1. Sensitivity, Accuracy And Range Of An Instrument
Measurement
Sensitivity, Accuracy And Range Of An Instrument
Prepared by Mr. R. Rose

2. Introduction
Instruments which measure the same physical quantity may differ in sensitivity, accuracy and range.

3. Accuracy and Precision
An instrument is accurate when it gives the correct value of the quantity being measured
e. g. if we perform an experiment to determine the density of mercury and we get a value of 8.5 𝒈𝒄𝒎 −𝟑 instead of 𝒈𝒄𝒎 −𝟑 the inaccurate answer could be due to the balance or the measuring cylinder being inaccurate (once the experiment has not committed any error)

4. Accuracy and Precision continued
If an instrument has a zero error or is incorrectly calibrated then the reading we obtain from the instrument would not be accurate.
On the other hand a reading is precise if it has a small degree of uncertainty with the answer given to several sig. figs.
Simply put accuracy is how close you are to the actual value and precision is the consistency that exists amongst a series of values.

5. The difference between precision and accuracy can be shown by the spread of shooting of a tar-get 

6. Accuracy and Precision continued
The accuracy of a measurement can be increased by
taking a number of repeat readings to calculate the mean value of the reading.
avoiding the end errors or zero errors.
taking into account the zero and parallax errors.
using more sensitive equipment such as a vernier caliper to replace a ruler.

7. Sensitivity
An instrument is sensitive when it can detect or respond to a small change in a particular quantity. Some instruments can detect a change but cannot measure the change e. g. a galvanometer
Measuring instruments that have smaller scale parts are more sensitive. Sensitive instruments need not necessarily be accurate.

8. The Range
The range of an instrument is the smallest and the greatest value for which the instrument if graduated, stated together
Example: the range of a hand ruler
0 – 15 cm
(Don’t forget the units when stating the range)

9. An instrument’s suitability
An instrument is suitable when it can be used to give a reasonable answer to the quantity we are interested in without undue difficulty. The sensitivity, accuracy and range o an instrument are important in assessing the suitability of the instrument
Example: if we want to measure the thickness of a sheet of paper we would not use a ruler because the sensitivity or the smallest division of the ruler is much more than the thickness of a page.

10. QUESTION TIME

11. Select the instruments you would use to measure the following
Select the instruments you would use to measure the following. State why you have chosen each instrument and give the range of measurements possible with the instrument and its sensitivity.
The thickness of a human hair
The diameter of a table tennis ball
The area of a window pane
The inside diameter or bore of a water pipe
The diameter of a bolt when deciding the size of the hole to drill
The volume of liquid in a wine bottle

12. ERRORS

13. Errors are normally classified in three categories: systematic errors, random errors, and blunders.
A final source of error, called a blunder, is an outright mistake. A person may record a wrong value, misread a scale, forget a digit when reading a scale or recording a measurement, or make a similar blunder. These blunder should stick out like sore thumbs if we make multiple measurements or if one person checks the work of another. Blunders should not be included in the analysis of data.

14. Systematic Errors
Systematic errors are due to identified causes and can, in principle, be eliminated. Errors of this type result in measured values that are consistently too high or consistently too low. Systematic errors may be of four kinds:
Instrumental. For example, a poorly calibrated instrument such as a thermometer that reads 102 oC when immersed in boiling water and 2 oC when immersed in ice water at atmospheric pressure. Such a thermometer would result in measured values that are consistently too high.
Observational. For example, parallax in reading a meter scale.

15. Systematic Errors continued
Environmental.
Theoretical.

16. Random Errors
Random errors are positive and negative fluctuations that cause about one-half of the measurements to be too high and one-half to be too low. Sources of random errors cannot always be identified. Possible sources of random errors are as follows:
1. Observational. For example, errors in judgment of an observer when reading the scale of a measuring device to the smallest division.

17. Environmental. For example, unpredictable fluctuations in line voltage, temperature, or mechanical vibrations of equipment.
Random errors, unlike systematic errors, can often be quantified by statistical analysis, therefore, the effects of random errors on the quantity or physical law under investigation can often be determined.

18. An example fitting to distinguish between systematic and random errors is suppose that you use a stop watch to measure the time required for ten oscillations of a pendulum. One source of error will be your reaction time in starting and stopping the watch. During one measurement you may start early and stop late; on the next you may reverse these errors. These are random errors if both situations are equally likely.
Repeated measurements produce a series of times that are all slightly different. They vary in random vary about an average value.
If a systematic error is also included for example, your stop watch is not starting from zero, then your measurements will vary, not about the average value, but about a displaced value. 

19. Blunders
A final source of error, called a blunder, is an outright mistake. A person may record a wrong value, misread a scale, forget a digit when reading a scale or recording a measurement, or make a similar blunder. These blunder should stick out like sore thumbs if we make multiple measurements or if one person checks the work of another. Blunders should not be included in the analysis of data.

20. Click on the links to watch the tutorials!
Using the Instruments
The vernier caliper
The micrometer
The triple beam balance
Click on the links to watch the tutorials!