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Measurements and Errors

1.

In a measurement both positive and negative errors are found to occur with equal
probability. The type of errors responsible for this is
1) Proportional errors

By repeating the same measurement several times, the error that can be reduced is
1) Determinate error 2) Instrumental error

3.

3) Determinate errors 4) Systematic errors

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2.

2) Random errors

3) Random errors

The measured value of physical quantity expressed to infinite number of decimal

2) Ideal value

4) Real value

Zero error of measuring instruments are called

1) Indeterminate error

2) Random error

4) Instrumental error

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3) Disproportional error
5.

3) Absolute value

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1) Practical value

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places is called

4.

4) Systematic error

What type of errors that can never be completely eliminated?

1) Determinate errors 2) Instrumental errors 3) Proportional errors 4) Random errors
Which of the following error is not systematic error?
1) Least Count Error

1) Systematic error

4) Theoretical error due to approximate

2) Gross error

3) Random error

4) Relative error

a) All zeros to the right of the last non-zero digit after the decimal point are

8.

2) Zero error

Of the following the dimensionless error is

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3) Backlash error

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6.

significant.

b) If the number is less than one, all the zeros to the right of the decimal point but to
the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant.
1) Only a is correct

9.

2) a, b are correct

3) Only b is correct

4) a, b are wrong

If the immediate insignificant digit to be dropped is 5 then there will be two different
cases
a) If the preceding digit is even, it is to be unchanged and 5 is dropped.
b) If the preceding digit is odd, it is to be raised by 1.
1) Only a is correct

2) a, b are correct

3) Only b is correct

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4) a, b are wrong

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10. If Y = a + b, the maximum percentage error in the measurement of Y will be

a

1) + 100
b
a

2)
+
100
a+b a+b

3) 100
b
a

4)

100
a b a b

11. If Y = a - b, the maximum percentage error in the measurement of Y will be

b

2)
+
100
a b a b

3) 100
b
a

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1) + 100
b
a

4)

100
a b a b

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12. A physical quantity is represented byx =MaLbT-c. The percentage of errors in the
measurements is then the maximum percentage error is
2) a + b c

3) a b c

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1) a + b c

4) a b + c

13. Assertion : Parallax method cannot be used for measuring distances of stars more

Reason:

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than 100 light years away.

Because parallel angle reduces so much that it cannot be measured

accurately.

1) Both A and R is correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

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2) Both A and R is correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

3) A is true but R is False.

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4) R is true but A is False.

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14. Assertion: Number of significant figures in 0.005 is one of and that in 0.500 is three.
Reason: This is because zeros are not significant.
1) Both A and R is correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

2) Both A and R is correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

3) A is true but R is False.

4) R is true but A is False.

15. Assertion: Out of these measurements = 0.7 m, = 0.70m and, = 0.70m the last
one is most accurate.
Reason: In every measurement, only the last significant digit is not accurately
unknown.
1) Both A and R is correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
2) Both A and R is correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

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3) A is true but R is False.

4) R is true but A is False.

16. Assertion : Absolute error may be negative or positive.
Reason: Absolute error is the difference between the real value and the measured
value of a physical quantity.
1) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
2) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

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3) A is true but R is False.

4) R is true but A is False.

1) 8.64

2) 8.6

3) 8.60

4) 8.640

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17. 4.32 x 2.0 is equal to

area of the plate is

2) 24.4 cm2

3) 23.6 cm2

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1) ( 24 1.6 ) cm2

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18. The length and breadth of a plate are ( 6 0.1) cm and (4 0.2) cm respectively. The

4) ( 24 0.02 ) cm2

19. If the length of a cylinder is measured to be 50 cm with an error of 0.25 cm. The
percentage error in the measured length is
2) 0.5%

3) 0.2%

4) 0.1%

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1) 0.4%

20. The length of a cylinder is measured as 5cm using vernier calipers of least count 0.1

2) 2 %

3) 20 %

4) 0.2 %

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1) 0.5 %

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mm. The percentage error is

21. A body travels uniformly a distance of ( 20.0 0.2 ) m in time ( 4.0 0.04 ) s . The velocity

of the body is

3) ( 5.0 0.6 ) ms 1

4) ( 5.0 0.1) ms 1

1) ( 5.0 0.4 ) ms 1 2) ( 5.0 0.2 ) ms 1

22. The distance travelled by a body is 107.25 m in time 1.5 s. The velocity with correct
significant figures is
1) 71.5

2) 71

3) 71.50

4) 72.0

23. The length of a rectangular plate is measured as 10 cm by a vernier scale of least

count 0.01 cm and its breadth as 5 cm by the same scale. The percentage error in
area is
1) 0.1 %

2) 0.3%

3) 0.01%

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4) 0.05%

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24. The mass of a beaker is (10.1 0.1) g when empty and (17.3 0.1) g when filled with a
liquid. The mass of the liquid with possible limits of accuracy is
1) ( 7.2 0.2 ) g

2) ( 7.2 0.1) g

3) ( 7.1 0.2 ) g

4) ( 7.2 0.3) g

25. Force and area are measured as 20 N and 5 m2 with errors 0.05 N and 0.0125 m2.
The maximum error in pressure is (SI units)
1) 4 0.0625

2) 4 0.05

3) 4 0.125

4) 4 0.02

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26. Using a screw gauge the diameter of a wire is found to be, 1.51 mm, 1.53mm , 1.48
mm, 1.49 mm , 1.51mm , 1.54 mm. The true value of the diameter of the wire is (in

1) 1.49

2) 1.52

3) 1.51

4) 0.151

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mm)

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27. Two resistors of 10 K and 20 K are connected in series. If tolerance of each

resistor is 10% then tolerance of the combination will be
2) 10%

3) 15%

4) 20%

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1) 5%

28. A student performs experiment with a simple pendulum and measure time period
for 20 vibrations. If he measures time for 100 vibrations the error in the

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measurement of time period will be reduced by a factor of

1) 10

2) 20

3) 5

4) 80

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29. In measuring 'g' using a simple pendulum a student makes a positive error of 1% in
length of pendulum and a negative error of 3% in the value of time period.

