Scribd
Upload
26 views2 pages

Error Theory Tutorial

The document contains 6 problems related to measurement uncertainties. Problem 1 asks to find the best estimate and uncertainty of y=sinθ given the measurement of θ. Problem 2 asks about the uncertainty in measuring the acceleration due to gravity using a simple pendulum. Problem 3 asks about the percentage error in a formula with multiple variables. Problem 4 asks about measuring the coefficient of expansion of a metal rod. Problem 5 asks about measuring Young's modulus of elasticity for an iron bar. Problem 6 provides examples of reporting measurements with associated uncertainties.

Uploaded by

pswijerathna60
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
26 views2 pages

Error Theory Tutorial

The document contains 6 problems related to measurement uncertainties. Problem 1 asks to find the best estimate and uncertainty of y=sinθ given the measurement of θ. Problem 2 asks about the uncertainty in measuring the acceleration due to gravity using a simple pendulum. Problem 3 asks about the percentage error in a formula with multiple variables. Problem 4 asks about measuring the coefficient of expansion of a metal rod. Problem 5 asks about measuring Young's modulus of elasticity for an iron bar. Problem 6 provides examples of reporting measurements with associated uncertainties.

Uploaded by

pswijerathna60
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

1. Suppose that we have measured an angle θ as θ = 20° ± 3°.

If y = sinθ, find the best


estimate of y and its uncertainty.

2. We wish to find the acceleration due to gravity, g using a simple pendulum. In this we have
to measure two quantities, the length of the pendulum wire l and the period of oscillation T.
Relationship between l, T and g is given by,
l
T  2 .
g
i. If the measured length of the pendulum is l meter and the uncertainty in l is  l cm,
and assuming that we know T accurately, what is the uncertainty in our estimate of g
caused by the uncertainty  l in the measurement of l ?
ii. What is the percentage uncertainty in g due to the l measurement?
iii. If the uncertainty in T is δT, what is the percentage uncertainty in g due to the T
measurement?

A B 2 D1 / 2
3. Suppose R  , where A, B,C, D are independent variables.
C3
i. If the individual uncertainties in the measurements A, B, C and D are  A ,  B ,  C
and  D respectively, calculate the percentage of error in the value of R due to each
variables A, B, C and D.
ii. If  A =  B =  C =  D , which variable causes the maximum error in the final value
of R?

4. Consider the measurement of the coefficient of expansion of a metal rod, over the temperature
range between the room temperature and the steam temperature. Three measurements have
to be made. They are
(1) L, the length of the rod at room temperature,
(2) l, the increase in length of the rod when heated to steam temperature,
(3) (T2  T1), the temperature range through which the rod is heated.
l
The coefficient of expansion of the metal is given by   .
L (T2  T1 )
i. If the selected rod is steel (α = 1.3x10-5 K-1) and 100 cm long, what would be the order of
the magnitude of l ?
ii. If we use a meter ruler to measure l, what would be the uncertainty caused in α?
iii. If we use a vernier instrument which reads up to 0.1 mm to measure l, what would be the
uncertainty caused in α?
iv. If we need the measurement of L to cause the same percentage uncertainty in α, what
would be a suitable instrument to measure L?
5. In an experiment for the determination of the Young's Modulus of elasticity (E) for an iron
bar of rectangular cross-section which is supported symmetrically on two knife edges at a
distance L apart so that the bar is horizontal. It is then loaded at its center with a mass M and
the resulting depression y of the center of the bar is measured. It can be shown that y is given
MgL3
by y  , where b is the side of the cross-section of the bar parallel to the plane of
4ab3 E
bending, a is the other side and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
i. The measurements that have to be made are M, L, a, b and y. Write expressions for
the percentage uncertainty in E contributed by each of these measurements.
ii. The bar provided in the laboratory is about 100 cm long and has a ~ 1cm, b ~ 0.5 cm.
When L ~ 100 cm and M ~ 500 gm, y is measured to be of the order of 2 mm. If a
y
cathetometer is used to measure y, then 100 % ~ 0.5 %. In order to keep the other
y
uncertainties below this level, what should be the level of accuracy of the
measurements of M,L, a and b. Which instruments should be used for each
measurement?

6. Write down the final result with the associated error in the correct format.

Measured height, h = 6.03  0.04219 m


Measured time, t = 29.5431  1 s
Measured charge, q = 3.21  1019  2.67  1020 C
Measured wavelength,  = 0.000,000,562  0.000,000,08 m
Measured momentum, p = 3.267  103  42 g cm s1
Measured gravi. acceln, g = 9.82  0.02375 m s2
Measured speed, v = 5051.78  20 m s1

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy