ME 3603 – Laboratory Manual / Spring 2019

Lab 1 – Probability and Statistics

Introduction
Whenever an unknown variable is measured, concepts of precision, bias, accuracy, and
repeatability become important. Perhaps the only certainty in any measurement is the
presence of some form of uncertainty in the measured value(s). Although the issue of bias
error and its effects on accuracy are more elusive, repeatability and precision in a
measurement can be quantified using principles of probability and statistics.
This laboratory experiment is designed to familiarize students with basic statistical
concepts such as the Gaussian distribution, large sample statistics, the Student-t
distribution, small sample statistics, and confidence intervals. This will be done through
quality-control measurements on a batch of resistors. Thus, students will also become
familiar with resistance code standards and the use of a multimeter.

Objective
The purpose for this experiment is for students to learn the following skills:
 Construct histograms.
 Characterize sets of data using finite statistical theory.
 Interpret instrument specifications

Necessary Equipment and Material

 60 resistors with identical color-code markings.
 Fluke 87-V digital multimeter with appropriate cables.
 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (or comparable).

Procedure
1. Obtain a batch of resistors from your TA. Select one resistor and record the color-
code markings in question # 1 of the data sheet.
2. Interpret the color-code markings using the information given in Figure 1.
3. Review the specifications of the multimeter and record range, resolution, and
accuracy. Check with your TA if you are unsure how to determine these data.
4. Using a single resistor, repeat a resistance measurement ten times and record data
in Table A (make sure to disconnect and reconnect cables between measurements).
5. Select 60 resistors and verify that their color-code markings are identical.
6. Use the multimeter to measure the resistance of the entire batch of resistors and
record the values in Table B of the data sheet.

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 7. Have the lab TA sign your data sheet before you leave as a means of verifying that
you completed the tables.
8. Answer all remaining questions of the data sheet after all data are recorded (you
are encouraged to start the processing of data prior to leaving the lab).

Figure 1: Resistor color codes (source: www.digikey.com).

Examples
Orange-Yellow-Brown-Silver = 34  101 = 340   10 %
Yellow-Green-Red-Gold = 45  102 = 4.5 k  5 %
Red-Orange-Orange-Gold = 23  103 = 23 k  5 %
Brown-Black-Yellow-Gold = 10  104 = 100 k  5 %
Red-Red-Yellow-none = 22  104 = 220 k  20 %
Blue-Gray-Gold-Gold = 68  10-1 = 6.8   5 %
Yellow-White-Green-Red-Brown = 495  10 2 = 49.5 k 1 %

References
[1] Richard S. Figliola and Donald E. Beasley, Theory and Design for Mechanical
Measurements, 5th Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2011.

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LAB 1 – Probability and Statistics
Data Sheet

Name: Section: _____ Station: _______

TA Signature:

1. What color-code markings are present on the resistors tested?

Band 1: Band 2: Band 3: Band 4:

2. What is the correct interpretation of the color-code markings recorded in the answer
to question #1?

3. Check multimeter specifications for this resistor (see multimeter data sheet):

a) Range:

b) Resolution:

c) Accuracy:

4. Using a single resistor, repeat a resistance measurement ten times and record data in
Table A (make sure to disconnect and reconnect cables between measurements).

Table A: Measurement of Single Resistor

# Measured Resistance # Measured Resistance

1 6

2 7

3 8

4 9

5 10

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5. Fill in Table A below for the entire batch of resistors.

Table B: Measurements for Resistor Batch

Measured Measured Measured

# # #
Resistance Resistance Resistance
1 21 41
2 22 42
3 23 43
4 24 44
5 25 45
6 26 46
7 27 47
8 28 48
9 29 49
10 30 50
11 31 51
12 32 52
13 33 53
14 34 54
15 35 55
16 36 56
17 37 57
18 38 58
19 39 59
20 40 60

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 The following questions are to be answered after all data are obtained

6. Copy the data recorded in Table A to a spreadsheet and calculate the mean:
[Excel: use the command AVERAGE(range)]

 Equation & result:

7. Give the value of the expected accuracy of the multimeter measurement:

8. Interpret results for questions 6 and 7 (what do these numbers represent?):

9. Copy the data recorded in Table B to a spreadsheet and identify minimum and maximum
values of all measured resistance values:
[Excel: use formulæ MIN(range) and MAX(range)]

