Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Accuracy vs Precision
Significant Figures
Dr. Kuwat Triyana
Drs. Sunarta, M.S.
Error
Error The deviation of a measured result
from the correct or accepted value of the
quantity being measured.
Error
Definitions
Random Errors cause the measured result to deviate
randomly from the correct value. The distribution of
multiple measurements with only random error
contributions will be centered around the correct value.
Some Examples
Definitions
Systematic Errors cause the measured result
to deviate by a fixed amount in one direction
from the correct value. The distribution of
multiple measurements with systematic error
contributions will be centered some fixed
value away from the correct value.
Some Examples:
Mis-calibrated instrument
Unaccounted cable loss
Systematic Errors
Definitions
Measurements typically contain some combination of random and
systematic errors.
Precision is an indication of the level of random error.
Accuracy is an indication of the level of systematic error.
Accuracy and precision are typically qualitative terms.
Low Precision
Low Accuracy
Low Precision
High Accuracy
High Precision
Low Accuracy
High Precision
High Accuracy
Definitions
Definitions
Repeatability refers to the ability to perform
the same measurement on the same DUT
under the same test conditions and get the
same result over time.
By repeating the test setup between
measurements of a stable DUT, a statistical
determination of System Repeatability can be
made. This is simply the level of random error
(precision) of the entire system, including the
contribution of the test operator, setup, etc.
Definitions
Reproducibility typically refers to the stability
of the DUT and the ability to reproduce the
same measurement result over time using a
system with a high level of repeatability.
More generally, it refers to achieving the same
measurement result under varied conditions.
Definitions
Reliability refers to producing the same result in
statistical trials. This would typically refer to the
stability of the DUT, and has connotations of
operational reliability of the DUT.
Correction - value added algebraically to the
uncorrected result of a measurement to
compensate for systematic error.
Correction Factor - numerical factor by which the
uncorrected result of a measurement is multiplied
to compensate for systematic error.
Resolution indicates numerical uncertainty of test
equipment readout. Actual uncertainty may be
larger.
Example: Accuracy
Precision
Precision = the degree of exactness of a
measurement that is repeatedly recorded.
Which set is more precise?
18.2 , 18.4 , 18.35
17.9 , 18.3 , 18.85
16.8 , 17.2 , 19.44
Example: Precision
Who is more precise when measuring the same 17.0
cm book?
Susan:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm
Amy:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm
Accuracy:
How close you are to the
actual value
Depends on the person
measuring
Calculated by the formula:
% Error
YV AV
AV
100
Significant Figures
Reading a Meterstick
. l2. . . . I . . . . I3 . . . .I . . . . I4. .
First digit (known) = 2
Second digit (known)
cm
2.?? cm
= 0.7 2.7? cm
0.05- 0.08 cm
Length reported
2.77 cm
or
2.76 cm
or
2.78 cm
Learning Check
cm
2) 9.32 cm
3) 9.33 cm
How does your answer compare with your neighbors
answer? Why or why not?
. l3. . . . I . . . . I4 . . . . I . . . . I5. .
cm
11.5 mL
52.8 mL
Rule #1
Every nonzero digit is significant
Examples:
24 = 2
3.56 = 3
7 =1
Rule #2 Sandwiched 0s
Zeros between non-zeros are significant
Examples:
7003 = 4
40.9 =
3
Rule #3 Leading 0s
Zeros appearing in front of non-zero digits are not
significant
Act as placeholders
Cant be dropped, show magnitude
Examples:
0.00024 = 2
0.453 =
Examples:
123.003 grams
decimal present, start on P side, draw arrow,
count digits without an arrow through it.
Answer = 6
10,100 centimeters
Decimal absent, start on A side, draw an
arrow, count digits without an arrow
through it.
Answer = 3
Learning Check
State the number of significant figures in each of the
following:
A. 0.030 m
1
2
3
B. 4.050 L
C. 0.0008 g
D. 3.00 m
E. 2,080,000 bees
Learning Check
A. Which answer(s) contain 3 significant figures?
1) 0.4760
2) 0.00476
3) 4760
1) 0.00307
1) 535
2) 535,000
3) 5.35 x 105
Learning Check
Significant figure
If we measure the acceleration of gravity g, it would be absurd to state a result like :
38
Significant figure
39
Significant figure
40
Significant figure
41
Reading a Meterstick
. l2. . . . I . . . . I3 . . . .I . . . . I4. .
cm
=2
2.?? cm
= 0.7
2.7? cm
2.75 cm
or
2.74 cm
or
2.76 cm
4
2
___
___
Leading Zeros
Number of Significant Figures
0.008 mm
0.0156 oz
0.0042 lb
____
0.000262 mL
____
Sandwiched Zeros
Number of Significant Figures
50.8 mm
2001 min
0.702 lb
____
0.00405 m
____
Trailing Zeros
Number of Significant Figures
25,000 in.
