What is Bias: Definition and 151 Discussions

Bias is a disproportionate weight in favor of or against an idea or thing, usually in a way that is closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair. Biases can be innate or learned. People may develop biases for or against an individual, a group, or a belief. In science and engineering, a bias is a systematic error. Statistical bias results from an unfair sampling of a population, or from an estimation process that does not give accurate results on average.

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  1. N

    Calculating Reverse Bias Voltage for Alpha Particle Detection

    Hi all, me again! :rolleyes: I'm trying to calculate the current created when an alpha particle strikes a silicon p-n detector, but I'm getting some strange numbers, so I was wondering if I was doing something fundamentally wrong... My problems start when I try to calculate the reverse...
  2. M

    Bias voltage required to deplete silicon slab of electrons

    I'm having a play around with a simple radiation detector that has 2 electrodes with a slab of uniformly doped silicon in between. I'd like to know the bias voltage i would need to apply across the electrodes so that the silicon slab is just depleted of electrons (i.e so that positive charge...
  3. L

    Diode Forward Bias characteristics

    Homework Statement Kindly see my attachment. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Revered members, From the options given, i think the answer is ON switch, because when the input is low, that is when the applied voltage is below the breakdown voltage(0.7 V for Silicon)...
  4. M

    How Does a Solar Cell Operate in Forward Bias?

    My question is basically how can a solar cell operate in forward bias? A normal diode in forward bias (with a battery connected) drives electrons from the N-side towards the pn junction where they are continuously recombining with holes (reducing the depletion zone and allowing for the flow...
  5. Z

    How to bias a transistor into cutoff

    hi i would like to bias a transistor into cutoff. i have the schematic shown below and for the transistor i am using it has a collector cutoff current at 100nA. so my approach was frist to perform Dc analysis: Vth=5*(R10/(R10+R4)) Rth=(R4*R10)/(R10+R4) so my input equation is...
  6. N

    Why is a Resistor Needed in an Emitter Follower Bias Current Circuit?

    Hi, I'm reading The Art Of Electronics and I saw this in the emitter followers section: "Warning: You must always provide a dc path for base bias current, even if it goes only to ground... if the signal is capacitively coupled, you must provide a resistor to ground (Fig. 2.18)." Here...
  7. K

    P-n junction diodes (Both bias)

    Given this picture, the circuit is put in reverse bias. Therefore the electrons are flowing INTO the p-type junction. - As electrons flow into the p-type material the depletion zone is raised as the p-side is made more negative. A picture from hyperphyics.phy-astr.gsu.edu illustrates this...
  8. J

    Equilibrium vs. Reverse Bias

    In a PN junction under reverse bias, a small bit of current exists due to the movement of minority carriers. Under equilbrium, no current passes through. Am I right in thinking that the movement of minority carriers under equilibrium is canceled by the little bit of majority carriers that passes...
  9. D

    Calculate the bias of the estimator

    Suppose that Y_1,...,Y_n is a random sample where the density of each random variable Y_i is f(y) = 2*x^2*y^(-3), y >= x for some parameter x > 1. Let x^hat := min{Y_1,...,Y_n}. I figured out that the pdf for the minimum order statistic is n*[f(y)]*[1-F(y)]^(n-1). Also I think that 1-F(y) =...
  10. M

    Current in forward and reverse bias

    What are the equations for current due to hole flow and current due to electron flow, respectively? I can't seem to find those formulas anywhere. Are they the same as the saturation current due to hole flow and electron flow?
  11. P

    Formulas for : CVRMSE and Net Mean Bias

    Hi folks, I am in the energy industry, and we do linear/multilinear regressions stats. One of the concepts being introduced to supplement standard way of doing regressions is make use of: (1) Coefficient of Variation Root Mean Squared Error (2) Net Mean Bias or Abs (Mean bias)...
  12. zonde

    Acceleration of expansion as unknown reddening bias

    Does anybody know if there is some analysis of type Ia supernovae data for possibility of unknown intergalactic reddening bias that would result in apparent acceleration of expansion. Naturally such unknown reddening bias would be function of redshift and it could spoil calculated luminosity...
  13. N

    [semiconduction] Does reverse bias decrease depletion region?

