Introduction

The collection of data is an important part of all laboratory work, and interpreting the data is the major part of a laboratory report. Laboratory 0 presents a brief overview of techniques and concepts needed to estimate and analyze the errors inherent in experimental work. Although formal error analysis is optional for laboratory reports in this class, you will need to be familiar with its basic principles while writing your reports.

Concepts you should be familiar with (and apply when needed) include accuracy and precision, systematic and random error, error propagation, absolute and relative error, and significant figures. If you would like a more detailed discussion of error analysis, a good reference is An Introduction to Error Analysis by John R. Taylor.

Introduction

Main Body
•Experimental Error

•Minimizing Systematic Error

•Minimizing Random Error

•Propagation of Error

•Significant Figures

Questions