PHY 1010U Lecture Notes - Approximation Error, Scientific Notation, Significant Figures
Document Summary
Direct method is a technique for measurements that uses measuring devices to get the measurements. Accuracy refers to the ability of a measurement to match its calculated quantity to its actual quantity. Precision refers to the ability of a repetition among a series of measurements. This is because all instruments have fixed precisions which limit the ability to resolve small difference in measurements: statistical- statistical values are estimated values or percentages. These values can differ from the true value: systematic- these are known uncertainties that are connected to observations that are being made. Errors in individual measurement can be considered statistical. For example while measuring with certain instruments you are only able to measure up to the values given. When you measure with only these values it leaves room for errors and these types of errors. These values will vary from measurement to measurement because of experimental conditions that cannot be controlled.
