Independent uncertainties are added in quadrature because they represent random effects that can push a measurement up or down. If the effects are random and independent, their combined influence is neither always cancelling nor always additive.
Conditions: The two uncertainty effects are random.; The two effects are independent from one another.; The combination is modeled by a perpendicular geometric construction.
Independent uncertainties are added in quadrature because they represent random effects that can push a measurement up or down. If the effects are random and independent, their combined influence is neither always cancelling nor always additive.
Conditions: The two uncertainty effects are random.; The two effects are independent from one another.; The combination is modeled by a perpendicular geometric construction.