Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements

Taylor, John R.

ISBN 10: 0935702423 / ISBN 13: 9780935702422

Published by University Science Books, 1997

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements
• Publisher: University Science Books
• Publication Date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0935702423
• ISBN 13: 9780935702422
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

”This text provides a rational, step-by-step introduction to understanding and estimating random uncertainties in physical measurements. Although the text is intended primarily for undergraduate students, I find it useful as well at the research level, to introduce graduate students to unfamiliar topics in the study of experimental uncertainties... a high-quality resource [students] can continue to learn from, even after they graduate.”
Physics Today


”Score a hit! The book reveals the exceptional skill of the author as lecturer and teacher. A valuable reference work for any student (or instructor) in the sciences and engineering.”
The Physics Teacher

This best-selling text by John Taylor, now released in its second edition, introduces the study of uncertainties to lower division science students. Assuming no prior knowledge, the author introduces error analysis through the use of familiar examples ranging from carpentry to well-known historic experiments. Pertinent worked examples, simple exercises throughout the text, and numerous chapter-ending problems combine to make the book ideal for use in physics, chemistry and engineering lab courses. This book has been translated into nine languages and has more adoptions than we can count.

Contents

1. Preliminary Description of Error Analysis
2. How to Report and Use Uncertainties
3. Propagation of Uncertainties
4. Statistical Analysis of Random Uncertainties
5. The Normal Distribution
6. Rejection of Data
7. Weighted Averages
8. Least-Squares Fitting
9. Covariance and Correlation
10. The Binomial Distribution
11. The Poisson Distribution
12. The Chi-Squared Test for a Distribution

About the Author

John Taylor received his B.A. in math from Cambridge University in 1960 and his Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Berkeley in 1963. He is professor emeritus of physics and Presidential Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is the author of some 40 articles in research journals; a book, Classical Mechanics; and three other textbooks, one of which, An Introduction to Error Analysis, has been translated into eleven foreign languages. He received a Distinguished Service Citation from the American Association of Physics Teachers and was named Colorado Professor of the Year in 1989. His television series Physics for Fun won an Emmy Award in 1990. He retired in 2005 and now lives in Washington, D.C.