What is Errors: Definition and 346 Discussions

An error (from the Latin error, meaning "wandering") is an action which is inaccurate or incorrect. In some usages, an error is synonymous with a mistake.
In statistics, "error" refers to the difference between the value which has been computed and the correct value. An error could result in failure or in a deviation from the intended performance or behavior.

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  1. B

    Testing Ohm's Law: Everyday Items & Possible Errors

    i have to think of different ways to test ohms law but could only come up with using an ammeter and voltmeter..the typical experiment that is seen all over the internet. what way could i test this law using basic everyday things? and what errors could happen for the typical experiment? could...
  2. S

    Calculating Density of Rock from Mars w/ Uncertainty

    Homework Statement the mass of a particular sample of rock retrived from Mars is m=772.2+or-0.2g. The sample is in the shape of cylinder of height h=10+or-0.1 cm and base radius r=2.5 +or-0.1cm. calculate the density of the rock sample in units of kg/m^3. You must state your result in the...
  3. M

    Treating Propagation of Errors in $R^n$ to $R^m$ Transformations

    I want to know how to treat propagation of errors in general. When the transformation of variables is a transformation of $R^n$ to $R^n$ it simply involves a jacobian: g(\vec{y}) = f(x(\vec{y}))|J| With J_{ij} = \frac{\partial x_i}{\partial y_j} (see...
  4. D

    About the so-call two errors (mistakes) in Misner-Thorne-Wheeler

    About the so-call "two errors (mistakes)" in Misner-Thorne-Wheeler If I remember correctly, Kip Thorne once said that "there are two errors (mistakes) in Misner-Thorne-Wheeler". I am wondering if anyone know exactly what errors these are (he mentioned one of them during the same talk, but I...
  5. N

    C: ctype_base.h errors with gcc 4

    Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has ever run into ctype_base.h errors like: '<anonymous enum>' is/uses anonymous type.' error: trying to instantiate 'template<class T> void operator|(PUP::er&, T&)' some sites that i have visited say its an error with gcc4 GUI-mandriva sfwr-charm++ for...
  6. L

    Identifying Physics Errors in a Star Trek Episode

    Homework Statement In a star Trek episode, a space station orbiting a planet blows up. The chew of the Enterprise simultaneously hears and see the explosion; they realized that tehre is no chance for rescue. If you have been hired a consultant, what two physics errors would you have found and...
  7. Ivan Seeking

    Belief in Reincarnation Tied to Memory Errors

    http://www.livescience.com/othernews/070406_past_lives.html I once agreed to try regressive hypnosis for a local author and hypnotist. It sounded interesting and it was free. I visualized and recanted four or five "past lives" thoughout the session. Although the images were often vivid...
  8. T

    Calculating Error in Linear Function b

    Hi, When I'm doing an experiment, If the result of the experiment was some points, which I interpolate to create the linear function: y=(a/b^2) x+c while y is a function of x: y=f(x) If the standard error in y was (S), How can I calculate the error in b? Thank you
  9. F

    MATLAB Programming a Solar System Model: Overcoming Index Errors

    Ok, so semi-irrelevant information out of the way first - I'm writing a program that will give a basic model of the solar system - taking into account interactions from the planets on each other. I can get my program running when containing the individual starting points of each of the...
  10. Math Is Hard

    Comp Sci Fixing C++ Card Class Errors in Visual C++ 6

    Hi. I am working on an assignment writing the implementation for a class of playing cards. http://www.pic.ucla.edu/~nathan/cgi-bin/moin.cgi/la1#head-111d7fc9df65f327018fa94234ab0b23c0857e98 Here is the header file that we were provided. //filename card.h #ifndef CARD_H #define CARD_H...
  11. M

    Standard Deviation or Resolution Error: Which One Should Be Quoted in a Report?

    In a report should I be quoting uncertainties as 2.435(36) m or 2.435 +- 0.036 m. It seems the first way is usually used when quoting a standard deviation error and the second when quoting a resolution error.
  12. L

    Why do I make math errors and how can I prevent them?

    Well when calculating Math I sometimes make errors (we all do of course) but some of them are because I do not know the 'laws of math' (do not know what you call it in English). An examlpe. \ln{2}=x^2+x+k \Leftrightarrow e^{\ln{2}}=e^{x^2}+e^x+e^k \Leftrightarrow 2=e^{x^2}+e^x+e^k But...
  13. dextercioby

    Addressing Errors in Apostol's Calculus & Linear Algebra: Volume 1, 2nd Edition

    This is page #293 of the 1-st volume from 2-nd edition of Apostol's "Calculus & Linear Algebra". Well, the question goes like this: Can you find a flagrant error in this page...? Daniel.
  14. C

