PHYSICS 9702

ERRORS & UNCERTAINTIES

BY: MR. USMAN SHAHZAD
24TH AUG 2020
ATTAINMENT
TARGETS
 What is meant by Absolute Uncertainty:
(The uncertainty of a measurement is the bounds in which
REVIEW OF the accurate value can be expected to lie)
PREVIOUS What is uncertainty of digital meters:
LESSON (The uncertainty is equal to half the resolution of the
instrument)
What is uncertainty of analogue meters:
(The uncertainty is equal to the resolution of the
instrument)
Percentage/relative uncertainty:
(The percentage (or relative) uncertainty gives the
uncertainty as a percentage of the measured value.)
 Types of Uncertainty

The uncertainty of a measurement is the bounds in which the accurate value can be
expected to lie e.g. 20°C ± 2°C , the true value could be within 18-22°C

• Absolute Uncertainty: uncertainty given as a fixed quantity

e.g. 7 0.6 V ±
• Fractional Uncertainty: uncertainty as a fraction of the measurement
e.g. 7 V ± 3/35
• Percentage Uncertainty: uncertainty as a percentage of the measurement
e.g. 7 8.6% V
c) assess the uncertainty in a derived quantity by simple addition of absolute, fractional or percentage uncertainties (a rigorous statistical treatment
is not required)

Absolute uncertainties Percentage/relative uncertainty

Quoting your uncertainty in the The percentage (or relative)
units of the original measurement uncertainty gives the uncertainty
gives you the absolute as a percentage of the measured
uncertainty. value.

Uncertainties
Example Example
The pencil is 16 cm The pencil is 16 cm
in length. in length.
16 cm ± 1 cm 16 cm ± 6%
Absolute uncertainty = Percentage uncertainty =
± smallest division on the scale ± (absolute uncertainty / smallest
division on the scale) x 100
c) assess the uncertainty in a derived quantity by simple addition of absolute, fractional or percentage uncertainties (a rigorous statistical treatment
is not required)

Another way to obtain an uncertainty value is to:

Repeat the readings

Calculate the
Repeat your Divide the
range of the
measurements range by 2
readings taken

RULE:
The uncertainty can never be less than the value you obtained by looking
at the smallest scale division.
c) assess the uncertainty in a derived quantity by simple addition of absolute, fractional or percentage uncertainties (a rigorous statistical treatment
is not required)
IMPO
MORE RULES… RTAN
T

What happens in the What to do to calculate

formula uncertainties

Add percentage uncertainty of A

AxB or A ÷ B with percentage uncertainty in B

Double the percentage

A2 uncertainty of A

Multiply the percentage

An uncertainty by n
Quick check!
Complete the table

What would be the percentage error in the following quantities?

 How to encounter uncertainty

REDUCING UNCERTAINTIES

• Carry out each of the practical in turn, quoting
each of your answers with an appropriate
uncertainty.
• Use most appropriate resolution and size of
measuring instrument
• Safely and correctly use a range of practical
equipment and materials
• Follow written instructions
• Make and record observations/measurements
• Keep appropriate records of experimental
activities
Questions ?
Use this link to review at home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul3e-HXAeZA&t=648s