Final answer:
This discusses the concept of measurement uncertainty and its importance in quantifying the precision and accuracy of measurements. Factors contributing to this uncertainty include the measuring tool's limitations, the measurer's skill, and irregularities in the object.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Measurement Uncertainty
Whenever we take measurements, there is always a degree of error or uncertainty involved. This is due to various factors such as the limitations of the measuring device, the skill of the person making the measurement, and irregularities in the object being measured. Consider the act of measuring paper length using a ruler: we might end up with readings like 11.1 in., 11.2 in., and 10.9 in.
The accepted value was 11.0 in. so we may average our measurements, which gives us a best guess of 11.1 in. We calculate the discrepancy by subtracting the accepted value from our averaged measurement, resulting in 0.1 in., which is a quantitative measure of our accuracy.
The uncertainty in measurement is also crucial to quantify precision. If we use half of the range of our measurements as the uncertainty value (0.15 in.), we express the length of the paper as 11.1 ± 0.15 in. Because the discrepancy of 0.1 in. is within the uncertainty range of 0.15 in., we might conclude that our measured value is consistent with the accepted value within the experimental uncertainty.
Accounting for uncertainty in measurements is essential for establishing the reliability of any reported figure. The smallest division on the measuring device, perhaps poor vision, or even a slight asymmetry in the measured object can all contribute to measurement uncertainty.