How to calculate the average with uncertainties?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the average of measurements with uncertainties, one must weight each measurement according to its uncertainty, using the formula 1/σ², where σ represents the uncertainty. Simply adding the values and dividing by the number of measurements is insufficient when the uncertainties vary. The weighted average is then calculated by summing the products of each measurement and its weight, and dividing by the total weight. The combined uncertainty of the average is determined by taking the square root of the sum of the squared uncertainties, adjusted for the weights. This method ensures a more accurate representation of the average considering the varying uncertainties.
Tyler S
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


How to calculate the average given the uncertainties in each measurement 8.70 +/- 0.28, 9.680 +/- 0.046, 9.700 +/- 0.055, 9.720 +/- 0.067?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I know I add the values and divide by 4. I also know I add the absolute uncertainties but idk if I divide them by 4. Please help I've gotten 9.45 +/- 0.448 meters
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hello Tyler, :welcome:

In the case off different accuracies, you have to weight the measurements when averaging. The appropriate weight of a measurement is ##1\over \sigma^2##.
Here, ##\sigma## is the (estimated) inaccuracy
 
Last edited:
BvU said:
It's "weight the measurements".
BvU said:
Here, σ is the (estimated) accuracy
Well, it's not so much the accuracy as the inaccuracy.
 
  • Like
Likes BvU
Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Back
Top