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Precision, Accuracy and Uncertainty Calculation. Notes

The document discusses various methods for calculating uncertainty in measurements: 1) Random errors are due to limitations in instruments and can be reduced by using precise instruments and taking multiple measurements to calculate an average. 2) Systematic errors are due to issues like improper calibration and can be reduced by calibrating instruments and modifying experimental procedures. 3) Uncertainty in measurements involving addition, subtraction, multiplication or division must account for the percentage uncertainties of all values. 4) Methods for determining uncertainty include calculating absolute uncertainty by adding or subtracting errors, finding maximum and minimum ranges, and using percentage uncertainties.

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49 views

Precision, Accuracy and Uncertainty Calculation. Notes

The document discusses various methods for calculating uncertainty in measurements: 1) Random errors are due to limitations in instruments and can be reduced by using precise instruments and taking multiple measurements to calculate an average. 2) Systematic errors are due to issues like improper calibration and can be reduced by calibrating instruments and modifying experimental procedures. 3) Uncertainty in measurements involving addition, subtraction, multiplication or division must account for the percentage uncertainties of all values. 4) Methods for determining uncertainty include calculating absolute uncertainty by adding or subtracting errors, finding maximum and minimum ranges, and using percentage uncertainties.

Uploaded by

thandeka
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Uncertainty Calculation

Precision, Accuracy and Uncertainty Calculation.

Notes:
• No measurement can be made with 100% precision
• No measurement is 100% accurate or perfect
• Random errors due to limitation of instrument (uncertainty of equipment)

•
• Must choose equipment with high precision
• Significant figs tell us about the degree of precision
• More sig fig more precise, more certain we are
• Accurate data – low systematic error ( instrument must be calibrated )
• Precise data – low random error ( instrument with high precision )
• Reduce random error, use instrument with high degree of precision

Precise/ Accurate – Use instrument with high precision + low systematic error

Random error
• sometimes too high or too low due to limitation of instrument
• reduce random error by taking replicates and average

Systematic error
• Always too high or too low due to instrument not calibrated or procedural
error( procedure used always give too low or too high)
• Reduce systematic error by calibrating instrument and modifying our
experimental procedure

• Random Error link to Precision, overcome by using precise instruments


and taking replicate samples (average)
• Systematic Error link to Accuracy overcome by calibrating the instruments
Treatment of Uncertainty
Adding or Subtracting measured quantities associated with uncertainty.

2 methods can be used


1st Method
By adding up the absolute uncertainty

• Initial mass, m = (10.00±0.01)g


• Final mass, m = (15.00±0.01)g
• Mass difference, m = (15.00 – 10.00) = 5.00g
• Absolute uncertainty, ∆m = (0.01 + 0.01)g = 0.02g

Answer = (5.00 ± 0.02)g = (4.98 --- 5.02)g

2nd Method
Max/min limit error method

• Initial mass, m = (10.00±0.01)g


• Final mass, m = (15.00±0.01)g
• Mass difference, m = (15.00 – 10.00) = 5.00g
• Max error = Highest mass difference = (15.01 – 9.99) = 5.02g
• Min error = Smallest mass difference = (14.99 – 10.01) = 4.98g

Answer = (4.98 ---- 5.02)g

Multiplying or dividing measured quantities


• Percentage uncertainty is the sum of percentage uncertainty of individual
quantities

Moles, n = Conc x Vol Conc = (2.00±0.02)M , Vol = (2.0±0.1)dm3

Moles, n = 2.00 x 2.0 = 4.0

% Uncertainty moles, ∆n = % Uncertainty Conc + % Uncertainty Vol


% Uncertainty Conc = (0.02/2.00)x100% = 1%
% Uncertainty Vol = (0.1/2.0) x 100% = 5%
% Uncertainty (Total) = 6%

Moles, n = (4.0 ± 6%) convert to absolute uncertainty (6/100) x 4.0 = 0.24


Moles, n = (4.0 ± 0.24) or (4.0±0.2)

Answer = (3.8 --- 4.2)


Uncertainty involving time for rate of reaction

Rate of reaction = 1/time


Average time for 3 trials = (5.28 + 4.75 + 4.47)/3 = 4.83s

Rate of reaction = 1/average time = 1/ 4.83 = 0.207s-1

How to find uncertainty for time and rate ?

