Theory — Introduction and Learning Goals#
Short summary This chapter covers measurement theory: uncertainty concepts, best practices, measurement-system analysis, and worked Monte Carlo examples.
Learning objectives
Understand types of measurement uncertainty and how to report them.
Distinguish repeatability vs reproducibility, bias, and systematic errors.
Apply basic uncertainty propagation (analytical and Monte Carlo).
Recognize good-practice recommendations for lab notebooks and reporting.
Key concepts (brief)
GUM-style uncertainty vs Type A/B estimates.
Propagation of uncertainty for slopes and model parameters.
Role of simulations (Monte Carlo) to validate analytical propagation.
Recommended notebooks to run
uncertainty_example.ipynb
uncertainty_of_a_slope.ipynb
uncertainty_propagation_monte_carlo_gum.ipynb
teaching_measurement_uncertainty.ipynb
best_practice_summary.ipynb
Suggested exercises
Compute and compare analytical and Monte Carlo propagation on a simple function.
Prepare a short lab report following the best-practice notebook checklist.
Prerequisites Basic probability, calculus, and comfort with Python arrays.
Checklist for the 8-step uncertainty analysis process#
See checklist.md for a detailed 9-step checklist to guide uncertainty analyses.
Pages in this chapter#
Ordered reading (suggested)#
Follow this sequence when teaching or self-studying. The order moves from foundational lab practice and best-practice guidance, to measurement-system analysis and elementary worked examples, then to uncertainty concepts and quantitative propagation methods (analytical & Monte Carlo), and finishes with advanced case studies and community presentations.
laboratory_notebook.ipynb — practical lab notebook practices and data recording.
best_practice_summary.ipynb — concise recommendations for reporting and reproducibility.
teaching_measurement_uncertainty.ipynb — pedagogical overview of uncertainty.
standartization.ipynb — standards and common terminology.
general_measurement_system_analysis.ipynb — system-level thinking and error sources.
simple_example.ipynb — a short worked example linking practice and theory.
example_from_best_practice.ipynb — illustrated application of best practices.
uncertainty_example.ipynb — basic uncertainty calculations and interpretation.
uncertainty_of_a_slope.ipynb — propagation for regression-derived quantities.
uncertainty_propagation_monte_carlo_gum.ipynb — Monte Carlo propagation following GUM ideas.
simulations_for_uncertainty.ipynb — simulation-driven exploration of uncertainty.
uncertainty_analysis_NASA.ipynb — applied example from NASA guidance.
iaea_uncertainty_presentation.ipynb — community presentation and advanced perspectives.
Rationale: this ordering lets students first acquire good lab habits and reporting skills, then build a conceptual toolbox for system analysis, then learn measurement uncertainty in increasing rigor (examples → slope propagation → Monte Carlo → case studies). Use the checklists added to notebooks to guide in-class or lab activities.