Uncertainty in measurements is the range within which the true value is expected to lie. It reflects the limitations of measurement instruments and methods.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Uncertainty is often represented as a ± value following a measurement, indicating the possible deviation from the measured value.
The uncertainty can be influenced by factors like instrument precision, calibration errors, and environmental conditions.
In chemistry, significant figures are used to express the precision of measurements and inherently include uncertainty.
Measurement uncertainty affects both accuracy (closeness to the true value) and precision (reproducibility) of data.
Reporting uncertainties is crucial for scientific communication as it provides context for how reliable and accurate results are.