A digital voltmeter has a random fluctuation between readings

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Scientific Practice & Experimental Methods · Uncertainty in measurement · Uncertainty in measurement

Measurement and Method, Ch Repeated readings: scatter, the mean and the standard error

Problem

A digital voltmeter has a random fluctuation between readings, with sample standard deviation

s = 0.60\,\mathrm{mV}

found from five repeated readings, and a fixed calibration offset of

+2.0\,\mathrm{mV}

that shifts every single reading upward by that same amount. ((a)) State whether the

0.60\,\mathrm{mV}

scatter and the

2.0\,\mathrm{mV}

offset are random or systematic effects, and give the test that decides it. ((b)) The operator takes

N=500

readings instead of

5

. Calculate the resulting standard error of the mean, and state what happens to the offset.

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