EXPERIMENTAL ERRORS

AND UNCERTAINTY
 When scientists refer to experimental
errors, they are not referring to what are
commonly called mistakes, blunders, or
miscalculations. Sometimes also referred
to as illegitimate, human, or personal
errors.
EXPERIMENTAL
ERROR
 The
uncertainty obtained in a
measurement of an experiment.
TWO TYPES OF EXPERIMENTAL
ERRORS
1. Systematic errors- errors caused due to the
error in the instrument, and usually can be
corrected by simple calculation of improved
experiment technique.
□ Errors which tend to shift all measurements
in a systematic way so their mean
value is displaced.
□ This may be due to such things as incorrect
calibration of equipment, consistently
improper use of equipment or failure to
properly account for some effort.
□ This error will always be present because for
example; no instrument can be calibrated
properly.
•A common form of systematic error is
called “PARALLAX ERROR” which
results from the user reading an
instrument at an angle resulting in a
reading which is consistently high nor
consistently low.
SYSTEMATIC ERRORS RESULT
FROM
 an incorrectly adjusted measuring
instrument
 use of an instrument that has a
zero error
EXAMPLES OF SYSTEMATIC
ERROR:
 a meter ruler with worn ends
adial instrument with a needle that is not
properly zeroed
 human reaction time that is always either
too late or too early
TWO TYPES OF EXPERIMENTAL
ERRORS
2. Random Error (irregular or accidental
error)
- errors of observation which
measurement is just as likely to be larger or
smaller than the true or accepted value
- occurs when the same quantity is
measured several times and is estimated to
the nearest division on a measuring
instrument and or measuring instrument not
being particularly sensitive.
● (Fluctuates from one measurement to the
next
REASONS WHY THE RANDOM ERROR
OCCURS:

 They may occur due to lack of sensitivity.

For a sufficiently a small change an
instrument may not be able to respond to
it or to indicate it or the observer may not
be able to discern it.
 They may occur due to noise. There may be
extraneous disturbances which cannot be
taken into account.
 They may be due to the imprecise definition.
 Theymay also occur due to statistical
processes such as the roll of dice.
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
 Random errors displace
measurements in an arbitrary
direction whereas systematic errors
displace measurements in a single
direction.
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
 Somesystematic error can be
substantially eliminated (or properly
taken into account).
 Random errors are unavoidable and must
be lived with.
COMMON SOURCES OF
SYSTEMATIC ERRORS:
 Faultycalibration of measuring
instruments.
 Poorly maintained instruments.
 Faulty reading of instruments by the
user.
 COMMON SOURCES OF RANDOM
ERRORS:
 Problemsin estimating a quantity that lies
between the graduations (the lines) on an
instrument.
 Inability
to read an instrument because
the reading fluctuates during the
measurement.
Activity 1.
A. Choose the correct answer. Write your answer on
the blank before the number.
__1. Which type of errors occur in measure-
ments of temperature due to poor thermal
contact bet. the thermometer & the subs-
tance whose temperature is to be found?
a. systematic errors b. random errors
c. both systematic & random errors
d. neither systematic nor random errors.
__2. Problems in estimating a quantity that
lies between the graduations (the lines) on
an instrument.
 Inability
to read an instrument because
the reading fluctuates during the
measurement.
___2. Which type of errors occurs in the
fluctuations in line voltage, temperature
or mechanical vibrations of equipment?
a. systematic errors
b. random errors
c. both systematic & random errors
d. neither systematic nor random errors.
___3. Which of the following are examples
of systematic errors occurs?
I. Weighing a precipitate on electronic
balance.
II. Consistently reading burette volumes
from the top of meniscus.
III. Using an incorrect labelled standard
solution in a titration.
a. I and II only b. I, II and III
c. II and III only d. I and III only
___4. Which kind of error is parallax error
or the viewing consistently from the
wrong angle for all readings?
a. systematic errors
b. random errors
c. both systematic & random errors
d. neither systematic nor random
errors.
___5. Which of the following statements
about systematic errors is false?
a. Repeating an experiment many times
and averaging the result minimizes
systematic errors & increases accuracy.
b. Systematic error bias the result in the
same direction.
c. Systematic errors may be associated
with technique or equipment.
d. Poorly calibrated instruments may be
cause by of systematic errors.