    Thermocouple Errors in Temperature Controller

    I recently made a Type K thermocouple (Chromel-Alumenel type) and am trying to see if it is working correctly. I do not have the necessary equipment or time to use cold junction compensation, so I was told by my professor to just test the temperatures and voltage readings at room temperature (20...
  15. D

    Sources of errors on Determinating Faraday's Constant experiment

    Give three sources of error in your calculation in Part B. Which of these contributions the greatest source of error? Explain. In part B i did 6 steps in determination of Faraday's Constant. 1. I marked two copper strips (to distinguish them) and weigh them 2. Attach these to the...
  16. N

    Standard Error Help for X^-1

    A quantity 'X' has a standard error 's' if 'X' is inverted ie. X^-1 what do I do with 's'?
  17. K

    Finding Maclaurin Error < 0.0001 for f(x)=cos(2x) at x=0.6

    Here's the problem: Determine the degree of Maclaurin polynomial required for the error to be less than .0001 if f(x)=cos(2x) and you are approximating f(0.6) I really don't know what I am doing. Here's what I've tried to do: Rn(.6) = ( (f^(n+1)(z)) / (n+1)! ) (.6)^(n+1) I don't...
  18. G

    Understanding Systematic and Random Errors in Scientific Measurements

    Hi just a quick question. :confused: What are systematic and random errors? Are systematic errors, ones where you use equipment which is not 100% accurate. For example using a ruler which is accurate to +/- 0.1mm? Are random errors ones where the experiment is done slightly different...
  19. F

    Combining Results and Errors - A Forum Saviour!

    the following post probably isn't going to be so cohesive, bear with me anyway: I'm completing a report and need to combine several sets of results for the same experiment and combine their errors to give a best value - can't for the life of me remember the formulae, i know roughly what it is -...
  20. J

    Schaum's Outline for Engineering & Science errors

    I'm hoping that at least one of you have read/worked with this book and noticed that there are blatant errors in the solutions he gives to his problems. How am I supposed to check and see if I'm going about it correctly if I cannot verify my answer in the end? It's my only "text book" for the...
  21. B

    Mathematica Did Einstein Make Mathematical Errors?

    What do you guys think of this site? http://www.relativitychallenge.com/mistakes.htm" Is there anything to this?
  22. Q

    Java Is anyone good with fixing java errors? Need your help please

    I'm interested in learning foreign languages. I plan maybe to study japanese linquistics in college. I'm learning spanish and japanese, but more japanese for now. I signed up for a yahoo account on yahoo chat on video games, but I keep getting very strange errors and it won't let me type in...
  23. T

    Simple, simple question concerning errors needing quick answer

    Hi, This is a v. simple Q, but I have a mental block today (!). The question is: What size must z be in the function f(z) to output the value of the integral I with an error of 0.1? What about an error of 0.01? Or 0.001? I calculate I to be 0.6666666... recurring. Now f(3) =...
  24. F

    Explanations of variations in errors with regards to enzymes

    Hello, how can large variation between sets of different Ph results be scientifically explained, i am investigating the effects of Ph on enzyme activity, there are small error bars in my results between ph1,2,3,4 &5 however there is larger error bars between ph-6,7,8,9 & 10. there's an...
  25. bayan

    Analysis of Experimental Errors on Wavelength and Angle Measurements

    This is my report on an experiment that I have done and I really needed the latex codes to generate the equations. I have done the other parts of the report on other PC. Do they seem to be ok? (the errors, like the max possible value and min possible value) no help is really needed, rather...
  26. marcus

    John Stachel's typographical errors

    John Stachel is at Boston U. department of Physics and Center for Einstein Studies. His field is the Philosophy of Science, or maybe history/philosophy. The Stachel paper I'm proposing we scan for typos is Structure, Individuality and Quantum Gravity http://arxiv.org/gr-qc/0507078 I...
  27. Astronuc

    Analysis of the errors in explicitly correlated electronic structure theory

    PCCP Hot paper: Theoretical breakthrough - analysis of the errors in explicitly correlated electronic structure theory
  28. M

    Resonance Waves: Investigating Graphs & Errors

    :uhh: I am havin a bit of trouble w/ a graf here... its about resonance waves in resonance tubes and i have a straight line graph when i plot the values of length of the wave vs. 1/frequency. the problem is, i don't no what this line/slope is meant to represent? and it doesn't run through zero...
  29. S

    Cell division and chromosome errors

    What changes would have to be made to a cell so that when it divides the genes in the daughter cells are exactly the same,in the same order and number on the chromosomes, as they were in the parent cell?
  30. D

    Calucation of ERRORS - CHEM

    Calucation of ERRORS - CHEM! hi I am doing one of those determining calcium hardness in swimming pool water here just stuck on a few bits 1) how do i convert concentration (mol/L) -> ppm ( parts per milliion) example i am given concentration of calcium = 8.595*10^-4 M how do i get parts...
  31. D

