Errors

No measurement is exact, they all contain some degree of errors.

Types of errors:

Blunder

A gross mistake caused by carelessness or poor judgement.

e.g. when recording a distance you write 3.01m instead of 3.1m

Erratic Error

An error caused by an incomplete element in an instrument.

e.g. backlash in a gear train.

Inherited Error

The error in initial values used in a computation; especially the error introduced from the previous steps in a step-by-step integration.

Mistake

An error, usually large, resulting from a human failing or an equipment malfunction.

Random Errors

Errors that remain after blunders and systematic errors have been removed. They are caused by factors beyond the control of the observers. They tend to be compensating in nature.

e.g. estimating readings on a level rod.

Systematic Errors

Cumulative errors that can be compensated for, if the errors are known.

e.g. the tape measure being used to make the measurements is incorrect.