RyL61FbBBVpMt

Measurement uncertainty

Source: licencja: CC 0.

Niepewność pomiaru

You will learn
  • English vocabulary concerning measurement uncertainty.

Exercise 1
RfXM8xZKVwTI21
Source: GroMar, licencja: CC BY 3.0.
R1i3p06QlwEX81
nagranie abstraktu

Look at the picture and answer the question:

What is the air temperature in this shop?

Conclusion

R1ZDTsAeAqy8k1
nagranie abstraktu
  • The measurement results never give absolute certainty as to the value of the measured quantity (in this case - temperature). We are talking about the so‑called measurement uncertaintymeasurement uncertaintymeasurement uncertainty.

  • The measurement uncertainty is defined as the smallest readable scale unit.

Experiment 1
Experiment 1
Research problem
R1IhNou190k8F1
nagranie abstraktu

Indicating sources of measurement uncertainty.

Hypothesis
RzGdP1FjxRkNC1
nagranie abstraktu

The measurement uncertainty is related to the characteristics of the measuring instrumentmeasuring instrumentmeasuring instrument.

You will need
R10IwN3CoPpeN1
nagranie abstraktu

a) laboratory thermometer
b) medical thermometer
c) room thermometer
d) a beaker with tap water

Instruction
RvPkVIGmTUJbo
nagranie abstraktu
  1. Insert three thermometers at the same time into the same beaker with water.

  2. Read the temperature value on each of the thermometers.

  3. Write the results of the measurement in the table:

TIndeks dolny 1 [°C]

TIndeks dolny 2 [°C]

TIndeks dolny 3 [°C]

TIndeks dolny average [°C]

  1. Calculate the averageaverageaverage water temperature in the beaker using the formula:

Taverage=T1 + T2 + T33

Round the result of the calculation to the first decimal place and write it in the table.

Summary
Ry4JhofFbt9nu1
nagranie abstraktu

Each measuring instrument has a certain accuracy (precision) of measurement. When measuring, for example, temperature, we read the result and we need to determine with what accuracy the measuring instrument (in this case the thermometer) allows us to give it (specify).

Exercise 2
R1N5xkYs8ntOT1
nagranie abstraktu

Answer the question:

Why do you think that thermometers that we hang outside the window are not used to measure body temperature?

Experiment 2
Experiment 2
Research problem
R1IhNou190k8F1
nagranie abstraktu

Indicating sources of measurement uncertainty.

Hypothesis
R1BZYPbfm4YWc1
nagranie abstraktu

The measurement uncertainty is related to the accuracy of the scale and the smallest readable scale of the measuring instrument.

You will need
R1BT1NHMhCcA6
nagranie abstraktu

- stick
- ruler
- rolled construction tape
- sewing centimeter

Instruction
RcNZZSrIOxZ6g
nagranie abstraktu
  1. Perform a five‑fold measurement of the stick length using ruler, a sewing tape measure and a rolled construction tape.

  2. Record the results obtained by all group members in the table.

lIndeks dolny 1 [cm]

lIndeks dolny 2 [cm]

lIndeks dolny 3 [cm]

lIndeks dolny 4 [cm]

lIndeks dolny 5 [cm]

lIndeks dolny average [cm]

  1. Calculate the averageaverageaverage cord length (lIndeks dolny average) using the formula:

laverage=l1 + l2 + l3 + l4 + l55

Round the result of the calculation to the first decimal place and write it in the table.

Summary
Rv1ajCSfYmSDl1
nagranie abstraktu

The reason for differences in the length of the stick read from the measuring instruments was the accuracy of their performance. The smallest readable scale units are almost (but not exactly) equal. Therefore, the reason for measurement uncertainty in this case was the accuracy of reading, the accuracy of the measuring instrument and its correct application.

R18LKpwReEGF2
Ilustracja przedstawia oś liczbową, na której zaznaczone jest pięć punktów. Punkty są przedstawione jako duży (pomarańczowy) i mały (zielony) oraz ułożony w kolejności: duży, mały, duży, mały, duży. Numerem 1 i 2 zaznaczona jest odległość pomiędzy małym a dużym punktem. Numerem 3 oznaczony jest mały punkt. Numerem 4 oznaczony jest duży punkt. Numerem 5 zaznaczona jest odległość pomiędzy dwoma najbliższymi dużymi punktami. Na ilustracji widoczne są numery, a na nich podpisy. 1. measurement uncertainty {audio}, 2. measurement uncertainty {audio}, 3. the worst real possible result {audio}, 4. the measured value {audio}, 5. value of the smallest graduation on the measuring device {audio}.
Estimation of measurement errors
RjpySjnt05r5l1
nagranie abstraktu

Conclusion

a) We ourselves (i.e. the characteristics of the experimenter, called the observerobserverobserver) are the reason for the measurements uncertainty.

b) The measurement error of a recurring phenomenon can be reduced by making a single measurement of a whole series of recurring phenomena.