    Hello, For simplicity's sake, let's take a np junction. Say we connect the left side (n-pole) to a POSITIVE voltage; this is called a reverse bias, because it will result in a small current from n to p. In other words: electrons will travel from p to n across the junction (and holes will...
  14. FlexGunship

    Can Being Aware of Cognitive Biases Lessen Susceptibility to Bias Blind Spot?

    I've wondered this for a while: Can you decrease your susceptibility to decisioning yourself by becoming aware of self-deceptive practices? The reason this is not an open-and-shut case is because cognitive biases are unconscious, and therefore they cannot be consciously self-examined. In fact...
  15. H

    What is the difference between Bias voltage and Gate voltage?

    What is the difference between "Bias" voltage and "Gate" voltage? Well, as the title may indicate, I am wondering what the difference between a "bias" voltage and a "gate" voltage is. I'm looking at some nanoscale systems, and sometimes researchers say they apply a "bias" voltage to a certain...
  16. G

    Bias and Variance of Estimators for Population Mean

    Homework Statement Suppose you have a random sample {X1,X2,X3} of size n=3. Denote the population mean \mu = E(Xi) and the population variance \sigma^2= VAR(Xi). Consider the following three estimators for \mu \mu 1= X \mu 2= X1/5 +X2/2 +X3/5 \mu 3= (X1+X2+X3)/5 What is the bias...
  17. L

    What is the second equality in the bias of histogram estimate derived from?

    Suppose we wish to estimate a probability density given the points {x_1, ..., x_n} using a histogram \hat{f}(x). I have a book that says Bias(\hat{f}(x))=E_f(\hat{f}(x))-f(x)=\frac{1}{2}f'(x)(h-2(x-b_j))+O(h^2) for x\in(b_j,b_{j+1}]. Can someone explain where the second equality comes from? I...
  18. A

    How do you count Uncertainty Measurement using Precision Error and Bias Error?

    Homework Statement Find the Uncertainty Measurement using Precision Error and Bias Error? The Length of line is 5.625 in. Precision Error is 0.13 in. Bias Error is -0.115 in. What is the UNCERTAINTY measurement? Homework Equations None. The Attempt at a Solution Please help! I...
  19. K

    What is the impact of bias on DC sputtering for thin film deposition?

    Hi, I would like to know when deposition using DC sputtering, bias play a role in plasma build-up, but with bias applied and without bias applied, still obtain the same thickness of thin film layer, what actually the differences between bias and without bias during DC sputtering? Thanks.
  20. A

    Convection of charged particles in oil subject to DC bias

    Hi all, I have recently observed a very strange thing (or rather, I shall say unexpected phenomenon). When I deposited some charged micro-particles between 2 electrodes (vertical plates) with a DC bias in hexadecane oil, I expected the negatively charged particles to go to the positive...
  21. X

    Reverse Bias: Diode, Resistor, Voltage & Current

    In forward bias the supplied voltage is distribute among the resistor and the diode (diode and resistor are connected in series) but in reverse bias the Current across the resistor remain zero because the conduction starts when very high voltage is supplied ...am i right ? but why the Voltage...
  22. D

    Solar Cells in Forward/Reverse Bias?

    Considering this is for a condensed matter course, I'm assuming it'll belong here :) I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why solar cells are operated in forward bias as that would counteract the electron-hole separation in the depletion zone. Wouldn't it make more sense to operate them...
  23. T

    Cognitive Bias in Gambling: Do People Prefer Taking Odds or Laying Them?

    Do people prefer getting odds to laying odds? That is, when people gamble, do they prefer to risk a little for the chance to win a lot, rather than vice versa? I know from personal experience that you can get a little rush from putting quarters in a slot machine, inspired by the possibility...
  24. russ_watters

    Why is the media biased against certain sports teams?

