CHAPTER 5
Engineering
Approximations
MEC 400
INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING
AND PROBLEM SOLVING
Accuracy is measure of nearness of a value to the correct or true value
Precision refers to repeatability of measurement, that is how close
successive measurements are to each other
Errors can be categorized into:
1. Systematic errors:
Identifiable and correctable errors
Result from a measurement method that is inherently wrong
2. Random errors:
Accidental or other non-identifiable errors
Result form many source such as random noise in electronic circuits and
the inability to reproducibly read instruments.
Uncertainty is result from random errors and describes the lack of
precision.
The uncertainty in the rod measurement may be expressed on a
fractional or percentage basis:
Error is the difference between the reported value and true value.
Error result from systematic errors and describes the lack of
accuracy.
To determine the true value, it is necessary to correct the
systematic error
Example
An Arctic researcher measures the length of a rod at -60C. She records
the length to be 7.58 cm. Her assistance notes a systematic error, in that
the aluminium meterstick was calibrated at room temperature (20C), not
-60C. Because the meterstick shortened at the cold temperature, the
true length of the rod is actually shorter than 7.58cm. The assistant goes to
a handbook and learns that aluminium shortens by 23.6 10-6 cm/cm for
each C that it is cooled.
He calculates that the rod shortened by 0.0143cm, so the actual length of
the rod is 7.57 cm. What is the fractional error and the percentage error?
A significant digits(or figure) is defined as any digit used in writing a number,
except those zeros that are used only for location of the decimal point or
those zeros that do not have any non zero digit on their left
Quantity
Number of significant
error
4784
36
60
600
6.00 x 102
31.72
30.02
46.0
0.02
0.020
600.00
In reading instruments, last digit will be an estimate, hence it has some
error, whereas the first digits are known exactly.
Rule of thumb on how to determine significant figures:
Many engineering measurement are accurate to 1 part in 1000, so three
significant figures are appropriate. For estimates, only one or two significant
figures should be reported. Is a measurement is made using an extremely
accurate instrument, then four or more significant figures are wanted.
Significant figures is an accurate digit, although last digit is accepted to have
some error
The number of significant figures does not include the zeros required to place
the decimal point.
In reading instruments, last digit will be an estimate, hence it has some
error, whereas the first digits are known exactly.
Rule of thumb on how to determine significant figures:
Many engineering measurement are accurate to 1 part in 1000, so three
significant figures are appropriate. For estimates, only one or two significant
figures should be reported. Is a measurement is made using an extremely
accurate instrument, then four or more significant figures are wanted.
Significant figures is an accurate digit, although last digit is accepted to have
some error
The number of significant figures does not include the zeros required to place
the decimal point.
Rounding
In rounding a value to the proper number of significant figures, increase last
digit retained by 1 if the first figure dropped is 5 or greater.
Rounding should be performed only when the final answer is reported.
The error occurs due to round is called rounding error.
Rounding errors is often encountered in a computer calculation, because
computer represent real number with a finite number of digits.
Example:
827.48 rounds to 827.5 or 827 for four and three significant digits
Engineers strive for a high level of precision in work, so it is important to be
aware of expected precision and the time and cost to attain it.
There are many instances where an engineer is expected to make an
approximation to an answer, that is to estimate the result with reasonable
accuracy.
The knowledge and experience is what distinguishes an approximation
from a guess.
The estimates may be error by perhaps 10 to 20%
Example:
Estimate amount of paper (mass in kg) used by students of MEC400 for
homework, quizzes and examinations during a semester
Assumptions
[Link] of students: 150
2. 5 Sheets are used per credit hour per week
3.14 weeks per semester
[Link] of 50 sheets of paper has a mass of about 0.5 lbm
[Link] credit hour is 3
Calculation
Mass of sheet = (0.5 lbm/50 sheets)x(454g/lbm)=4.54 g/sheet
Mass of paper =
150 students x (3 credit/student) x (5 sheet/credit/week)x(14 weeks)x(4.54g/sheet )
x (1kg/1000g)
= 143.01 kg/sem
= 1.4 x 102 kg/sem
