Mathematics

Ayaan Travis

4 October, 05:15

For the measurement described below, identify at least one likely source of random errors, and also identify at least one likely source of systematic errors.

Speeds of cars are recorded by a police officer who uses a radar gun.

Identify a likely source of random errors.

A. The police officer makes honest mistakes when he records the speeds of passing cars in his log.

B. The police officer uses the radar gun to measure the speed of cars in oncoming traffic while he is driving, but the gun is calibrated for a stationary police car.

C. A new technology is developed that makes cars appear to be going slower than they really are to radar guns, and everybody uses it to avoid speeding tickets.

D. The officer is given a quota of speeding tickets and in order to meet the quota he must record some car speeds as higher than the radar gun actually displayed.