Handling error and uncertainty

Calculate absolute and percentage uncertainties from a range of equipment and calculate compound errors in experiments. This will require using equations that link to the underlying theory, and using a digitally provided dataset.

Provide students with stock data and ask them to perform error analysis (e.g. mean, standard deviation, variance etc). Alternately, provide simulations of practical that include generation of error and ask students to run the experiment, collect data then perform error analysis

Provide students with theoretical extra help (video or documents) for error analysis and error propagation. The method that the students might remember from A-level can be much simpler than what is actually required at university level.

For example, a Young’s modulus experiment. Students are provided with a data table showing mass vs elongation (absolute errors provided) of a copper wire pulled until failure. The students should calculate the Young’s modulus with full error propagation associated with the measurements.