Sources of Uncertainty:
In science, a source of uncertainty is anything that occurs in the laboratory that could lead to uncertainty in your results. Sources of uncertainty can occur at any point in the lab, from setting up the lab to analyzing data, and they can vary from lab to lab. This is why it is so important to keep detailed notes of everything you do in the lab procedure and any problems you encounter. Try to be especially aware of any problems in setting up the lab, calibrating instruments, and taking measurements as well as problems with the materials you are using.
For advanced labs, you may want to classify the kinds of uncertainty you have identified. Sources of uncertainty can be classified as random-those that cannot be predicted-or as systematic-those that are related to personal uncertainty, procedural uncertainty, or instrumental uncertainty.
