SOURCES OF MEASUREMENT

ERROR

MS2141
Metrology and Engineering Measurements
Mechanical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera
Measurement Errors
Systematic Errors
• A permanent deflection in the same direction from the true value.
• If a systematic error is identified when calibrating against a standard,
applying a correction or correction factor to compensate for the effect can
reduce the bias.
• Bias and long-term variability are controlled by monitoring measurements
against a check standard over time.

Random Errors
• A short-term scattering of values in either directions around a mean value.
• It cannot be corrected on an individual measurement basis.
• Evaluated through statistical analysis and can be reduced by averaging
over a large number of observations
Sources of Error
1. Incomplete Definition

Measurement is not clearly defined

This can cause either systematic or random error

To minimize this error:

Carefully consider and specify conditions that could affect the
measurement

Example:
Two different people measure the length of the same string, they
would probably get different results because each person may
stretch the string with a different tension.
Sources of Error
2. Failure to account for a factor

To control or account for all possible factors except the one

independent variable that is being analyzed is the most important part
of designing an experiment/measurement

This failure usually causes systematic error

To minimize this error:

Brainstorm all the factors that could possibly affect measurement
result before beginning the experiment.
Sometimes a correction factor can be applied to a result after
taking the data to account for an error that was not detected earlier
Sources of Error
2. Failure to account for a factor (cont’d)

Example:
1. When measuring free-fall acceleration, one may fail to account
for air resistance.
2. When measuring the magnetic field near a small magnet, one
may fail to account for the Earth’s magnetic field
Sources of Error
3. Environmental factors

Errors can be introduced by the immediate working environment

This can cause either systematic or random error

To minimize this error:

Take account or protect the experiment from vibrations,
heat/temperature changes, electronic noises
Sources of Error
4. Instrument resolution

Instruments have limit to resolve small measurement differences

This can cause random error

Example:
A meter stick cannot be used to distinguish distances to a precision
much better than about half of its smallest scale division (0.5 mm)
Sources of Error
5. Calibration Errors

Calibration errors include those elemental errors that enter the

measuring system during its calibration

This can cause systematic error

Calibration errors are usually linear; larger values result in greater error

Calibration errors arise from the following sources

1. The standard or reference value used in calibration
2. The instrument or system under calibration
3. The calibration process
Sources of Error
5. Calibration Errors (cont’d)

Example:
The laboratory standard used for calibration contains some inherent
uncertainty, and this is passed along with the input value on which the
calibration is based.
Measuring system errors, such as linearity, repeatability, hysteresis,
and so forth, contribute uncertainty.
Depending on how the calibration is done, there can be a difference
between the value supplied by the standard and the value actually
sensed by the measuring system.

These effects are built into the calibration data.

Sources of Error
6. Zero offset

In a device with zero adjuster, failure to zero the device prior to

measurement will result in a constant error (that is more significant for
measured values than for larger ones)

To minimize this error:

Check the zero reading throughout the experiment, re-zero if
necessary
Sources of Error
6. Zero offset (cont’d)
Sources of Error
7. Lack of Linearity

A test of linearity starts by establishing a plot of the measured values

versus corresponding values of the reference standards.

This obtains an indication of whether or not the points fall on a straight

line with slope equal to 1, which indicates linearity (proportional
variation)

Causes of this error:

• gauge is not properly calibrated at the lower and upper ends of
the operating range
• errors in the values at the maximum or minimum range
• worn gauge
• internal design problems
Sources of Error
8. Parallax

Parallax occur if there is some distance between measuring scale

and the indicator used to obtain a measurement.

If the observer’s eye is not aligned with the pointer and scale, the
reading will be incorrect.
Sources of Error
9. Drift

Drift is defined as a slow change in the response of a gauge

Instruments have readings that drift over time

Short term drift is frequently caused by heat buildup in the instrument

during the time of measurement
Sources of Error
9. Drift (cont’d)
Sources of Error
10. Lag time

Some measuring devices require time to reach equilibrium, taking the

reading before it is stable will result in an incorrect measurement

Can relate to dynamic characteristics

Example:
Taking temperature reading in a thermometer that has not
reached thermal equilibrium will result in an incorrect
measurement
Sources of Error
11. Hysteresis

Hysteresis is a retardation of the effect when the forces acting upon

a body are changed (as in viscosity, internal friction, magnetism)

Hysteresis represents the history dependence of a physical system

under real environmental conditions

The instrument readings lag behind and appear to have “memory”

effect, as data are taken sequentially moving up or down through a
range of values.
Sources of Error
11. Hysteresis (cont’d)

Example in magnetization of material

Sources of Error
12. Object Loading Error

Contact sensor may cause deformation on elastic object due to

pressure.

Deformation effect can be eliminated by using non-contact sensor,

e.g. optical sensor
Sources of Error
12. Object Loading Error (cont’d)

Non-contact measuring instrument (Laser Micrometer)

Sources of Error
13. Alignment Error (Abbe)

Ernst Abbe (1840 – 1905)

German Physicist
Optical Scientist
Co-founder of Carl Zeiss AG
Sources of Error
13. Alignment Error (Abbe) (cont’d)

Abbe’s Principle of Alignment:

The scale of a linear measuring system should be collinear with
the spatial dimension or displacement to be measured.
Otherwise, the measurement must be corrected for the Abbe Error.

Abbe Error = (Abbe Offset) * (sine of angular misorientation)

Abbe Error (E) = A * sin q

Sources of Error
13. Alignment Error (Abbe) (cont’d)

Micrometer : Graduations are located along the same axis as the

measured dimension

No Abbe Error
Sources of Error
14. Cosine Error

Generated when the scale and the desired dimension are not aligned
Quick Review

1. Mention 3 sources of measurement error!

2. Mention a type of measurement error and

its example!

3. Explain cosine error!