3 ways to find uncertainty for time and rate.

1st easy method and not very accurate (% Uncertainty Method)

Average time = 4.83s


Uncertainty for time ∆t = (4.83±0.01) using uncertainty from stopwatch
% Uncertainty time ∆t = (0.01/4.83) x 100% = 0.207%
Rate = 1/Time
Rate = 1/4.83 = 0.207s-1
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207±0.207%) convert to absolute uncertainty
Rate = (0.207±0.004)

Rate = (0.207 ± 0.004) which range from (0.211 --- 0.203)


2nd method using Max-Min Range (more accurate).

Time for 3 trials are 5.28, 4.75, 4.47


Average time = 4.83s

Uncertainty for time = (Max time – Min time)/2 = (5.28 – 4.47)/2 = 0.41s
Uncertainty for time ∆t = (4.83 ± 0.41)
% Uncertainty time ∆t = (0.41/4.83) x 100% = 8.48%
Rate = 1/Time
Rate = 1/4.83 = 0.207s-1
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207± 8.48%) convert to absolute uncertainty
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207 ± 0.017)s-1

Rate = (0.207 ± 0.017) which range from (0.224---0.190)


3rd method using Max-Min Error (more accurate)

Time for 3 trials are 5.28, 4.75, 4.47


Max time = 5.28, Min time = 4.47
Average Rate = 1/time = 1/4.83 = 0.207s-1

Uncertainty for Rate Calculation


Max Rate = 1/min time = 1/4.47 = 0.223s-1
Min Rate = 1/max time = 1/5.28 = 0.189s-1
Rate with uncertainty = 0.207 ± (0.223—0.189)
Rate = 0.207 ± (max 0.223 , min 0.189) which range from (0.223 –0.189)
Uncertainty involving Concentration of solution by serial dilution
Two methods to find uncertainty for concentration
1st method using %Uncertainty

Serial Dilution (3%,1.5%, 0.75%, 0.325%, 0.1875%) of H2O2 using water.

M1V1(before dilution)= M2V2(after dilution)


Conc M2 = (M1V1)/ V2
% Uncertainty M2 = %Uncertainty M1 + %Uncertainty V1+ %Uncertainty V2

M1 = (3.000 ±0.00)% H2O2 Standard


V1 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml H2O2
V2 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml water added

%Uncertainty M1 = 0%
%Uncertainty V1 = (0.012/1.500)x 100% = 0.8%
%Uncertainty V2 = (0.012/1.500)x 100% = 0.8%

Total %Uncertainty = 0% + 0.8% + 0.8% = 1.6%


Conc M2 = 1.500%
Uncertainty conc M2 = (1.500%±1.6%) convert to absolute uncertainty
Uncertainty conc M2 = (1.500± 0.024)%

Conc M2 = (1.50 ± 0.02)% which ranges from (1.52—1.48)%


2nd method using max/min error method

Serial Dilution (3%,1.5%, 0.75%, 0.325%, 0.1875%) of H2O2 using water.

M1V1(before dilution)= M2V2(after dilution)


Conc M2 = (M1V1)/ (V1 + V2)= 1.500% * after dilution, total volume = (V1 + V2)

M1 = (3.000 ±0.00)% H2O2 Standard


V1 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml H2O2
V2 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml water added

Max V1 = 1.512ml Max V2 = 1.512ml


Min V1 = 1.488ml Min V2 = 1.488ml

Conc M2 = 1.500%
Conc M2 = (M1V1)/ (V1 + V2) * after dilution, total volume = (V1 + V2)

Max Conc M2 error happens when Max V1 vol and Min V2 vol used
Max Conc M2 = (M1 x Max V1)/ (Max V1 + Min V2 )
= (3.00 x 1.512)/(1.512 + 1.488) = 1.512%

Min Conc M2 error happens when Min V1 vol and Max V2 vol used
Min Conc M2 = (M1 x Min V1)/ (Min V1 + Max V2)
= (3.00 x 1.488)/(1.488 +1.512) = 1.488%
Uncertainty conc M2 = 1.500 ± (1.512 –1.488 )%

Conc M2 = 1.500 ± (1.512 –1.488 )% which ranges from (1.512 –1.488)%


Click HERE to view detail uncertainty calculation and standard deviation

Prepared by Lawrence Kok

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