    Thinking hard about errors in titration

    hi guys assistance in this area would be great just see what i have written and comment on them please thanks! all. im thinking about the errors in titration from doing a typical acid-base titration to talk about in my experiment and these are the errors i came up with. First of all my...
  32. R

    Involving Errors In Calculations

    Say I wanted to do a calculation with numbers that had an error attached...what would the error be on the final answer? For example, say I was trying to work out the distance v in relation to lenses etc. by this formula: \frac{1}{v}=\frac{1}{u}+\frac{1}{f} say u was 50cm plus or...
  33. R

    Determine the half lives of two radioisotopes

    Hi, I am trying to determine the half lives of two radioisotopes in a neutron activated sample of copper. I have plotted the the ln(activity) vs. time and then used the linest function on excel to get a decay function for the longer half-life by assuming after a certain time, only the longer...
  34. E

    How Do You Calculate the Error on Variables in an Equation?

    Hi guys..i always seem to forget how to calculate errors and end up confusing myself in a giant mess...so any help much appreciated. I have 24.98 +/- 1.05 = e/(nkT) And i need to work out n, i know all the other numbers (which are constants and have no errors). So firstly how do i...
  35. M

    Calculating Error in Voltage (V) from Errors in I & R

    I don't know if this more of a math question than a physics question, but here goes: Let's say I have an equation, let's say V=IR. Let's also say I know \sigma I and \sigma R, the possible errors in I and R, how can I calculate \sigma V, the error in voltage? Is there a way to generalize this...
  36. R

    Solving Ksp Lab Errors: CaSO4 Calculation Methods

    Hi, We did a lab the other day involving the calculation of Ksp values. Objective of the lab was to calc the Ksp of CaSO4 by several methods and to determine which method would give the most consistent/accurate value for the solubility product constant. Heres what we did: A) 1. Filter...
  37. J

    Roller Coaster Calculation Errors: Round Marble vs. Sliding

    Hi we're doing a project in class where we make roller coasters and we test them out by sending a marble down them. As a bonus question my teacher asked why there would be an error in the calculations we do (finding speed at different locations of the roller coaster) if we're using a...
  38. S

    Propagation of errors? (lab phenomenon question)

    propagation of errors? (lab "phenomenon" question) In our lab, we are measuring the acceleration due to gravity. We do this by dropping an object through a photogate, which records position vs. time data as the object falls. From this position vs. time data, the computer uses derivatives to...
  39. T

    Droplet impact angles, errors in.

    Hi Arcsin width/length of a water droplet on any surface will give you the angle between the droplet trajectory before falling (assume straight line rather than parabola) and the surface upon which it fell. As this angle approaches 90degrees (water drop falling vertically on a horizontal...
  40. A

    Common Errors in Anti-SR Theory: Syncing Distant Events

    What would you say is the most common error an anti-SR theory has? I find that it is almost ALWAYS someone synchronizing two events separated by distance for multiple frames. Examples would be the barn pole paradox, the train-through-tunnel paradox (front goes in: bomb armed, backs goes in...
  41. A

    Trouble determining the correct direction errors for nullclines

    I have a simple question regarding nullclines, as I'm having trouble determining the correct direction errors. For example, here's a system of equations: dx/dt = 2-x-y dy/dt=y-x^2 x-null is y= -x + 2 y-null is y= x^2 x-null is vertical, y-null goes horizontal. But when I...
  42. S

    Is it possible to do calculations for systematic errors?

    Are percentage apparatus errors also systematic errors?
  43. Ivan Seeking

    Intermittent CPU errors: Thank you, thank you, thank you

    It turns out that I have been fighting just this problem with an older industrial computer [industrial automation stuff]. Due to my lack of familiarity with this particular processor, I couldn’t be sure if I had configuration problems or some other software induced problems. I just observed a...
  44. T

    Debunking the Myth of Logical Errors in Transverse Doppler Effect Experiments

    Experiments can't prove something which is logically flawed. Einstein's invalid procedure in deriving his transformation equations besides (see http://www.physicsmyths.org.uk/lightspeed.htm), motion is always only relative, so each of two obervers moving relatively to each other can claim that...
  45. M

    Glaring errors or misconceptions

    I put up some ideas/theories on my web page and was wondering if people here could take a look at them. They're fairly far-fetched but I think people would find some of them interesting nonetheless. They're also fairly short so it shouldn't take much of your time. I wrote them for fun on my...
  46. russ_watters

    News Factual errors vs lies - and admitting mistakes

    For some reason today seems to be the day for people making all sorts of factual errors. Maybe its the April 1st thing, I don't know. What bugs me though, is people who do not own up to their mistakes. When an error is made unintentionally, it is a mistake. When an error is made...
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