Chronology | Current Month | Current Thread | Current Date |
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] | [Date Index] [Thread Index] | [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] | [Date Prev] [Date Next] |
/// people typically interpret (correctly or incorrectly)
the uncertainty of such a number [ 0.285714286 m/s ]
as being around +/- 0.0000000005
m/s. In this case, given typical measurement devices, the
uncertainty in distance is probably not much smaller than a millimeter
(if that) and the uncertainty in time is probably not much smaller
than a millisecond (if that). These "reasonable" estimates of the
uncertainties don't support an uncertainty in speed as small as
0.0000000005 m/s. And, rightly or wrongly, that is what
0.285714286 m/s (without any further information) seems to imply.
Again, this assumes that no comparisons are being made (between
two or more measurements/predictions); tracking the uncertainties
would be crucial in that case.
Maybe I'm still missing the point between significance and uncertainty.
____________________________________________________
Robert Cohen; 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301