Uncertainty Contribution Table for Balances

Contribution (nomenclature) Distribution

us Uncertainty of the nominal Normal
values of the reference
weight set

sp Standard deviation of the Normal

set of calibration readings

u1 Standard uncertainty
associated with the
Uniform
(Square)
repeatability of the balance
response to the reference
weight set.

Uncertainty Contribution Table for Thermometers

Contribution (nomenclature) Distribution
ur Standard uncertainty of
the nominal values of the
Normal

reference thermometer.

sp Standard deviation of the Normal

set of calibration readings
u1 Standard uncertainty of
the readability and
Uniform
(Square)
resolution of the working
thermometer

Uncertainty Contribution Table for Pipettes

Contribution (nomenclature) Distribution
ur Standard uncertainty of
the nominal values of the
Normal

reference balance.

sp Standard deviation of the Normal

set of calibration readings
sT Standard deviation of
corrections caused by
Uniform
(Square)
temperature (∆T) when the
temperature differs from
standard temperature
(20oC). The thermal
coefficient of expansion of
water is 0.00021 per 1°
Celsius at 20° Celsius.

u1 Standard uncertainty of
the readability and
Uniform
(Square)
resolution of the working
volumetric instrument
on Table for Balances
Estimated Value (NISTIR 6919)
Expanded uncertainty on the
calibration certificate of the
weights divided by 2 (coverage
factor – k)

Standard deviation of the set of

calibration measurements.
Smallest display increment
divided by √3 if unable to
determine from 7 consecutive
readings. Use ONLY if Sp = 0.

Table for Thermometers

Estimated Value
Expanded uncertainty on the
calibration certificate of the
reference thermometer divided
by 2 (coverage factor – k)

Standard deviation of the set of

calibration measurements.
 Smallest gradation of the
working thermometer divided
by √3. Use ONLY if Sp = 0

on Table for Pipettes

Estimated Value
Expanded uncertainty on the
calibration certificate of the
reference balance divided by 2
(coverage factor – k)
Standard deviation of the set of
calibration measurements.
Relative Standard Deviation =
(∆T x 0.0002) / (√3) in millilitres
per millilitre

Smallest gradation of the

working volumetric instrument
divided by √3. Use ONLY if
Sp = 0
Balance Calibration Worksheet
Model Serial / Lab
number MN07 number
Ref Mass (grams) 0.01 SN000124
Smallest Display
Working Balance: B534
Increment
Analyst/Technician Jane Doe
Balance Readings (grams) Date:
No. Unloaded Loaded |Diff| |Diff – Mean|
1 0.000 0.010 0.010 -
2 0.000 0.010 0.010 -
3 0.000 0.010 0.010 -
4 0.000 0.011 0.011 0.0010
5 0.000 0.010 0.010 -
6 0.000 0.009 0.009 0.0010
7 0.000 0.010 0.010 -
n=7 Sum diffs 0.070 Sum squares
us = 0.000001 Mean: 0.010 Std Dev: sp
Combined Standard Uncertainty
uc = √ (us)2 + (sp)2+ (u1)2
Expanded Uncertainty
k=2 U = k (uc) for smallest mass

Balance Calibration Worksheet

Model Serial / Lab
number MN09 number
Ref Mass (grams) 10 SN77
Working Smallest Display
T534
Balance: Increment
Analyst/Technician Jane Doe
Balance Readings (grams) Date:
No. Unloaded Loaded |Diff| |Diff – Mean|
1 0.000 10.000 10.00 0.000
2 0.000 10.001 10.00 0.001
3 0.000 10.000 10.00 0.000
4 0.000 9.999 10.00 0.001
5 0.000 10.000 10.00 0.000
6 0.000 10.001 10.00 0.001
7 0.000 10.000 10.00 0.000
n=7 Sum diffs 70.00 Sum squares
us = 0.00002 Mean: 10.00 Std Dev: sp
Combined Standard Uncertainty
uc = √ (us)2 + (sp)2+ (u1)2
Expanded Uncertainty
k=2 U = k (uc) for middle mass

Balance Calibration Worksheet

Model Serial / Lab
number MN88 number
Ref Mass (grams) 50 SN654
Smallest Display
Working Balance: T534
Increment
Analyst/Technician Jane Doe
Balance Readings (grams) Date:
No. Unloaded Loaded Diff |Diff – Mean|
1 0.00 50.01 50.01 0.009
2 0.00 49.99 49.99 0.011
3 0.00 50.00 50.00 0.001
4 0.00 49.99 49.99 0.011
5 0.00 50.00 50.00 0.001
6 0.00 50.01 50.01 0.009
7 0.00 50.01 50.01 0.009
n=7 Sum diffs 350.01 Sum squares
us = 0.0001 Mean: 50.00 Std Dev: sp
Combined Standard Uncertainty
uc = √ (us)2 + (sp)2+ (u1)2
Expanded Uncertainty
k=2 U = k (uc) for greatest mass
Smallest Weight

0.001

9-Nov-09
(|Diff – Mean|)2
-
-
-
0.0000010
-
0.0000010
-
0.0000020
0.0005774

0.0005774

0.0012

Middle Weight

0.001

9-Nov-09
(|Diff – Mean|)2
0.000000
0.000001
0.000000
0.000001
0.000000
0.000001
0.000000
0.000003
0.000282

