A few sources of systematic errors are a tape measure that has become stretched, the worn end of a meter stick, a caliper with calibration and graduation errors.
Interactive Applet on Systematic Errors
To gain more familiarity with systematic errors, you can do the following exercises using a Java applet as described below.
In this applet we calculate the systematic error introduced by a measuring tape which has been stretched by 6% . Therefore, any length measured using this tape will have systematic error of 6%. To use the applet, draw a 5 cm long line along the ruler. Now draw four lines of random length. Enter 53 for the standard line length. Next, enter 1, 2, 3, and 4 for the line numbers and the applet will show measured length of each line. Round off each measured length to nearest mm and calculate systematic error.
Interactive Applet on Random Errors
To gain more familiarity with random errors, you can do the following exercises using a Java applet as described below.
In this applet we will take several measurements, with random errors, of the same thing and average over those measurements to compensate for the random errors. As before, after the applet is started, draw a standard line of 5 cm length and then a single line along the length of the pencil. Press "Set" a couple of time and see that the "Measured Length of Line 1" changes a little bit each time. Record five of these measured values and calculate their average.
To compute an average you will need a calculator. If you need one click on the calculator at right.
