Experimental Errors and Common Sources

Flashcards about experimental errors and common sources of error in measurements.

What is the difference between systematic and random errors?

Systematic errors reduce accuracy, while random errors reduce reliability and precision.

What are some common sources of personal errors?

Carelessness, poor technique, and bias.

How does lag time and hysteresis affect measurements?

Measurements require time to reach equilibrium.

What is instrument drift?

Readings that drift over time, typically in electronic instruments.

What type of error is parallax and why does it occur?

Systematic or random, due to the distance between the measuring scale and the measurer when the indicator and eye are not aligned.

How can physical variations be addressed in measurements?

Obtain multiple measurements over the widest range possible.

What should you always check when using instruments susceptible to zero offset?

Always check the zero reading.

What steps should be taken to address calibration errors?

Calibration must be checked first; compare with a precise instrument or consult a specialist if unavailable.

What is instrument resolution and how does it affect measurements?

All instruments have finite precision; a ruler cannot determine values lower than a millimeter.

Give some examples of environmental sources of error.

Vibrations, drafts, changes in temperature, electronic noise.

What does 'failure to account for a factor' refer to as a source of error?

Not being able to account for other factors aside from the independent variable.

What does 'incomplete definition' refer to as a source of error?

The act of measurement is not always clearly defined.

What are systematic errors?

Reproducible inaccuracies that persist throughout the experiment, difficult to detect statistically, and not remediated by increasing observations.

What are random errors?

Statistical fluctuations due to measurement device limitations that can be evaluated statistically and remediated by averaging over a large number of observations.

What types of errors exist

Systematic or random.