Physics Factsheet

www.curriculum-press.co.uk

Number 132

Uncertainty in Practical Work

761mm could be as small as 75mm or as large as 77mm. 1/76 is 0.013
or 1.3%. The relative error in 481mm is 0.021 and the percentage
error is 2.1%. The 761mm has the same absolute error as 481mm,
but a smaller relative error.

This Factsheet will consider the following questions:

How certain are you of your result?
How accurate was the measuring device?
How can you determine the uncertainty in your measurement?
What is the difference between absolute and percentage errors?
If a quantity is the product or sum of other measurements, how
are the uncertainties combined?
How many significant figures should you use when quoting a
result?
What is the difference between random and systematic errors?

The relative error in a measurement is given by Absolute

error / Measurement. The percentage error is the relative error
expressed as a percentage.
What about measuring the area of a rectangle with sides 761mm
and 481mm? The area of the rectangle is 76mm 48mm = 3648mm2.

You have two pieces of wire, 761mm and 481mm in length.

However, the area could be as small as 75mm 47mm = 3525mm2 or

as large as 3773mm2. The area is 3648124mm2. How does the
uncertainty of each length relate to the uncertainty in the area?

How long are they in total?

76 1mm
48 1mm

The absolute error in a measurement

gives an upper and lower limit,
expressed in the units of the
measurement.

The uncertainty in the first side as a percentage is 1/76 100% = 1.3%

The uncertainty in the second side as a percentage is 1/48 100% = 2.1%
The uncertainty in the area as a percentage is 124/3648 = 3.4%

The combined length is 76mm + 48mm = 124mm. But the uncertainty

in each measurement means the total length could be as short as
75mm + 47mm = 122mm or as a long as 77mm + 49mm = 126mm. The
total length is 1242mm. Compare the uncertainty for each length
with the uncertainty in the total length.

When multiplying quantities together, the percentage

uncertainty in the product is equal to the sum of the percentage
errors in each quantity.
Worked example
A brick has dimensions
0.1cm, 20.0
0.1cm
10.0
70.1cm
0.1cm.
and 7.0
a) Calculate the volume
of the brick.
200.1cm
b) Find the uncertainty in
this volume.

Exam Hint: The absolute error in the measurement 761mm is

1mm. It must be expressed in the units of the actual
measurement.
When adding quantities, the absolute error in the result
is the sum of the absolute errors in each quantity.

100.1cm

c) Calculate the density of the brick if the mass is 18731g.

d) Calculate the largest and smallest possible brick densities.
e) Calculate the percentage error in these quantities: Volume,
mass, density.
f) Thus state how uncertainties are combined when quantities
are divided.

So how are absolute errors combined when one quantity is

subtracted from another?

Worked example
0.01m in length. What is
Two wires are 0.23
0.01m and 0.42
the difference between them? What is the uncertainty in this
measurement? How are absolute errors combined when
quantities are subtracted from one another?

Answer:
a ) Volume of the brick is 10.0cm 20.0cm 7.0cm = 1400.0cm3
b ) Add the percentage error in each quantity:
0.1/10.0 100% = 1.0% 0.1/20.0 100% = 0.5%
0.1/7.0 100% = 1.4(3)%
Therefore the volume is 1400.0cm3 2.93%
c) Density of the brick = 1873g / 1400.0cm3 = 1.338g/cm3
d ) Largest possible density = 1874g/1359cm3 = 1.379g/cm3
Smallest possible density = 1872g/ 1441cm3 = 1.299g/cm3
e) Percentage error of the volume = 2.93%
Percentage error of the mass = 1/1873g 100% = 0.05%
Density = 1.338 0.040 g/cm3
Percentage error of the density = 0.040 / 1.338 100% =
2.99%

Answer: 0.42m - 0.23m = 0.19m.

The minimum possible value is 0.41m-0.24m = 0.17m
The maximum possible value is 0.43m-0.22m = 0.21m
Therefore the answer is 0.190.02m.
The overall absolute error due to subtraction is the
sum of the individual absolute errors for each quantity.
Which is a more precise measurement: 761mm or 481mm? Both
values have the same absolute error but 481mm could be as small
as 47mm or as large as 49mm. 1/48 is 0.021 or 2.1%.

