Uncertainties In Scientific Measurements

Non-Significant

Leading 0’s

Significant

All non-zero numbers

Non-significant

trailing 0’s with no decimal point present

Significant

All 0’s in between non zero numbers

Significant

0’s at the end of a number to the right of a decimal point

Significant

trailing 0’s with a decimal point present.

Accuracy

closeness of the measured value to the accepted, or actual value.

Precision

similarity of multiple measurements to another

Systematic error

a consistent error in the instrument or procedure.

Random error

an inconsistent variation in the instrument’s response or the experiment’s in making the measurement.

what is the nature of random error measurement ?

the measurement fluctuates; sometimes to high, sometimes too low

what is the nature of systematic error measurement?

measurement is always too high or always too low