𝑅𝑚𝑖𝑛 = _____________ ( ) 𝑅𝑚𝑎𝑥 = _____________ ( )

10. Determine numbers of “bins” 𝐾𝑁 for lot sizes 𝑁 = 4, 10, 30 and 60:

 Equation … 𝐾𝑁 =

𝐾4 = ___________ 𝐾10 = ___________ 𝐾30 = ___________ 𝐾60 = ___________

Repeat steps 11-14 by subdividing the 60 resistors into 11 different sized lots:
a. 4 lots with 4 resistors each (N=4), where lot 1 holds resistors 1-4, lot 2 holds resistors
5-8, etc. (i.e., only resistors 1-16 in Table B are used)
b. 4 lots with 10 resistors each (N=10), where lot 1 holds resistors 1-10, lot 2 holds
resistors 11-20, etc.
c. 2 lots with 30 resistors each (N=30)
d. 1 lot with 60 resistors (entire batch)
For each lot size N, present your results in graphs and tables that are properly labeled (e.g.,
formatted according to page 7). Do not submit original Excel sheets.

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11. Create histograms for the four different lot sizes 𝑁. Using global min/max values and the
𝐾𝑁 obtained earlier, calculate corresponding bin limits. You should have a total of four
histograms – one for each value of 𝑁. Each histogram will have up to four data sets (one
data set per lot of 𝑁). Use color-coded bars with an appropriate title, axis labels and legend
to distinguish the lots.
[Excel: create a column holding the 𝑁 − 1 limits between bins. Then, mark 𝑁 empty cells and enter
the array formula FREQUENCY(data_array, bins_array). Read the Excel help file for more
information on using the FREQUENCY function. Note that this is an array formula. After selecting
your cells and typing the formula, press Ctrl+Shift+Enter (pressing Enter alone and/or copying the
formula will not fill all cells as required). Double-check your results. Present your results in a
clustered 2-D column (bar) graph; do not stack data!]
[MATLAB: use a FOR loop or the histcounts function to generate your bin count arrays, then read
the documentation for the bar function to see how to create and label a clustered 2-D bar graph.]

12. Calculate sample mean and sample standard deviation of measured values for each lot.
[Excel: AVERAGE(range) and STDEV.S(range)]

13. Assuming a Student-t distribution (finite statistics), calculate precision intervals for the
measured values (i.e. intervals containing 𝑃 percent of measured values) with 𝑃
representing 50 %, 90 %, 95 %, and 99 % probability and DOF 𝜈 based on the lot size 𝑁.
[Excel: formula T.INV(probability,deg_freedom) or T.INV.2T(probability,deg_freedom); here the
probability is for the test to fail, i.e. 90% would be 0.1, etc.; it is up to you to determine which version
is appropriate! Hint: spot-check with table in book.]

14. Assuming a Student-t distribution, give the confidence interval of the true mean of the
entire population. Do this for each lot of resistors and for the four 𝑃 values.
15. Present a detailed discussion of the process used to answer questions 11-14, using a
sample calculation for 𝑁 = 60 and 𝑃 = 95 % (provide all mathematical expressions,
important Excel commands, and all intermediate and final results) on an attached sheet.
16. Discuss your results, including…
a) Discuss the relation between your answers to questions 11-14.
b) How large is the variation in results for different lots at a given 𝑁?
c) How do sample size and confidence level affect the prediction of the true mean for
an entire population? (Hint: you may use values given in Table 4.4 of the textbook
to illustrate your results – what does this mean?)
d) How do sample statistics compare with instrument specifications (i.e., multimeter
accuracy)?
e) How do sample statistics compare with stated tolerances of the resistors (i.e., color-
coded tolerance level)?

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 Suggested format of results for each lot size:

Lab 1 – Finite Statistics Results (lot size N = ____ )

Histogram

Histogram image here

Sample Mean/ Sample Standard Deviation of Resistance Measurements (use columns as

needed)

Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Lot 4

Mean
Std. Dev.

Precision Intervals at Different Confidence Levels (use columns as needed)

Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Lot 4

Tol. 50 %

Tol. 90 %

Tol. 95 %

Tol. 99 %

Confidence Intervals of True Means at Different Confidence Levels (use columns as needed)

Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Lot 4

R’ (Tol. 50 %)

R’ (Tol. 90 %)

R’ (Tol. 95 %)

R’ (Tol. 99 %)

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