2.

3 Uncertainty in Data
Accuracy & Precision
Accuracy refers to how close a
measured value is to an accepted value
Precision refers to how close
measurements are to one another.

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Figure 2.10 on p. 47

2.3 Uncertainty in Data Application

Open your books and consider the
data table, p. 48.

2.3 Uncertainty in Data Application continued

Which student collected the most accurate
data?
Student A
Why?
closest to the accepted value.

Who collected the most precise data?

Student C
Why?
closest to one another.

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Error & Percent Error
Error is defined as the difference
between an experimental value (values
measured during an experiment) and an
accepted value
Error Equation:
Error = experimental value accepted value
Absolute value only concerned about
how far away from the target you were,
so sign doesnt matter

2.3 Application do this in your

notebook as part of your notes

The melting point of

paradichlorobenzene is 53oC. In a
laboratory activity two students tried
to verify this value.
Student #1 records: 51.5oC, 53.5oC,
55.0oC, 52.3oC, and 54.2oC
Student #2 records: 52.3oC, 53.2oC,
54.0oC, 52.5oC, and 53.5oC
a. Calculate the average value for the
two students
b. Calculate the percent error for each
student
c. Which of the students is most precise?

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Error & Percent Error (cont)
Percent Error expresses error as a
percentage of the accepted value.
Percent Error Equation:

Absolute value is used

because only the size of the
error matters; it does not
matter whether the
experimental value is larger
or smaller than the accepted

Calculate the average value for the two students

Student #1: 51.5oC + 53.5oC +

55.0oC + 52.3oC + 54.2oC =
266.5/5 = 53.3oC
Student #2 : 52.3oC + 53.2oC +
54.0oC + 52.5oC + 53.5oC =
53.1oC

Calculate the percent error for each student

Student #1:
Percent error =

(53.3oC - 53.0oC)

error
53.0oC

Student #2:
Percent error =

X100 = 0.566 %

(53.1oC - 53.0oC)

error
53.0oC

X100 = 0.189 %

Which of the students is most precise? Accurate? Explain.

Student 2 is the most precise

with a range of values from
52.3 to 54.0.
Student 2 is also most accurate
with a 0.189 % error.

Significant Figures
Numbers obtained from
measurements are never exact
values
Maximum precision includes all digits
that are known plus one estimated
The digits used to express a
measured quantity are known as
significant figures

What is a "significant figure"?

The number of significant figures in a
result is simply the number of figures
that are known with some degree of
reliability. The number 13.2 is said to
have 3 significant figures. The number
13.20 is said to have 4 significant
figures.

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Significant Figures: include all known
digits plus one estimated digit.
Often precision is limited by the tools
available.

5.00 cm

Figure 2.12 p. 50 The

markings on the ruler
represent the known
digits plus the
estimated digit. The
measure is 5.23 cm.
What is the
estimated digit if the
length of the object
fell directly on the 5
cm mark?

Significant figure rules

Non zero numbers are always
Significant.
In between zeroes are always
significant.
Leading zeroes are never significant.
Trailing zeroes are sometime
significant.

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Rules for Significant
Figures:
Rule 1: Nonzero numbers are always
How many sig
3
significant.
figs?
Example: 72.3 gHow many sig
figs?

9.4567

Rule 2: Zeros between nonzero

How many
sig
3
numbers are always
significant.
How many sig
Example: 60.5 gfigs?
figs?

5005.05

Rule 3: All final zeros to the right of

many sig
5
the decimal areHow
significant.
figs?

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Rules for Significant
Figures:
Rule 4: Placeholder zeros are not
significant. To remove placeholder
zeros, rewrite the number in scientific
notation.
Example: 0.0253g and 4320 (3 sig figs
-4
How
many
sig
3
6.01
x
10
each) Rewritten in Scientific notation:
figs?
4
How
many
sig
1
-2
3 5 x 10
2.53 x 10
4.32 x 10
figs?
0.000601
50000

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Examples using the
4 Rules:
5465
0.60750
0.020020
500.0
300

How many Sig

Figs
4
5
5
4
1

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Rules for Significant
Figures:
What happens when your calculator
gives you a funky number, how do you
know how many sig figs to report in your
answer?
Rule 6: Addition & Subtraction, answer
will
have the numberDecimal
of sig Places
figs from the
Example:
number with
the least amount of decimal
10.21
2
places in the problem.
0.2

+ 256
266.41
So my answer should
have 0 decimal places

1
0

266

2.3 Uncertainty in Data

Rules for Significant
Figures:
Rule 7: Multiplication & Division The
answer will have the number of sig figs
Example:
WILL
from the number with the**YOU
least amount
USE THIS
4675
625
= ________
of xsig
figs.
RULE A
Which has the least # of sig figs?
LOT!!!!!
625 has 3, so your answer must have 3

4675 x 625 = 2921875 2920000 = 2.92 x

106
3 sig
figs Rule

Class Exercise - 1

Express the following numbers to

three significant figures.
(i) 6.022 1023 (ii) 5.356 g
(iii) 0.0652 g (iv) 13.230

Solutio
n(i) 6.02 10
(ii) 5.36 g
(iii) 0.0652 g
(iv) 13.2

23

Class Exercise - 2
What is the sum of 2.368 g and
1.02 g?

Solution

2.368 g
1.02 g
3.388

= 3.39 g

Class
Exercise
3
Express the result of the following
calculation to the appropriate number
of significant figures
816 0.02456 + 215.67
Solution
816 0.02456 = 20.0
Product rounded off to 3 significant figures because
the least number of significant figure in this
multiplication is three.

20.0
215.67
235.67

Rounded off to 235.7

Class Exercise - 4
Solve the following calculations and
express the results to appropriate
number of significant figures.
(i) 1.6 103 + 2.4 102 2.16 102
(ii)

6.02 1023 5.00

4.0 1020
Solution
(i) 1.6 103 + .24 103

1.6 103

Rounded off to 1.8 103

3

1.8 10

.24 10

.216 103

1.84 103

1.584 103

Class Exercise - 4
Rounded off to 1.6 103 or 16 102
23
23
6.02

10

5.00
30.10

10
(ii)

20
4.0 10
4.0 1020

= 7.525 103 (rounded off to 7.5 103)