    Ok, I'm kidding...or am I? http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/boston-bruins-fail-against-flyers-in-game-7-051410 Why doesn't that title say "Flyers complete epic comeback and win Game 7"? Must be a Boston liberal thing. Wait...but that's Fox sports!? Whatever. Epic. Lets. Go. Flyers!
  25. S

    Forward Bias in PN Diode: Explained

    Probably a really stupid question but for a pn diode in complete forward bias i.e 6volts (switch on 0.7volts), does it behave like a normal resistor or is it a squared resistance till say 200 volts and is there a forward voltage breakdown mechanism. I can only find I V curves that got to about...
  26. T

    LED States in Current and Reverse Bias Circuit

    Homework Statement Indicate which of the 6 LEDs are ON and which are OFF Homework Equations V=IR The Attempt at a Solution Okay, I know LEDs 4,5 and 6 will be ON and LED 2 and 3 will be OFF but what about LED 1? Because LED 2 has a very high resistance as it is reverse biased thus...
  27. T

    V-I Characteristics of Forward/Reverse Bias Diodes

    Homework Statement Which of the following circuits in the diagram provided would you use to measure the V-I characteristics of a: a. Forward biased diode i.e Vx>Vy? Explain. b. Reverse biased diode i.e Vx<Vy? Explain. Homework Equations None required I think. The Attempt at a...
  28. Loren Booda

    Which holds greater bias: classism or racism?

    Are social classes more or less surmountable than racial identity?
  29. S

    Voltage Divider Bias: Removing Electrons from the Base

    In Voltage divider bias , we are not drawing any electrons from the base. Then how can the electron current pass through the base and go to the collector and reach the positive terminal. Only if You draw electrons from the base by maintaining the base at positive potential, then only the...
  30. L

    BJT common emitter collector to emitter reverse bias confusion

    Iam sorry if it is a very basic question but iam unable to understand this if u take a common emitter configuration of npn transistor the emitter is common to both the input and output terminals and to operate in the active region 1. the emitter to base should be forward biased i.e n and p...
  31. K

    Explore American Education Bias: Test Your Knowledge of Yuri Gagarin

    Just a little question to see how biased American education is. Simply answer yes or no, without looking it up. Do you know who Yuri Gagarin is?
  32. B

    Question regarding the bias voltage applied to a tape recording head

    So in a tape recorder, the quantity of magnetic moment imparted to a unit area of magnetic tape is not a linear function of the applied magnetic flux; the transfer function looks kind of like a cumulative distribution function, if that makes sense. So if one just ran an audio signal directly...
  33. M

    Understanding Exchange Bias: An Introduction for Beginners

    Could someone explain me an elementary introduction to this phenomenon ? i know that it is produced whenever an ANTIFERROMAGNETIC and a FERROGMAGNETIC materials are put together , however my doubts are - is this 'exchange bias' produced by any spin interaction ?? - i can see the figures...
  34. N

    Voltage Divider Bias Under Load

    Hey, I'm kinda stuck in this odd question. I've tried searching on the Internet but haven't found much help. Basically, I have a voltage divider biased transistor. I can solve and find its Q-point without an external load, but I'm kinda confused how the circuit will change when there is an...
  35. EnumaElish

    Sample selection bias in gerontology research?

    A new paper is reported to look at negativity in relationships. Quote from the Yahoo news story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080205/sc_livescience/marriageitsonlygoingtogetworse This sounds like the definition of selectivity bias. It is not at all surprising that older people...
  36. U

    Why Use Kohm for Bias Resistors?

    professors talked about this school but i forgot after the exam. Why do Op Amps and Transistors always use Kohm for bias resistors? does it have to do with the bias current or the input impedance? What happens if one uses ohms resistors to set the gain or bias transistors? thanks.
  37. J

    Can a Single Chip Handle High Voltage DC Bias for Experimental Use?

