Errors, Uncertainties, and Measurements Essay Example for Free

Errors, Uncertainties, and Measurements Essay Measurements are all subject to error which leads to the uncertainty of the result. Errors may come from systematic errors (deterministic error) or random error (not deterministic error). In this experiment, the group measured the diameter of sphere using different kinds of measuring devices (foot rule, vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper) in order to achieve accuracy in the scientific measurements. After experimenting, it was revealed that the micrometer caliper has the lowest percentage of error. 1. Introduction In the early days, people used mostly human body parts for measuring. And because the measurement depended on the body size and length of the person measuring, it often leads to varying measurements which leads to inaccuracy and errors in the measurements. In the following years, a better system of units of measurement was developed – the metric system. The metric system is an international decimalized system of measurement, first adopted in France in 1791. Numerous measuring instruments have this system of measurement. Aside from meter sticks and ruler, the vernier caliper and micrometer caliper also use this system. The vernier caliper is a measuring device which takes advantage of a vernier scale, a scale used to provide very precise measurements. The vernier adds an extra digit of accuracy to any measurement, allowing it to be highly accurate. Like other calipers, a vernier caliper has an L-shaped design with a movable arm which can be adjusted to allow the object being measured to fit between the arms, and a measurement to be taken. It has two scales – main scale and vernier scale. The main scale is fixed while the vernier scale can slide along the main scale as the movable arm is shifted. Measurements are taken by looking for the mark on the main scale which is just to the left of the zero on the vernier caliper for the first measurement, and then looking to see which mark on the vernier caliper comes most closely into alignment with a mark in the main scale. Micrometer caliper is a calibrated screw device for finding exact measurements in which an object to be measured is to be enclosed between two jaws, one fixed while the other movable by means of a fine screw. When the jaws are just touching the object, the distance between the jaws can be read on an associated scale, ofteh to an accuracy of 10 -4. It uses the principle of a screw to amplify small distances that are too small to measure directly into large rotations of the screw that are big enough to read from a scale. Most micrometers have their readout right on the handle of the instrument. This experiment aims to achieve the following objectives: (1) to study errors and how they propagate in simple experiment, (2) to determine the averge deviation of a set of experimental values, (3) to determine the mean of a set of experimental values as well as set of average deviation of the mean (4) to familiarize the students with the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper, and foot rule, (5) to compare the accuracy of these measuring devices, (6) and to detemine the density of an object given its mass and dimensions. 2. Theory Significant figures are very essential in science. Each recorded measurement has a certain number of significant digits. Calculations done on these measurements must follow the rules for significant digits. The significance of a digit has to do with whether it represents a true measurement or not. Any digit that is actually measured or estimated will be considered significant. Placeholders or digits that have not been measured are not considered significant. There are rules in determining the significance of a digit. First, digits from 1-9 are always significant. Second, zeroes between two other significant digits are always significant. Also, one or more additional zeroes to the right of both the decimal place and another significant digit are significant. Lastly, zeroes used solely for spacing the decimal point are not significant. Least count of any precision instrument is defined as the least distance travelled by it. For a micrometer it is measured in the following manner. Least count (L.C) of a screw gauge = Pitch/ Number of circular scale division. Pitch and Number of circular scale divisions are the two factors determining the least count of Micrometer. 3. Methodology In measuring the diameter of the sphere provided, the group was given three measuring devices. To determine the average deviation and mean of a set of experimental values as well as the diameter of the sphere, the group was given the three measuring tools to study the measurement and its errors. First, the group determined the least count of the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper and the foot rule then we made ten measurements for the diameter of the sphere using the foot rule. After completing the ten measurements, the group then calculated the mean diameter of the sphere by adding all the independent measurements and divided it to 10. Next, the group calculated the deviation (d) of each measurement of diameter from the mean diameter. After getting the deviation of each measurement, the group calculated for the average deviation (a.d). The average deviation is the sum of the deviations (d) divided by the number (n) of observations.

Consumer and Organisational Buying Behaviour Assignment :: Business and Management Studies

Consumer and Organisational Buying Behaviour Assignment Choose two adverts from the press (newspapers or Magazines) one of a high involvement good and the other of a low involvement good. Compare them while identifying the various techniques used in consumer behaviour to communicate the message. You may contact the producers of the advert. High Involvement Good: Residence Relevant Advert: Ad for Apartment in Tigne’ Point. Low Involvement Good: International Telephone service Relevant Advert: Ad for OneVoice Low-cost International phone cards International phone calls are nowadays an everyday necessity for many people living in the Western world, whether for business purposes or to keep in touch with partners, friends or relatives abroad. This is especially so in Malta since practically every Maltese person living here has relatives who have emigrated, a substantial expatriate community exists and because of the small size of the island and total absence of most raw materials, almost every kind of business necessitates frequent international phone calls. Besides, as the OneVoice advert I have chosen clearly demonstrates, international phone calls have become as affordable (and as necessary) to many people living in Malta as low cost basic food stuffs and drinks. Hence in Malta one can now consider an international phone call service as a low involvement good since most people living locally have to resort to it quite frequently and do not think much about it beyond selecting a cheap, reliable, value for money service. The OneVoice advert thus makes quite a huge issue of price and implied value for money by publicizing the cheapest rate very prominently against a bright red background and stating the service’s other desirable features against a bright green eye-catching background. The advert in fact has just the right mix of the saturated colours green, yellow, cyan, orange and red to capture attention without overwhelming people and causing visual fatigue. There is also an adequate amount of blue which is considered a rather relaxing colour associated with class and high quality and with the limitlessness and peace of sky and water. This mix of various, bright colours (a) ensures that every potential client’s tastes is, somehow, catered for at least visually (b) is locally associated with festive seasons (Christmas, Carnival, summertime) spring, fun and plenty and so gives a certain â€Å"feel good† factor to using OneVoice even though at the end of the day OneVoice is just another basic international telephone service. Conversely no indication of price range is given in the advert for Tigne’ Point properties although it is obvious that it is aimed at the international yachting community and other extremely affluent, rather