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Percentage error in measurement of value of g is

1) 2%

2) 4%

3) 7%

4) 10%

30. The equivalent resistance of two resistors are R1 = ( 200 3) , R2 = ( 300 6 ) . The

equivalent resistance when they are connected in parallel is

1) (120 5.3)

2) (120 6 )

3) ( 500 8)

4) (120 4.6 )

31. The equivalent resistance of two resistors are R1 = ( 50 2 ) , R2 = (150 3)

and R3 = (10 1) . The equivalent resistance when they are connected in series is
1) ( 210 6 )

2) (100 5)

3) ( 200 12 )

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4) (100 1)

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A2 B 3
32. If x =
and percentage errors in a, B, C and D are 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%
C D

respectively, the percentage error in x is

1) 10%

2) 12%

3) 15%

4) 13%

33. The heat generated in a circuit depends on resistance (R), current (me) and time of
flow (t). If maximum errors in above are 1%, 0.5% and 1% respectively. Error in
measurement of power is
2) 6%

3) 3%

4) 1%

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1) 2%

10) 2

11) 2

12) 2

19) 2

20) 4

21) 4

28) 3

29) 3

30) 2

4) 4

5) 4

6) 3

13) 1

14) 3

15) 2

22) 2

23) 2

24) 1

31) 1

32) 4

33) 1

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Hints

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18. A = lb

Area with absolute error = lb + absolute error in lb

l b
= lb + lb +

b
l

0.1 0.2
= 24 24
+

4
6

= 24 ( 0.4 + 1.2 ) = ( 24 1.6 ) cm2

19. % error in length =

=

7) 4

8) 2

9) 2

16) 1

17) 2

18)1

25) 4

26) 3

27)2

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3) 2

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2) 3

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1) 2

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Key

l
x 100
l

0.25
x 100 = 0.5%
50

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l
20. % error in length =
x 100
l

0.02
x 100 = 0.2%
5

21.

d
t

Velocity with absolute error =

=

d d d t

+
t t d
t

20 20 0.2 0.01

+

4
4 20
4

d
d
absolute error in
t
t

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= 5 5 ( 0.01 + 0.01) = 5 0.1

d 107.5
= 71.33 = 71
=
t
1.5

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22. =

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= ( 5.0 0.1) m / s

23. % error in A = ( % error in l ) + ( % error in b )

l b
= +
100
b
l

( m2 m1 ) ( m2 + m1 )

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24.

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0.01 0.01
1 1
=
+
100 = + = 0.3%
5
10
10 5

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= 7.2 ( 0.1 + 0.1)

= ( 7.2 0.2 ) g

F F F A
+
+

A A F
A

25. Pressure with absolute error =

=

20 20 0.05 0.0125
+
+

5
5 20
5

0.01

= 4 4
+ 0.0025
4

= 4 4 ( 0.0025 + 0.0025 )
= 4 4 ( 0.005 ) = ( 4 0.02 ) N / m2

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26. amean
=

a +a +a +a +a +a
= 1 2 3 4 5 6
6

1.51 + 1.53 + 1.48 + 1.49 + 1.51 + 1.54 9.06

=
6
6

= 1.51

27. Tolerance is n nothing but error

R = R1 + R2

R1 = 10 x

R1 + R2
x100
R1 + R2

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% error in R =

10
10
= 1k , R2 = 20 x
= 2k
100
100

e1 N 2 100
e
=
=
= 5 e2 = 1
e2 N1 20
5

30. R1 = ( 200 + 3) = 200 +

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29. % change in g 1% + 2 x 3% = 7%

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28.

n.

1+ 2
% error in R =
100 = 10%
10 + 20

x100 = ( 200 + 1.5% )

200

R1 R2
R1 + R2

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R=

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R2 = ( 300 + 6 ) = 300 +
x100 = ( 300 + 2% )
300

R1 R2
( % error in R1 + % error in R2 + % error in R1 + R2 )
R1 + R2

R1 R2
RR
% error in 1 2
R1 + R2
R1 + R2

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R with % error =

200x300
9

1.5% + 2% +
x100
500
500

(120 5.3% ) or 120 120 x

5.3

100

(120 5.3% ) or (120 6.36 )

31. R = R1 + R2 + R3
R with abs error
= R1 + R2 + R3 ( R1 + R2 + R3 )

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= ( 210 6 )

32. x =

A 2 B3
C D

% error in x = 2 ( % change in A ) + 3 ( % change in B ) + ( % change in C ) +

= 2 (1% ) + 3 ( 2% ) + ( 3% ) +

1
( 4% )
2

1
( 4% )
2

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= 2% + 6% + 3% +

1
( % change in D )
2

= 2% + 6% + 3% + 2% = 13%

33. P = i 2 R

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2 ( 0.5 ) % + 1% = 2%

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% error in P = 2(% error in i) + (% error in R)

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