    Hello All, I'm now looking for yet another component for my experiments. I was doing some research into DC boost converters to figure out how to build my own (they seem pretty simple to make). I want to make one that can be programmed from a microcontroller to put out variable voltages from...
  38. L

    WHY is drift current through a PN junction independent of applied bias voltages?

    I have looked all over in many textbooks and I cannot find a decent explanation of this. Most textbooks simply say that it is independent of applied bias because all of the minority carriers generated by thermal energy within a diffusion length of the depletion region will essentially get swept...
  39. R

    Finding the Saturation Current of a photodiode in Reverse Bias

    Homework Statement I am trying to finish the equation, to compare it against a set of data so I can then find the accuracy of my results in relation to the equation: I(dark) = I(sat) * e(qV/kT) -1 I have the following data: Va - the applied (bias) voltage q kB - Boltzmann Constant...
  40. E

    Is [(n+1)X(n)/n]^2 an Unbiased Estimator of Theta^2 in Uniform Distribution?

    Homework Statement show that [(n+1)X(n)/n]2 is not an unbiased estimate of theta2 in unform distribution U[0,theta] X(n) is the order statistic The attempt at a solution I was going to take E{[(n+1)X(n)/n]2} split it as E[((n+1)/2)2] * E[X(n)2] and then show that it does not equal to...
  41. D

    Medical Gender Bias and the Color Pink

    Hi all, why is it that girls are more generally acceptable to the colour pink? (e.g. painting the whole room pink and wearing pink clothings etc.) And guys tend to shunt away from pink colour ? Is it pre-programmed into our mind?
  42. S

    Experiment shows the weight of confirmation bias

    A recent experiment shows how people can be fooled and see patterns where there is none. The subjects were to play a computer game and score points. Unbeknownst to them, the points were attributed randomly. A group scored 33% of the time and the other 66%. After the experiment, the...
  43. K

    News What is the motive behind claims of liberal bias in university hiring?

    I searched for a previous posting on this topic but found only the "media liberal bias" thread. Recent studies have shown what Bill O'Reilly has been complaining about all along, that University hirees on average are more liberal than conservative. Judging from the typical conservative...
  44. russ_watters

    News Overt Liberal Media Bias: Journalistic Fraud

    The topic of the media's liberal bias has raised its head again in several threads, so I figured I'd consolidate. We've discussed it before, of course, and it always seemed to me that once the statistics were shown, the threads always died quitely...
  45. SOS2008

    News Media Bias - Is the media becoming more conservative?

    This thread is a continuation of the earlier thread: FOX News - Let's bomb a democracy back to the stone age. I finally have had some time to do some more research on the topic of media bias (also addressed in the thread: Gannon Guffaw), and it is amazing how many conservative web sites there...
  46. T

    Overcoming Bias in Language and Science

    I can't be subjected to the bias because English speak not good? Can't is not high to be subjected to the bias because of the quantum physics level? I think regardless is who we are equal.Regardless the level is high and low, regardless how English is.
  47. Moonbear

    Harvard President Shows His Bias

    This is the sort of thing that makes my blood boil! For the rest of the story, see: http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/worldwide/story/0,9959,1392808,00.html For another version (from ABC news), see here: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0105/200914.html And the Boston Globe's...
  48. B

    Understanding the Bias in Binomial Distribution for Probability Calculations

    binomial distribution Prob of rolling a 1 = 1/10, rolling a 2 = 2/10, 3 = 3/10, 4 = 4/10 Let X be the value thrown Calculate E(X) and Var(X) To do this can't use E(X) = np and can't use Var(X) = npq is this correct?
  49. C

    Brain scan 'identifies race bias'

    Brain scan 'identifies race bias' A brain scan that can apparently root out racists has been developed by scientists. The technique was used on white volunteers shown photographs of black individuals. Complete text at...
  50. adrenaline

    News The lie of media liberal bias continued.

    The lie of media liberal bias...continued. Just had to comment on some references to the liberal bias in another thread. Though this may have been true in the past, the government's relaxation of the FCC regarding the rules concerning media monopolies has changed the political landscape...
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