Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Variance ,Uncertainty, and Least Count
 Variance
1. Take the mean. Steps
2. Take the deviation of each measurement
form the mean.
3. Square each deviation.
Unit
4. Get sum1: Introduction
of the squares of each to Physics
deviation.
5. Divide the sum of each squares by the
number of measurements in the set.

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 Uncertainty
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 Uncertainty
UNCERTAINTY is the way of expressing
the error

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 Uncertainty
A measurement represent by two components:
(1) numerical or measured value
with proper unit, and
(2)degree of uncertainty in the
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
measurement.
UNCERTAINTY indicates the range of values
within which the measurement is asserted to lie
with some level of confidence.

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 Uncertainty
• Degree of uncertainty may reported as
absolute and relative uncertainties
 ABSOLUTE
UNCERTAINTY has
Unit 1: Introduction
the same unit as the
 RELATIVE
to Physics
quantity itself.
UNCERTAINTY is
dimensionless and is
obtained by dividing the
absolute uncertainty by the
numerical value
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
Sarmiento (author)
 Uncertainty
 ABSOLUTE  RELATIVE
UNCERTAINTY UNCERTAINTY is
has the same unit dimensionless and is
as the quantity obtained by dividing the
itself. absolute uncertainty by the
numerical value
UnitUncertainty
Absolute 1: Introduction
= lowest value to Physics
 
Relative Uncertainty = x 100%

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 Absolute and Relative Uncertainty
Ex. The resistance of wire is (25.00 ± 0.05 ohms)

Absolute Relative Uncertainty

Uncertainty
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
0.05 ohms
= 0.05 ohms
= 100%
25.00 ohms
x
=0.2%

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 Absolute and Relative Uncertainty

Relative Uncertainty
Absolute
0.05 ohms
Uncertainty
= 0.05 ohms 25.00 ohms
x100% = 0.2%
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
Absolute uncertainty shows how large the error is,
while its relative uncertainty shows how large the
error is in the relation to the true value.
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
Sarmiento (author)
 Absolute and Relative Uncertainty
Sample Problem
• The speed of a snail was measured to be v
= (3.05 ±0.02) cm/s. Find the (a) absolute
uncertainty and (b) relative uncertainty of
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
the speed of the snail.

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 Absolute and Relative Uncertainty
Solution Given: v = (3.05 ±0.02) cm/s
Unknown:
absolute uncertainty(a) =?

relative uncertainty (b) =?

(a) Absolute (b) Relative uncertainty
uncertainty
0.02 ohms
= 0.02 cm/s
3.05 ohms
x100% = 0.7%
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
Sarmiento (author)
 Absolute and Relative Uncertainty
Solution Given: v = (3.05 ±0.02) cm/s
Unknown:
absolute uncertainty(a) =?

relative uncertainty (b) =?

(a) Absolute (b) Relative uncertainty
uncertainty
0.02 ohms
= 0.02 cm/s
3.05 ohms
x100% = 0.7%
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
Sarmiento (author)
 PRACTICE PROBLEM
Worksheet Page 8: Learning Check-up 5
• The mass of an object is found to be (24.5
± 0.1) g. Find the (a) absolute uncertainty
and (b) relative uncertainty of the mass of
the object.

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)
 REFERENCES
Book:
Silverio, A., (2017). Exploring Life Through Science
(Gen. Physics 1). Phoenix Publishing
House Inc. ISBN 978-971-06-4152-9
Unit 1: Introduction to Physics
Links:
www.mathisfun.com
Pictures:
www.google.com

Unit 1: Introduction to Physics

Sarmiento (author)