Measurements

Laboratory #1
 Terminology:
Direct and Indirect Methods

• Direct Method - a technique where a measurement

is made using a measuring device
Example: using a ruler to measure length.

• Indirect Method - is a technique where a

measurement can not be made using a measuring
device, but instead is calculated or derived based on
direct or other indirect measurements

Example:  Area is an indirect measurement because it is derived using the

formula: length x width, both of which are measured directly.
 Terminology:
Measurement Accuracy and Precision
• Accuracy - is the degree of
conformity of a measured or
calculated quantity to its actual,
nominal, absolute, or some other
reference, value.

• Precision characterizes the degree

of mutual agreement or
repeatability among a series of
individual measurements, values, or
results.

• Uncertainty – a parameter
associated with the result of a
measurement, that characterizes the
dispersion of the values that could
reasonably be attributed to the
measurand
 Direct Measurements Object properties l2

0.5 mm

0 1
What affects measurement quality?
1. Our abilities
2. How perfect the instrument is made
l1
The measured value varies from measurement to measurement
depending on experiment condition we can’t control.
This is the area of expertise of statistics.
To estimate this statistical error

systematically  systematical error  Statistics needs the variation range 

Several (N) experiments must be done.
Instrumental uncertainty, ins Statistical uncertainty:
N
It is written on an instrument label / passport
or 
 nx  x  2

i = half of the smallest division  stat  n 1

N  N  1

x    instrumental  2    statistical  2
 Terminology:

Errors - Uncertainties

1. Systematical 1. Instrumental
2. Random 2. Statistical
3. Rough Experiment 3. -
 Indirect Measurements
y
Area, A: x   x ,instrumental   
2
x , statistical  2

x A  x y y   y ,instrumental   
2
y , statistical  2

2
x   y 
2

A  x y  A  A     
 x   y 

2
 2
x   y  z 
2

V  x yz  V  V        
 x   y   z 
 Terminology: Value Representation
Significant Figures,
Scientific Notation,
and Units
• Significant Figures: is a method of expressing error in measurement.
is the number of digits value has.
22.34

• Scientific Notation:
t he first nonzero digit is to the left of the decimal, all others to the right,
and a 10n is appended to account for the proper power of ten; there are no
leading zeros, so all digits are significant figures
22.34 2.234*101
• Units:
is a particular physical quantity, defined and adopted by convention, with
which other particular quantities of the same kind are compared to
express their value. 2.234*101 m
 Calipers Measurements:
Uncertainty, Scientific Notation, Significant Figures, Units

Calipers

Reading: 17.30 mm

Measurement: h = (17.30 ± 0.02) mm

• Uncertainty: 0.02 mm (instrumental uncertainty)

• Significant Figures: 4
• Units: mm
• Scientific Notation: h = (1.730 ± 0.002)*10-2 m
h = (1.730 ± 0.002)*101 mm
 How to Compare Values:
Measured Values; Measured and Theoretical Values

• Measured Values: Measurements:

Method I: hI = (17.3 ± 0.2) mm
Method II: hII = (16.9 ± 0.5) mm

h hI  hII
h  100%
16 17 18 hII

• Measured and Theory: ht = 17.3 mm

Theoretical Values: Experiment : he = (16.9 ± 0.5) mm

h
ht  he
h  100%
16 17 18 ht