
accepted value

percent error = __
​ -.05q/cm 3 ​ × 100 = 3.14%
1.59 g/cm
percent error =​  _
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0.01q/cm  ​ × 100 = .63%

1.59 g/cm3

percent error = __
-0.02g/cm
​   ​ × 100 = 1.26%
1.59 g/cm3
3. Evaluate the Answer
The percent error is greatest for trial 5% which had the largest error,
and smallest for trial 10% , which was closest to the accepted value.

Significant Figures Identify the significant numbers below by drawing a circle around
them. Use the five rules for recognizing significant digits for reference.

0.025 325,078 5600

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3 Uncertainty in Data (continued)
Get It? Determine how many places after the decimal point the
sum of 22.7 m, 5.16 m, 16.287 m, and 124.31 m should have?

Rounding Numbers Explain the rules for rounding numbers by completing the following
sentences. Then complete the example of each rule for rounding
numbers by rounding to three significant figures.

1. If the digit to the immediate right of the last significant figure is less
than five, Do not change the last significant figure
3.751 3.75

2. If the digit to the immediate right of the last significant figure is

greater than five, Round up the last significant figure
4.127 4.128

3. If the digit to the immediate right of the last significant figure is

equal to five and is followed by a nonzero digit, Round up
The last significant figure

8.3253 8.33

4. If the digit to the immediate right of the last significant figure is

equal to five and is not followed by a nonzero digit, look at the

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last significant figure. If it is odd round it up. if it is even don't round I

1.4750 = 1.48 ; 1.4650 = 1.46

CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

50. State how a measured value is reported in terms of known and estimated digits.

Significant digits refer to the number of digits that are known versus the number of digits that are
estimated.

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 3 Uncertainty in Data (continued)
51. Define accuracy and precision.

Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the true or accepted value. Precision refers to how
close measurements of the same item are to each other

52. Identify the number of significant figures in each of these measurements of an

object’s length: 76.48 cm, 76.47 cm, and 76.59 cm.
have 4 significant figures

53. Apply The object in Question 52 has an actual length of 76.49 cm. Are the
measurements in Question 52 accurate? Are they precise?

Yes they are accurate, but they are not precise Number 48 is in reference to the accuracy and

54. Calculate the error and percent error for each measurement in Question 52.

4.17%

55. Apply Write an expression for the quantity 506,000 cm in which it is clear that all
the zeros are significant.
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5.06 x 10^5

56. Analyze Data Students collected mass data for a group of coins. The mass of a
single coin is 5.00 g. Determine the accuracy and precision of the measurements.

Number of coins 5 10 20 30 50

Mass (g) 23.2 54.5 105.9 154.5 246.2

4 is the error

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