200 yr
48,600 gal
25,005,000 g
____
Learning Check
A. Which answers contain 3 significant figures?
1) 0.4760
2) 0.00476
3) 4760
B. All the zeros are significant in
1) 0.00307
2) 25.300
3) 2.050 x 103
1) 535
2) 535,000
3) 5.35 x 105
48
Solution
A. Which answers contain 3 significant figures?
2) 0.00476
3) 4760
B. All the zeros are significant in
2) 25.300
3) 2.050 x 103
2) 535,000
3) 5.35 x 105
49
Learning Check
In which set(s) do both numbers contain the
same number of significant figures?
1) 22.0 and 22.00
2) 400.0 and 40
3) 0.000015 and 150,000
50
Solution
In which set(s) do both numbers contain the
same number of significant figures?
51
C. 0.0008 g
D. 3.00 m
E. 2,080,000 bees
7
52
Solution
A. 0.030 m
B. 4.050 L
C. 0.00008 g
D. 3.00 m
E. 2,080,000 bees
3
53
Learning Check
In each calculation, round the answer to the
correct number of significant figures.
A. 235.05 + 19.6 + 2.1 =
1) 256.75
2) 256.8
3) 257
B. 58.925 - 18.2 =
1) 40.725
2) 40.73
3) 40.7
56
Solution
A. 235.05 + 19.6 + 2.1 =
2) 256.8
B. 58.925 - 18.2 =
3) 40.7
57
58
Learning Check
A. 2.19 X 4.2 =
1) 9
2) 9.2
3) 9.198
B. 4.311 0.07 =
1) 61.58
2) 62
3) 60
C.
2.54 X 0.0028
0.0105 X 0.060
1) 11.3
2) 11
3) 0.041
59
Solution
A.
2.19 X 4.2 =
2) 9.2
B.
4.311 0.07
C. 2.54 X 0.0028 =
0.0105 X 0.060
3) 60
2) 11
Learning Check
A. 2.19 X 4.2 =
1) 9
2) 9.2
B. 4.311 0.07 =
1) 61.58
2) 62
C.
2.54 X 0.0028 =
0.0105 X 0.060
1) 11.3
2) 11
3) 9.198
3) 60
3) 0.041
Learning Check
. l8. . . . I . . . . I9. . . .I . . . . I10. .
cm
. l3. . . . I . . . . I4 . . . . I . . . . I5. .
What is the length of the line?
First digit
Second digit
Last (estimated) digit is
cm
5.?? cm
5.0? cm
5.00 cm
Mercury
mass (g)
volume (cm3)
Platinum
Aluminum
13.6 g/cm3
21.5 g/cm3
2.7 g/cm3
mass
(g)
Density
volume (cm3)
Strategy
1. Get dimensions in common units.
SOLUTION
= 9.0 g / cm3
cm3 = 1 mL
Strategy
1. Use density to calc. mass (g) from volume.
2. Convert mass (g) to mass (lb)
Need to know conversion factor
= 454 g / 1 lb
95 cm
2.
13.6 g
cm3
= 1.3 x 103 g
1 lb
1.3 x 10 g
= 2.8 lb
454 g
3
Learning Check
Osmium is a very dense metal. What is its
density in g/cm3 if 50.00 g of the metal occupies
a volume of 2.22cm3?
1) 2.25 g/cm3
2) 22.5 g/cm3
3) 111 g/cm3
Solution
2) Placing the mass and volume of the osmium metal
into the density setup, we obtain
D = mass = 50.00 g =
volume
2.22 cm3
= 22.522522 g/cm3 = 22.5 g/cm3
Volume Displacement
A solid displaces a matching volume of water when
the solid is placed in water.
33 mL
25 mL
Learning Check
What is the density (g/cm3) of 48 g of a metal if the
metal raises the level of water in a graduated cylinder
from 25 mL to 33 mL?
1) 0.2 g/ cm3
2) 6 g/m3
3) 252 g/cm3
33 mL
25 mL
Learning Check
Which diagram represents the liquid layers in the
cylinder?
(K) Karo syrup (1.4 g/mL), (V) vegetable oil (0.91
g/mL,) (W) water (1.0 g/mL)
1)
2)
V
W
K
3)
K
W
K
Learning Check
The density of octane, a component of gasoline, is
0.702 g/mL. What is the mass, in kg, of 875 mL of
octane?
1) 0.614 kg
2) 614 kg
3) 1.25 kg
Learning Check
If blood has a density of 1.05 g/mL, how many
liters of blood are donated if 575 g of blood are
given?
1) 0.548 L
2) 1.25 L
3) 1.83 L
Learning Check
2) 2.0 L
3) 4.0 L
Scientific Method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.