Psychology Prediction Essay

According to one of my favorite philosophers, Yogi Berra, Its hard to predict, especially the future†. He’s right but it doesn’t stop many people from trying. In fact predicting the future is essential to many aspects of our lives – in business, and beyond. Many professionals have the need to accurately predict outcomes of the future to be successful in their jobs. And many have occupations where predicting the future actually is their job, one way or another. As an analyst at Gartner, I am of course a good example of this. Some of this is common sense. Some is controversial. Some goes completely against what most think and against what people are taught even at organizations who train people to do predictive type jobs. But it works for me. Here are my ten guiding principles for accurate prediction: 1.Care about being right. This sounds obvious but circumstances and other requirements often get in the way. Professionals whose job involves making predictions face pressures to have an opinion, no matter what, and to generate visibility. This can lead to quickly formed opinions and overstating and over hyping things. While these things may in fact need to be part of a strategy, they do not have to be the primary goal. Tempering such behavior by placing the goal of being right at a higher priority is one of the real keys to accurate prediction. You can’t be afraid to be wrong, but you can’t place being right at lower priority and expect to be good at predicting. 2.Be an â€Å"innumerate†. Be extremely skeptical of any numbers. Many believe that numbers don’t lie. They don’t of course, but people do. And they state the numbers that they want to state to make their case. And they get things confused. Numbers are more useful in looking back at history than in predicting (looking back at history is helpful and numbers can help). Be especially wary of survey data. Often the questions are poorly formed and the respondents not necessarily knowledgeable. There is no substitute for talking directly to people to make sure that you understand context and that they understand the question. And follow-up is possible. 3.Ask yourself â€Å"Why are they telling me this?† Understand the motivations of sources of information. Everyone you meet has some type of agenda. Sometimes it is truly to educate you, usually not. It is critical to understand what the source of information wants you to think to put the information into context. 4.Ask yourself â€Å"What would I do†? Put yourself in the shoes of the CEO or key decision maker of the entity if possible. This is a key tool to predicting how companies and organizations will behave. If the prediction is about that company, this is the major key. If it is more general, putting yourself in the shoes of multiples and playing out scenarios is helpful. 5.Recognize that most of the time, you will know less than your sources. The world is full of specialists. Depending on circumstance, you may know as much as your sources but there is almost always someone who is more of an expert than you. So you need to develop strategies for assessing the credibility and honesty of a source. A useful tactic is to lead a discussion towards an area in which you do know a lot and test the source’s honesty and credibility. This can help determine what weight to give the source 6.Don’t jump to conclusions. Whenever possible take your time. When pushed for an opinion, it is best to say â€Å"if I had to have an opinion I would lean towards x†, but not highlight these types of things as â€Å"predictions†. 7.Find â€Å"bubbles†, conventional thinking and poke at assumptions. Try to understand why most people have a certain belief and figure out what assumptions they have. Look for misunderstandings, confusion, motivations and social trends. 8.Get information you’re not supposed to have. Basic networking is essential to knowing your subject and to getting information you’re not supposed to have (Obviously those subject to â€Å"insider trading† types of issues need to tread carefully here). Listen for slip ups. Put the pieces together. Fill in the holes. Speculate. 9.â€Å"You’re only paranoid if you’re wrong†. Explore conspiracy theories. While they usually won’t be the prediction, the exercise of examining possible conspiracy theories often is fruitful. Remember At the very least there is bound to be some aspect of the theory that has some truth to it and may point the way towards a good prediction. However, it is far more likely that stupidity or laziness, rather than conspiracy, is the cause. 10.Constantly test, validate and refine. Every chance you get to talk to a person whose opinion you respect, test new theories. Every chance you talk to a source of information, test your theories and gauge their reactions. Be open to tweaks.

The Glass Steagall Act - 1722 Words

Despite its humble beginnings in 1844 as a simple general store turned financial firm, the Lehman Brothers greed drove their firm into the ground. It seemed as if Lehman Brothers was indestructible. Surviving through the railroad bankruptcies in the 1800’s, the Great Depression of the 1930’s, two world wars, a capital shortage in 1994, and everything in-between, it seemed the firm was built to last. However its inevitable end started in the early 2000’s with the housing boom after the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act. Over the span of two years, 2003 and 2004, Lehman Brothers acquired a total of five mortgage lenders, including the subprime lender BNC and Alt-A loan specialist Aurora Loan. As the housing boom was under way and the firm acquired these large players its Lehman real estate business’s capital market revenues cascaded 56% over the next two years 2004 to 2006. It was â€Å"a faster rate of growth than other businesses in investment banking or asset management.† (Investopedia) Increasing its revenues by 10% from 2005 to 2006 when they securitized $146 billion worth of mortgages. It went from just being a player in the financial industry to the top dog in the matter of a few short years. Consistently reporting the setting of new profit records year after year. In 2007 its net income record was â€Å"$4.2 billion on revenue of $19.3 billion.† (Investopedia) At the same time, in February of 2007, Lehman Brothers stock had hit its record too at $86.18 a share leaving the m withShow MoreRelatedThe Glass Steagall Act Of 19332039 Words   |  9 Pages In 1999 the United States Congress passed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act which finished off the repealing process of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 (Moffett, Stonehill, Eiteman, 2012, p. 114). 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