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    Uncertainties and Significant Figures

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    Mark Kevin Aguilar
    The document discusses absolute and relative uncertainties in measurements. Absolute uncertainty is the range of true values associated with a measurement, while relative uncertainty is the absolute uncertainty expressed as a fraction of the measured value. The number of significant figures reported should match the precision of the least precise measurement used. When measurements are combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, their uncertainties accumulate and the final answer should be reported with a precision matching the least precise input.

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    Uncertainties and Significant Figures

    Uploaded by

    Mark Kevin Aguilar
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    The document discusses absolute and relative uncertainties in measurements. Absolute uncertainty is the range of true values associated with a measurement, while relative uncertainty is the absolute uncertainty expressed as a fraction of the measured value. The number of significant figures reported should match the precision of the least precise measurement used. When measurements are combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, their uncertainties accumulate and the final answer should be reported with a precision matching the least precise input.

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    The document discusses absolute and relative uncertainties in measurements. Absolute uncertainty is the range of true values associated with a measurement, while relative uncertainty is the absolute uncertainty expressed as a fraction of the measured value. The number of significant figures reported should match the precision of the least precise measurement used. When measurements are combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, their uncertainties accumulate and the final answer should be reported with a precision matching the least precise input.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    35 views3 pages

    Uncertainties and Significant Figures

    Uploaded by

    Mark Kevin Aguilar
    The document discusses absolute and relative uncertainties in measurements. Absolute uncertainty is the range of true values associated with a measurement, while relative uncertainty is the absolute uncertainty expressed as a fraction of the measured value. The number of significant figures reported should match the precision of the least precise measurement used. When measurements are combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, their uncertainties accumulate and the final answer should be reported with a precision matching the least precise input.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Uncertainties and Significant Figures

    Absolute Uncertainty – the absolute uncertainty is the number which, when


    combined with a reported value, gives the range of true values. For instance,
    a length may be reported as 7.3 mm ± 0.2 mm. Here, the reported value is
    7.2 mm and the absolute uncertainty is 0.2 mm; the range of true values is
    7.1 mm to 7.5 mm. Absolute uncertainties always have the same units as the
    reported value with which that are associated. When you are told to report
    “the uncertainty” with your results, you should give the absolute uncertainty.

    Relative Uncertainty – The relative uncertainty is the ratio of the absolute


    uncertainty to the reported value. A length of 100 cm ± 1 cm has a relative
    uncertainty of 1 cm/100 cm, or 1 part per hundred (= 1% or 1 pph). Relative
    uncertainties are always unitless. Multiplying the relative uncertainty by the
    reported value yields the absolute uncertainty. For instance, a mass of 2.042
    g which has a relative uncertainty of 3 parts per thousand (3 ppt) should be
    reported as 2.042 g ± 0.006 g.

    The rules given below show the relation between uncertainty and the number
    of digits with which an answer should be reported.

    RULE 1: Any value reported as the result of a measurement should contain


    only digits that are known exactly plus a final digit which is associated with
    some uncertainty. If the uncertainty associated with a value is not specified,
    it is assumed to be ± 1 in the final digit.

    Correct: The mass of my pencil is 10.94 g ± 0.03 g.

    Incorrect: The length of my desk is 1.88239 m ± 0.3049 g.

    If the uncertainty is not specified, the number of significant figures can


    usually be determined by the manner in which the value is written.

    Value # Significant Digits


    305 3
    305.0 4
    5.00 3
    3.0 × 105 2
    3.00 × 105 3
    30, 000 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5
    RULE 2: When data points are combined, the uncertainties associated with
    those points accumulate.

    When data are added or subtracted, absolute uncertainties are added.

    (72 g ± 2 g ) + (68 g ± 1 g) = 140 g ± 3 g

    (72 g ± 2 g ) – (68 g ± 1 g) = 4 g ± 3 g

    When data are added or subtracted, relative uncertainties are added.

    (72 m ± 2 m ) × (68 m ± 1 m) = 4900 m2 ± 200 m2

    (relative uncertainty = (2 m/72 m) + (1 m/68 m) = 0.042;

    absolute uncertainty = 4896 m2 × 0.042 = 206 m2)

    (72 g ± 2g) ÷ (68 mL ± 1 mL) = 1.06 g/mL ± 0.04 g/mL

    (relative uncertainty = (2 g/72 g) + (1 mL/68 mL) = 0.042;

    absolute uncertainty = 1.06 g/mL × 0.042 = 0.04 g/mL)

    Approximation to RULE 2: When adding or subtracting, report the answer


    with the same number of place values as the data point which is least
    precise.

    Correct: Incorrect:
    78.074 g 78.074 g
    26.1 g 26.1 g
    18.62 g 18.62 g
    122.794g = 122.8 g 122.794g
    When multiplying or dividing, report the answer with the same number of
    digits as there are in the least precise data point.

    Correct: 2.53 cm × 0.143 cm × 18.96 cm = 6.86 cm3

    Incorrect: 2.53 cm × 0.143 cm × 18.96 cm = 6.8595384 cm3

    Exercise: A block of metal which measures 8.0 cm by 10.0 cm by 3.0 cm


    has a mass of 1.92 kg. Assume the uncertainty in each length is 0.1 cm and
    the uncertainty in the mass is 0.03 kg. Find the density of the metal sample.
    Does the density of zinc (7.14 g/cm3) fall within the range of the true values
    of the density of the block?

    Answer: d = 8.0 g/cm3 ± 0.6 g/cm3; the density of zinc does not fall in this
    range of values.

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