Measurement uncertainty in lab reports
State what the uncertainty represents, how it was obtained, and which assumptions govern propagation into derived quantities.
Name the quantity after ±
State whether it is instrument resolution, sample standard deviation, standard error, confidence interval, or combined standard uncertainty. The symbol alone is ambiguous.
Match units and useful precision
Absolute uncertainty carries the same unit as the quantity. Keep fuller precision in the calculation record, then report value and uncertainty at compatible precision.
Make propagation assumptions visible
Root-sum-square rules commonly assume independent inputs and first-order behavior. Correlated inputs or nonlinear models require a fuller treatment than a two-value calculator can provide.
Keep uncertainty distinct from disagreement
Uncertainty describes knowledge or dispersion around a value. Percent error compares an observation with a reference. Neither establishes that the method or conclusion is valid.
Sources and boundaries
Solice develops LabCrux. The independent sources above do not sponsor or endorse the product. This page explains a review method; your experimental evidence, course instructions, and instructor remain authoritative.