Measurement

A Random Error is caused by unpredictable changes in the experimental set-up. The change usually happens on the apparatus itself or the environment. A Systematic Error, on the other hand, is caused by the measuring instrument. It’s either there’s a disfunction in the instrument or the user misuses it.

A random error could occur during measurement when you’re measuring rainfall for this period of time then it just suddenly stops despite earlier prediction. For systematic errors, it basically happens when the person doesn’t know how to use the instrument such as the calipers.

The main keyword for a random error is “unpredictable;” while the keywords for systematic errors are “instrumental-problems.”

For our own data, I think that we might have a few systematic errors because the meniscus rule when it comes to liquids tends to be confusing for me. Also, at some point we had to make a very close estimation despite us being unsure for its exact measurement. There were no random errors because the experiment was generally smooth sailing. I think the words “instrumental-problems” came about because we had problems measuring the liquids in its respective containers.

For our next experiment, it would be best to already have knowledge about the meniscus because that could help us in the liquid measuring. Also, we should be able to be more poised and still because at some point, we’d have a hard time seeing the lines and the like.

http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys276/Hill/Information/Notes/ErrorAnalysis.html