# Differences

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 phy131studiof15:lectures:chapter1 [2015/08/24 08:49]mdawber [Stating errors] phy131studiof15:lectures:chapter1 [2015/08/24 09:19] (current)mdawber [Scientific Notation] 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 Next 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 Line 56: Line 56: Examples: Examples: - $0.000056$ m = $5.6 \times 10^{-5}$ m or $5.6 \times 10^{-2}$ mm. + $0.000056$m = $5.6 \times 10^{-5}$m or $5.6 \times 10^{-2}$mm. - $795,000$ g = $7.95 \times 10^{5}$ g or $7.95 \times 10^{2}$ kg or $795$ kg. + $795,000$g = $7.95 \times 10^{5}$g or $7.95 \times 10^{2}$kg or $795$kg. In general it is not correct to give more significant figures for a number than the precision to which you know it. However you should not round off numbers too early in a calculation,​ as this can affect the accuracy of the final answer. In general it is not correct to give more significant figures for a number than the precision to which you know it. However you should not round off numbers too early in a calculation,​ as this can affect the accuracy of the final answer. Line 126: Line 126: {{http://​ic.sunysb.edu/​Class/​phy133s/​vidspics/​bullsyefourframesd.png}} {{http://​ic.sunysb.edu/​Class/​phy133s/​vidspics/​bullsyefourframesd.png}} - Think of the round object as an archery target. ​ The archer shoots some number of arrows at it, and each dot shows where one landed. ​ Now think of the "​bull'​s eye" -- the larger black dot in the center -- as the "​true"​ value of some quantity that's being measured, and think of each arrow-dot as a measurement of that quantity. ​ The problem is that the one doing the measurements does not know the "​true"​ value of the quantity; ​s/​he'​s ​trying to determine it experimentally,​ and this means there must be uncertainty associated with the experimentally determined value. ​ Note that each archery target ​-- we'll call them 1,2,3,4 from left to right -- shows a different distribution of arrow-hit/​measurements.  ​ + Think of the round object as an archery target. ​ The archer shoots some number of arrows at it, and each dot shows where one landed. ​ Now think of the "​bull'​s eye" -- the larger black dot in the center -- as the "​true"​ value of some quantity that's being measured, and think of each arrow-dot as a measurement of that quantity. ​ The problem is that the one doing the measurements does not know the "​true"​ value of the quantity; ​they are trying to determine it experimentally,​ and this means there must be uncertainty associated with the experimentally determined value. ​Each archery target shows a different distribution of arrow-hit/​measurements.  ​