Uncertainty Measurement Clarification

[NRobbins_1K]

When inputting a value for uncertainty into the equation, do we use the full range of values or the "plus or minus" value? For example, say that we are given an uncertainty for position of +- 5 meters. Do we input an uncertainty of 5 for the position, or the range of uncertainty which would be 10?

[Andrew Pfeiffer 2E]

Within the examples in the book, it looks as though the uncertainty equation will give you the range of uncertainty (in your example, 10) which can be divided by 2 in order to get the +/- uncertainty (in your example, 5). Hope this helped!

[Pegah Nasseri 1K]

You would use the full range of values. So in your example you would use 10 as the value of uncertainty for your equation. Another example would be if you were given a measurement of 13.5 +/- 0.5 m the range of values you would have would be between 13.0 m - 14.0 m and so you would have an uncertainty of 1.0 m.