Physics Factsheet

132. Uncertainty in Practical Work

Exam Hint: The absolute error of a measurement is not

dependent on the number of readings.

When quantities are divided, the sum of the

individual percentage errors gives the overall percentage
error.

However the 10 readings will have a bell shaped distribution as

shown in the diagram. About two thirds of the measurements will
be within one standard deviation of the mean. The standard
deviation is reduced by a large number of readings

Worked example
The potential difference of two cells is found to be 1.5 0.1V
and 1.3 0.2V.

Exam Hint: The relative or percentage error of a measurement

is dependent on the number of readings.
1.50.1V

1.30.2V

Random and systematic errors

Random errors are variations in your measurement due to the
precision of your measuring device or small changes in conditions.
For example, three pendulum period readings might be 3.45s, 3.51s
and 3.48s.

a) Find the combined p.d. of these cells in series.

A current of 2.20.1A was measured when these cells were
put into a circuit.
b) Calculate the resistance of the circuit.
c) Find the uncertainty in this measurement.

An example of a systematic error would be an electronic balance

that has not been correctly reset to zero or a metre rule with a
rounded end. With a systematic error, the measuring device is
consistently out by a particular amount.

Answer:
a ) Potential difference = 1.50.1V + 1.30.2V = 2.80.3V
b ) Resistance = P.d./ Current = 2.80.3V / 2.20.1A = 1.27
c) Sum the individual percentage errors:
0.3 / 2.8V 100% = 10.7%
0.1 / 2.2A 100% = 4.5%
Resistance = 1.2715.2%

Pactice Questions

1. (a) Define the terms absolute error and percentage error.

(b) State the precision in these measuring devices: 15cm ruler,
Vernier callipers, micrometer.
(c) An electrical component has dimensions of approximately
2.0cm by 1.4cm.
Estimate the percentage error in a measurement of area made
The percentage error of the resistance measurement is approximately
with (i) 15cm ruler (ii) Micrometer
15%. How many significant figures should we express in our answer?
1 Resistance could be between 0.5 and 1.5?, an uncertainty2.of (a) Give an example of a systematic error.
(b) Explain how random errors can be reduced.
50%.
1.3 Resistance could be between 1.25 and 1.35, an uncertainty (c) Calculate the volume of a cube with 3.4cm sides. Include the
uncertainty in the volume.
of 4%.
1.27 Resistance could be between 1.265 and 1.275, 3.an A student measures the current in each resistor 1, 2 and 3. The
uncertainty of 0.4%.
measurements are 0.80.1A, 1.20.1A and 2.70.1A respectively.
If the uncertainty in the resistance measurement is 15%, what is the
most appropriate number of significant figures? An uncertainty of
50% is far less precise than 15%, and 0.4% is far more precise. Two
significant figures are enough in this case.

1
2

Averages

How does taking more than one reading affect uncertainty? Make
ten measurements of a length, each with an absolute error of 1mm.
The absolute error of the average will be 1mm.

(a) Calculate the total current, It passing through the network

and state the absolute error in this measurement.
(b) Find the percentage errors for I1, I2, I3 and It.
The student then measures a current of 4.70.1A for It directly
in the circuit.
(c) Now calculate the percentage error in this measurement of It.
(d) Explain the difference in the percentage error for It in b) and c).

Mean

frequency

Answers

68% of measurements
are within one
standard deviation of
the mean

1. (b) 1mm, 0.1mm, 0.01mm

(c) 12%, 0.12%
2. (c) 39.3cm3 8.8%, although a more realistic figure is 39cm3 9%
3, (a) 4.70.3A
(b) I1, 12.5%, I2, 8.3% , I3, 3.7%, It 6.4%
(c) 2.1%

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Acknowledgements:
This Physics Factsheet was researched and written by J Carter
The Curriculum Press,Bank House, 105 King Street,Wellington, Shropshire, TF1 1NU
ISSN 1351-5136

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