MEASUREMENTS AND

DATA PROCESSING 1
Measurements and Data Processing
and Analysis 1
 Uncertainty in measurement
• Quantities measured in chemistry:
• Mass

• Volume

• Time

• Voltage

• Current

• Temperature

• pH
Analogue and Digital Instruments

• Analogue • Digital
• Burette • pH meter

• Pipette • Balance

• Thermometer • Stop clock

• Measuring cylinder • Voltmeter

• Volumetric flask • Ammeter

 Uncertainty in measurement
• Measure 25cm3 of water using a burette and a pipette and transfer
each one into a measuring cylinder.
• Note any differences
• NB: every measuring instrument has some amount of uncertainty in
the measurements it gives.
• If the mass of a piece of stone is 5.6250126g.
• A balance measuring to 1 dp will read 5.6g whilst another reading to
2dp gives 5.63g.
• Neither is the true mass of the stone but an estimate.
Uncertainty in an analogue
measuring instrument

This is taken as half of the least count

(smallest division) on the instrument.

This is because the closest estimate we can

make lies half way between any two divisions
on the instrument.

Measure and record with the given measuring

instruments as told.
Uncertainty in a digital
instrument
This is taken as the least
count on the instrument.
What is the least count on the
balance?
Significant Figures (SFs) and Decimal Places (DPs)

NB: for decimal numbers less than 1, the first nonzero digit is the first
significant digit and any zero after it is significant.
Experimental Errors

• Experimental error is the difference between what

is recorded and the actual or the true value
• Two types
• Random errors
• Systematic errors
Random Errors
Reducing Random Errors
 Accuracy and Precision
• Accuracy: how close a measurement is to the true value

• A low systematic error implies a high accuracy

• Precision: how close repeated measurements are to each other.

• Such measurements are said to be reproducible.

• A high precision indicates a low level of random error

Accuracy and Precision
Precision and Accuracy
Which set of measurements is more precise?
Can you tell which is more accurate?
Addition and Subtraction
Multiplication and Division
Let’s measure the density of a piece of stone

• Measure and record the mass of the stone using the top pan
balance

• Measure the volume of the stone using the displacement

method (you are given a measuring cylinder and water).

• Calculate the density of the stone including both the percentage

and absolute uncertainty.
Important Points
An Important Point
GRAPH PLOTTING
Identify the dependent and independent variable and state the
relationship between them.
What type of relationship exists between the dependent
and independent variables?
What type of relationship exists between
the dependent and independent variables?
What type of relationship exists between
the dependent and independent variables?
What type of relationship exists between
the dependent and independent variables?
The gradient/slope of a graph
Line of Best Fit