Why errors?

Physics as a natural science subject has its foundation rooted in measurements. For example, in his famous experiment at Pisa Leaning Tower, Galileo showed that the time taken for two spheres of different masses are the same regardless of their mass differences. This experiment disproved Aristotle’s theory of gravity (which states that objects fall at speed proportional to their mass). This clearly showed that experiment is the ultimate test for any scientific theory. However, before any conclusion can be drawn from an experiment, the accuracy and precision of the experimental data needs to be verified. Try this falling ball experiment.

#DEFINITION#
Systematic errors results in all readings of measurements being always smaller or always larger than the true value by a fixed amount (RJC 2017).

Examples of random errors include:

1. Measuring equipment is not calibrated properly with zero error being the common one (e.g. non-zero reading on digital vernier caliper). Note: Some calibration-related error could be more complicated than zero error.
2. Experiment method is wrong which means certain physics effect or interaction is not captured in mathematical modelling. (e.g. free fall experiment in viscous liquid where the liquid resistance is not represented in the free fall equation F=mg).

Random errors can be reduced by

1. Repeat measurements for many times to find the mean value.
2. Apply the best fit line to curve fit all data points.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.