Reviewing Significant Figures and Error Propagation

Front

What are significant figures?

Back

Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision, including all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in the decimal portion.

Front

How do you determine the number of significant figures in a measurement?

Back

Count all non-zero digits, any zeros between them, and trailing zeros in a decimal number. Leading zeros are not counted.

Front

What is absolute uncertainty?

Back

Absolute uncertainty is the margin of uncertainty in a measurement, expressed as a fixed quantity, indicating the range within which the true value lies.

Front

What is relative uncertainty?

Back

Relative uncertainty is the absolute uncertainty divided by the measured value, often expressed as a percentage.

Front

How do you calculate the percentage uncertainty?

Back

Percentage uncertainty = (Absolute uncertainty / Measured value) x 100%.

Front

What is error propagation?

Back

Error propagation refers to the way uncertainties in measurements affect the uncertainty in calculated results.

Front

How do you propagate uncertainties in addition or subtraction?

Back

When adding or subtracting measurements, the absolute uncertainties are added together to find the total uncertainty.

Front

How do you propagate uncertainties in multiplication or division?

Back

When multiplying or dividing measurements, the relative uncertainties are added together to find the total relative uncertainty.

Front

What is the uncertainty in a measurement of 2.64A ± 1.5%?

Back

The absolute uncertainty is ±0.04A.

Front

If a length is measured as 4.30 cm, what is the significance of the trailing zero?

Back

The trailing zero indicates that the measurement is precise to the hundredths place, contributing to the significant figures.