Topic 2 Measurement techniques

Summary

Methods available for the measurement of length include:

metre rule (range 1 m, reading uncertainty 1 mm)
micrometer screw gauge (range 50 mm, reading uncertainty 0.01 mm)
vernier caliper (range 100 mm, reading uncertainty 0.1 mm).
Methods available for the measurement of mass include:
top-pan balance
spring balance
lever balance.
Methods available for the measurement of time include:
stopclock (reading uncertainty 0.2 s)
stopwatch (reading uncertainty 0.01 s)
cathode-ray oscilloscope.
Methods available for the measurement of temperature include:
liquid-in-glass thermometer
thermocouple thermometer.
Methods available for the measurement of current and potential difference include:
analogue meter
digital meter
multimeter
cathode-ray oscilloscope.
Methods available for the measurement of magnetic flux density include the Hall probe.
Accuracy is concerned with how close a reading is to its true value.
Precision is determined by the size of the random error and can be controlled by the experimenter.
Uncertainty indicates the range of values within which a measurement is likely to lie.
A systematic uncertainty (or systematic error) is often due to instrumental causes, and results in all readings
being above or below the true value. It cannot be eliminated by averaging.
A random uncertainty (or random error) is due to the scatter of readings around the true value. It may be
reduced by repeating a reading and averaging, or by plotting a graph and taking a best-fit line.
Combining uncertainties:
for expressions of the form x = y + z or x = y z, the overall uncertainty is x = y + z
a b
for expressions of the form x = Ay z , the overall fractional uncertainty is x/x = a(y/y) + b( z/z)

Definitions and formulae

A systematic error is due to the measuring instrument, e.g. a zero error, and is not revealed by repeated
measurement.
A random error is due to the observer and can be due to a lack of careful reading by the observer or from the
measurement not being reproducible. A random error is revealed by repeated readings.
Accuracy is high when the value is close to the true/correct value and when the systematic errors are small.
Precision is high where the range of values is small and, therefore, the random error is small.