# Differences

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 phy131studiof15:lectures:chapter1 [2015/08/24 08:46]mdawber [Accuracy and precision] phy131studiof15:lectures:chapter1 [2015/08/24 08:49]mdawber [Stating errors] Both sides previous revision Previous revision 2015/08/24 09:19 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/08/24 08:51 mdawber [Visual comparison of different types of eror] 2015/08/24 08:49 mdawber [Stating errors] 2015/08/24 08:46 mdawber [Accuracy and precision] 2015/08/24 08:45 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/08/21 14:48 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/08/21 14:32 mdawber [Measurement Exercises] 2015/08/21 14:30 mdawber [Some propagation rules] 2015/08/21 13:46 mdawber [Some propagation rules] 2015/07/27 16:04 mdawber [Stating errors] 2015/07/27 16:02 mdawber [Stating errors] 2015/07/27 16:02 mdawber [Error and Uncertainty] 2015/07/27 15:58 mdawber [1.P.005] 2015/07/27 15:55 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/07/20 11:06 mdawber [Example of systematic error] 2015/07/20 11:05 mdawber [Class 1 - Units, Measurement and Error] 2015/07/20 11:04 mdawber created 2015/08/24 09:19 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/08/24 08:51 mdawber [Visual comparison of different types of eror] 2015/08/24 08:49 mdawber [Stating errors] 2015/08/24 08:46 mdawber [Accuracy and precision] 2015/08/24 08:45 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/08/21 14:48 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/08/21 14:32 mdawber [Measurement Exercises] 2015/08/21 14:30 mdawber [Some propagation rules] 2015/08/21 13:46 mdawber [Some propagation rules] 2015/07/27 16:04 mdawber [Stating errors] 2015/07/27 16:02 mdawber [Stating errors] 2015/07/27 16:02 mdawber [Error and Uncertainty] 2015/07/27 15:58 mdawber [1.P.005] 2015/07/27 15:55 mdawber [Scientific Notation] 2015/07/20 11:06 mdawber [Example of systematic error] 2015/07/20 11:05 mdawber [Class 1 - Units, Measurement and Error] 2015/07/20 11:04 mdawber created Next revision Both sides next revision Line 93: Line 93: But here is where it gets confusing... When you estimate the uncertainty of your measurement,​ as you will do frequently in the lab component of this course, you should consider the possible sources of error that contribute to the uncertainty. This way if there are large sources of error in your experiment, you will have a large uncertainty which will not exclude the accurate value of the quantity you are trying to measure. But here is where it gets confusing... When you estimate the uncertainty of your measurement,​ as you will do frequently in the lab component of this course, you should consider the possible sources of error that contribute to the uncertainty. This way if there are large sources of error in your experiment, you will have a large uncertainty which will not exclude the accurate value of the quantity you are trying to measure. - ===== Stating ​errors ​===== + ===== Stating ​uncertainty ​===== Because we cannot know any experimentally measured value to absolute certainty we state such values in the format Because we cannot know any experimentally measured value to absolute certainty we state such values in the format - $\mathrm{value}\pm\mathrm{error\,​in\,​value}$ + $\mathrm{value}\pm\mathrm{uncertainty\,​in\,​value}$ - This is equivalent to saying that the actual value of the quantity could be anywhere between the value minus the error and the value plus the error. + This is equivalent to saying that the actual value of the quantity could be anywhere between the value minus the uncertainty ​and the value plus the uncertainty. Much of our activity in the lab will be about the best way to realistically determine and estimate for the uncertainty in any value we obtain. Much of our activity in the lab will be about the best way to realistically determine and estimate for the uncertainty in any value we obtain.