Summary

R1FMGLduxdafn
nagranie abstraktu
  • There are no perfect measurements! Each measurement has limited accuracy and is subject to measurement uncertainty resulting from the accuracy (quality) of the measuring instruments used. Of course, we can reduce this uncertainty by improving instruments and measuring methods, but we will never eliminate it completely. We do not always need measurements with very high accuracy.

  • For example, there is no sense in providing distance on road signs expressed in millimeters, centimeters and even in meters.

R1ICg68sD6g4T1
Source: GroMar, licencja: CC BY 3.0.
  • If you measure the length of the same object several times and get several different values (numbers), the averageaverageaverage of the results will be closest to the actual length.

  • The measurement error of a recurring phenomenon can be reduced by making a single measurement of a series of recurrent events.

Exercises

R9Zjo7WROtrvm
Exercise 3
Wersja alternatywna ćwiczenia: The result of the board length measurement is 2 m ± 10 cm. Write what can be the length of this board? Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. Between 2,10 m and 2,30 m., 2. Between 1,90 m and 2,10 m., 3. Between 1,70 m and 1,90 m., 4. Between 1,50 m and 1,70 m.
zadanie
Source: GroMar, licencja: CC BY 3.0.
Exercise 4

Specify what measurement uncertainty arises when measuring physical quantities using the instruments shown in the photographs. Provide the value of uncertainty.

R18vwkO5BL8HT1
Source: GroMar, licencja: CC BY 3.0.
Exercise 5

Describe in English how to weigh one toothpick on the shop scale which measures the mass with accuracy of 1 g.

R4JgiX7oDfKUb
Exercise 6
Wersja alternatywna ćwiczenia: Match Polish terms with their English equivalents. dokładność Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. senses, 2. sensitivity, 3. accuracy, 4. average średnia Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. senses, 2. sensitivity, 3. accuracy, 4. average czułość Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. senses, 2. sensitivity, 3. accuracy, 4. average zmysły Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. senses, 2. sensitivity, 3. accuracy, 4. average
RPyPUCZ4ovi081
Interaktywna gra, polegająca na łączeniu wyrazów w pary w ciągu jednej minuty. Czas zaczyna upływać wraz z rozpoczęciem gry. Jeden ruch to odkrywanie najpierw jednej potem drugiej karty z wyrazem. Każdy wyraz jest odczytywany. Kolejny ruch to odkrywanie trzeciej i czwartej karty. W ten sposób odsłuchasz wszystkie wyrazy. Nawigacja z poziomu klawiatury za pomocą strzałek, odsłuchiwanie wyrazów enterem lub spacją. Znajdź wszystkie pary wyrazów.
Source: Zespół autorski Politechniki Łódzkiej, licencja: CC BY 3.0.

Glossary

accuracy
accuracy

dokładność

RHirE5fjp9JkR1
wymowa w języku angielskim: accuracy
average
average

średnia

RrnEJh5c9Kea61
wymowa w języku angielskim: average
measurement uncertainty
measurement uncertainty

niepewność pomiaru

RtmKKxwuW5WDb1
wymowa w języku angielskim: measurement uncertainty
measuring instrument
measuring instrument

przyrząd pomiarowy

R10F6aH5sYYVr1
wymowa w języku angielskim: measuring instrument
observer
observer

obserwator

R1P0JPCxNRPGv1
wymowa w języku angielskim: observer
senses
senses

zmysły

R1DCzshKfNzA61
wymowa w języku angielskim: senses
sensitivity
sensitivity

czułość

RULIRGNpmct5u1
wymowa w języku angielskim: sensitivity

Keywords

accuracyaccuracyaccuracy

averageaverageaverage

measurement uncertaintymeasurement uncertaintymeasurement uncertainty

observerobserverobserver

sensitivitysensitivitysensitivity