0.000282

0.0006

Heaviest Weight

0.01

9-Nov-09
(|Diff – Mean|)2
0.00007
0.00013
0.00000
0.00013
0.00000
0.00007
0.00007
0.00049
0.00367

0.00367

0.00735
Thermometer Calibration Worksheet

Model Serial / Lab

number MN02 number
Ref Thermometer: T01 SN000123
Working Thermometer: T29 Smallest Gradatio
Analyst/Technician Jane Doe
Thermometer Readings (0C) Date:
No. Reference Working Diff |Diff – Mean|
1 4.07 4.0 0.07 0.0157
2 4.05 4.0 0.05 0.0043
3 4.00 4.0 0.00 0.0543
4 4.02 4.0 0.02 0.0343
5 4.05 4.0 0.05 0.0043
6 4.09 4.0 0.09 0.0357
7 4.10 4.0 0.10 0.0457
n=7 Sum d: 0.380 Sum s:
ur = 0.03 Mean: 0.054 Std Dev: sp
Combined Standard Uncertainty
uc = √ (ur)2 + (sp)2+ (u1)2
Expanded Uncertainty
k=2 U = k (uc)
CLARIFICATION AND CORRECTION NOTE:

ur was changed to a value more representative of a reference thermometer. This changed the values for combined and
standard uncertainty.
 0.5

10-Nov-09
(|Diff – Mean|)2
0.0002
0.0000
0.0029
0.0012
0.0000
0.0013
0.0021
0.0078
0.0360

0.0469

0.09

anged the values for combined and

 Pipette Calibration Worksheet
Identification Model number
Ref Balance B01 MN332
Pipette P002
Analyst/Technician Jane Doe
Temperature in degrees Celcius 24 Temperature Correction contribut
Nominal Dispensed Volume (ml) 1 Evap Loss Corr in millilitres
Pipette and Balance Readings (mg, g, µl, ml, etc)
No. Balance Nominal Corrected
Mass (g) Vol (ml) Vol (ml) Vol (ml)
1 1.0000 1.0000 1.00 0.9875
2 1.9905 1.9905 2.00 1.9871
3 2.9810 2.9810 3.00 2.9866
4 3.9704 3.9704 4.00 3.9862
5 4.9706 4.9706 5.00 4.9857
6 5.9600 5.9600 6.00 5.9852
7 6.9404 6.9404 7.00 6.9848
8 7.9300 7.9300 8.00 7.9843
9 8.9103 8.9103 9.00 8.9838
10 9.9080 9.9080 10.00 9.9834
n=10 Sum d:
ur = 0.0007 Mean:
Standard Uncertainty of this dispensed volume
uc = √ (ur)2 + (sp)2+ (sT)2 + (u1)2
Expanded Uncertainty
 U = k (uc), k = 2
CLARIFICATION AND CORRECTION NOTE:

Please note that the value in Cell H8 is an experimental evaporation rate (in mL for 30 seconds) determined by
liquid being dispensed under the laboratory conditions used for the pipette calibration (loss measured after 30
worksheet presents example data for 1 mL under the conditions used by the laboratory for pipette calibrations
experimentally determined by the laboratory for each volume being dispensed (calibrated) under the lab condi
pipetted, the correction may be negligible. The actual correction factor applied in Cell H9 (Cell H8 divided by f
time (6 seconds) required for the balance to stabilize following the dispensing of each aliquot for weighing.

Please note that a minor error in the spreadsheet has been corrected. This error did not significantly affect un
calibrations conditions greatly vary from 20 C. The temperature correction in cell H7 should not be an absolute

The formula has been corrected in this version of the spreadsheet to remove the absolute value function.
To facilitate understanding of calculations, table values have been expanded to 4 decimal places as would be e
balance.
Calibration Worksheet
Serial / Lab number
SN00099387
Smallest Disp Vol 0.10
Date: 23-Oct-09
mperature Correction contribution in ml per ml 0.0005
ap Loss Corr in millilitres (at 30 seconds) 0.0600
(per reading) 0.0120
Diff (Bal – Corr) |Diff – Mean| |(Diff - Mean)|^2
Vol (ml) Vol (ml) Vol (ml)
(0.0125) 0.0418 0.0017
(0.0034) 0.0328 0.0011
0.0056 0.0237 0.0006
0.0158 0.0136 0.0002
0.0151 0.0142 0.0002
0.0252 0.0041 0.0000
0.0444 0.0150 0.0002
0.0543 0.0250 0.0006
0.0735 0.0442 0.0020
0.0754 0.0460 0.0021
0.2934 Sum s: 0.0087
0.0293 sp = Std Dev 0.0311

0.03
 0.06

rate (in mL for 30 seconds) determined by the laboratory for the specific volume of
pipette calibration (loss measured after 30 seconds). It is not a percentage. This
d by the laboratory for pipette calibrations. The evaporation rate needs to be
dispensed (calibrated) under the lab conditions. Depending on conditions and volume
tor applied in Cell H9 (Cell H8 divided by five) represents the evaporation in the typical
ispensing of each aliquot for weighing.

d. This error did not significantly affect uncertainty, but may affect a bias calculation if
rection in cell H7 should not be an absolute value.

o remove the absolute value function.

xpanded to 4 decimal places as would be expected when using a 4-place analytical