Uncertainty Calculation

Precision, Accuracy and Uncertainty Calculation.

Notes:
• No measurement can be made with 100% precision
• No measurement is 100% accurate or perfect
• Random errors due to limitation of instrument (uncertainty of equipment)

•
• Must choose equipment with high precision
• Significant figs tell us about the degree of precision
• More sig fig more precise, more certain we are
 • Accurate data – low systematic error ( instrument must be calibrated )
• Precise data – low random error ( instrument with high precision )
• Reduce random error, use instrument with high degree of precision

Precise/ Accurate – Use instrument with high precision + low systematic error

Random error
• sometimes too high or too low due to limitation of instrument
• reduce random error by taking replicates and average

Systematic error
• Always too high or too low due to instrument not calibrated or procedural
error( procedure used always give too low or too high)
• Reduce systematic error by calibrating instrument and modifying our
experimental procedure

• Random Error link to Precision, overcome by using precise instruments

and taking replicate samples (average)
• Systematic Error link to Accuracy overcome by calibrating the instruments
 Treatment of Uncertainty
Adding or Subtracting measured quantities associated with uncertainty.

2 methods can be used

1st Method
By adding up the absolute uncertainty

• Initial mass, m = (10.00±0.01)g

• Final mass, m = (15.00±0.01)g
• Mass difference, m = (15.00 – 10.00) = 5.00g
• Absolute uncertainty, ∆m = (0.01 + 0.01)g = 0.02g

Answer = (5.00 ± 0.02)g = (4.98 --- 5.02)g

2nd Method
Max/min limit error method

• Initial mass, m = (10.00±0.01)g

• Final mass, m = (15.00±0.01)g
• Mass difference, m = (15.00 – 10.00) = 5.00g
• Max error = Highest mass difference = (15.01 – 9.99) = 5.02g
• Min error = Smallest mass difference = (14.99 – 10.01) = 4.98g

Answer = (4.98 ---- 5.02)g

Multiplying or dividing measured quantities

• Percentage uncertainty is the sum of percentage uncertainty of individual
quantities

Moles, n = Conc x Vol Conc = (2.00±0.02)M , Vol = (2.0±0.1)dm3

Moles, n = 2.00 x 2.0 = 4.0

% Uncertainty moles, ∆n = % Uncertainty Conc + % Uncertainty Vol

% Uncertainty Conc = (0.02/2.00)x100% = 1%
% Uncertainty Vol = (0.1/2.0) x 100% = 5%
% Uncertainty (Total) = 6%

Moles, n = (4.0 ± 6%) convert to absolute uncertainty (6/100) x 4.0 = 0.24

Moles, n = (4.0 ± 0.24) or (4.0±0.2)

Answer = (3.8 --- 4.2)

 Uncertainty involving time for rate of reaction

Rate of reaction = 1/time

Average time for 3 trials = (5.28 + 4.75 + 4.47)/3 = 4.83s

Rate of reaction = 1/average time = 1/ 4.83 = 0.207s-1

How to find uncertainty for time and rate ?

3 ways to find uncertainty for time and rate.

1st easy method and not very accurate (% Uncertainty Method)

Average time = 4.83s

Uncertainty for time ∆t = (4.83±0.01) using uncertainty from stopwatch
% Uncertainty time ∆t = (0.01/4.83) x 100% = 0.207%
Rate = 1/Time
Rate = 1/4.83 = 0.207s-1
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207±0.207%) convert to absolute uncertainty
Rate = (0.207±0.004)

Rate = (0.207 ± 0.004) which range from (0.211 --- 0.203)

2nd method using Max-Min Range (more accurate).

Time for 3 trials are 5.28, 4.75, 4.47

Average time = 4.83s

Uncertainty for time = (Max time – Min time)/2 = (5.28 – 4.47)/2 = 0.41s
Uncertainty for time ∆t = (4.83 ± 0.41)
% Uncertainty time ∆t = (0.41/4.83) x 100% = 8.48%
Rate = 1/Time
Rate = 1/4.83 = 0.207s-1
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207± 8.48%) convert to absolute uncertainty
Uncertainty for Rate = (0.207 ± 0.017)s-1

Rate = (0.207 ± 0.017) which range from (0.224---0.190)

3rd method using Max-Min Error (more accurate)

Time for 3 trials are 5.28, 4.75, 4.47

Max time = 5.28, Min time = 4.47
Average Rate = 1/time = 1/4.83 = 0.207s-1

Uncertainty for Rate Calculation

Max Rate = 1/min time = 1/4.47 = 0.223s-1
Min Rate = 1/max time = 1/5.28 = 0.189s-1
Rate with uncertainty = 0.207 ± (0.223—0.189)
Rate = 0.207 ± (max 0.223 , min 0.189) which range from (0.223 –0.189)
Uncertainty involving Concentration of solution by serial dilution
Two methods to find uncertainty for concentration
1st method using %Uncertainty

Serial Dilution (3%,1.5%, 0.75%, 0.325%, 0.1875%) of H2O2 using water.

M1V1(before dilution)= M2V2(after dilution)

Conc M2 = (M1V1)/ V2
% Uncertainty M2 = %Uncertainty M1 + %Uncertainty V1+ %Uncertainty V2

M1 = (3.000 ±0.00)% H2O2 Standard

V1 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml H2O2
V2 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml water added

%Uncertainty M1 = 0%
%Uncertainty V1 = (0.012/1.500)x 100% = 0.8%
%Uncertainty V2 = (0.012/1.500)x 100% = 0.8%

Total %Uncertainty = 0% + 0.8% + 0.8% = 1.6%

Conc M2 = 1.500%
Uncertainty conc M2 = (1.500%±1.6%) convert to absolute uncertainty
Uncertainty conc M2 = (1.500± 0.024)%

Conc M2 = (1.50 ± 0.02)% which ranges from (1.52—1.48)%

2nd method using max/min error method

Serial Dilution (3%,1.5%, 0.75%, 0.325%, 0.1875%) of H2O2 using water.

M1V1(before dilution)= M2V2(after dilution)

Conc M2 = (M1V1)/ (V1 + V2)= 1.500% * after dilution, total volume = (V1 + V2)

M1 = (3.000 ±0.00)% H2O2 Standard

V1 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml H2O2
V2 = (1.500 ±0.012)ml water added

Max V1 = 1.512ml Max V2 = 1.512ml

Min V1 = 1.488ml Min V2 = 1.488ml

Conc M2 = 1.500%
Conc M2 = (M1V1)/ (V1 + V2) * after dilution, total volume = (V1 + V2)

Max Conc M2 error happens when Max V1 vol and Min V2 vol used
Max Conc M2 = (M1 x Max V1)/ (Max V1 + Min V2 )
= (3.00 x 1.512)/(1.512 + 1.488) = 1.512%

Min Conc M2 error happens when Min V1 vol and Max V2 vol used
Min Conc M2 = (M1 x Min V1)/ (Min V1 + Max V2)
= (3.00 x 1.488)/(1.488 +1.512) = 1.488%
Uncertainty conc M2 = 1.500 ± (1.512 –1.488 )%

Conc M2 = 1.500 ± (1.512 –1.488 )% which ranges from (1.512 –1.488)%

Click HERE to view detail uncertainty calculation and standard deviation

Prepared by Lawrence Kok