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Kline-Mcclintock Method of Experimental Uncertainty

This document explains the Kline-McClintock method for determining uncertainty in calculations based on experimental measurements. It provides an example of using the method to calculate the uncertainty in determining the volume of a cube with a cylindrical hole given measurements of the cube length and hole diameter with specified tolerances. The method determines the combined uncertainty from individual measurement uncertainties using a formula that sums the squares of the partial derivatives of the calculation with respect to each measurement multiplied by the measurement's uncertainty. In the example, it finds the uncertainty in the calculated volume could be as large as ±15.38% even though the uncertainties in the individual length and diameter measurements are less than 4%.

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7K views

Kline-Mcclintock Method of Experimental Uncertainty

This document explains the Kline-McClintock method for determining uncertainty in calculations based on experimental measurements. It provides an example of using the method to calculate the uncertainty in determining the volume of a cube with a cylindrical hole given measurements of the cube length and hole diameter with specified tolerances. The method determines the combined uncertainty from individual measurement uncertainties using a formula that sums the squares of the partial derivatives of the calculation with respect to each measurement multiplied by the measurement's uncertainty. In the example, it finds the uncertainty in the calculated volume could be as large as ±15.38% even though the uncertainties in the individual length and diameter measurements are less than 4%.

Uploaded by

crazzyraj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Last Rev.

: 11 JUN 08

Kline-McClintock Uncertainty : MIME 3470

KLINE-MCCLINTOCK1 METHOD

Page 1

and the uncertainty is calculated as:

(EXPERIMENTAL UNCERTAINTY)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first thing the student must be aware of is that this procedure
does not calculate an error; instead, it states what the possible error
the uncertaintyis in a final result based on experimental
measurements or a tolerance in fabrication.
So what causes the uncertainty? Basically, it is due to the
coarseness of measuring tools. A simple six-inch scale graduated
in increments of 0.1 inches can only be read accurately to the
nearest 0.1 of an inch. The uncertainty is taken as one half of a
graduation or 0.05 inches. An alternate dimensional uncertainty is
a tolerance as used in drawing of machine parts. If a dimension is
8mm 0.1mm, then the 0.1mm is the uncertainty in the dimension.
The Kline-McClintock Method determines the uncertainty of a
calculation given certain measurements and the tolerances on those
measurements. To exemplify how this method works, assume one
is to determine the volume of a cube containing a cylindrical hole
(see the figure below).
D

dV
V

dL

3

2

0.2

2D

L
4

3 5
2

184.5870 5.5516

1/ 2

1/ 2

67.9314 0.2 23.5619 0.1


2

0.1

1/ 2

2 1/ 2

13.7891in .
3

This value is not a percent!

D
V L3

L2
L1

D
V L3
L
2
If one measures D and L with measurements

(A.1)

L 5"0.2"

0.2

100 4.000%
5

D 3"0.1"

0.1

100 3.333%
3

what is the anticipated possible error (either positive or negative)


when the volume is calculated using Equation A.1? In general, if n
measurements xn are being made, each with a measurement
tolerance of n, and a function F is calculated using the measured
values, then the uncertainty or tolerance in the calculation can be
determined as:
2

dF
dF
1 2

F
dx
dx1
2

For the proposed example,

L
2

125 35.3429 89.6571in3 .


Thus, one could have a percent error as large as

To make this a simple explanation of the procedure, assume that L


= L1 = L2= L3. The volume, ideally, would then be:

1/ 2

1 0.2
1 0.1

x2 D
1

3
5 3

1/ 2

The ideal volume calculation is

L3

D
F V L3

2
x1 L

dV

dD

D
3L2

3 5

Kline, S. J., and F. A. McClintock. Describing Uncertainties in


Single-Sample Experiments. Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 75, No. 1, January
1953: 3-8.

13.7891

100 15.38%
89.6571
even though the errors in individual measurements are less than 4%.

Last Rev.: 11 JUN 08

Kline-McClintock Uncertainty : MIME 3470

Page 2

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