ALLEN Error in measurements & instruments 29

EXERCISE (S)

1. How many significant figures are given in the following quantities ?

(A) 343 g (B) 2.20 (C) 1.103 N (D) 0.4142 s
(E) 0.0145 m (F) 1.0080 V (G) 9.1 × 104 km (H) 1.124 × 10–3 V
ER0001
2. Perform the following operations:
(A) 703 + 7 + 0.66 (B) 2.21 × 0.3 (C) 12.4 × 84 (D) 14.28/0.714
ER0002
3. Solve with due regard to significant digits
2.91´ 0.3842
(i) 6.5 - 6.32 (ii)
0.080
ER0003
4. The main scale of a vernier calipers reads in millimeter and its vernier is divided into 10 divisions which
coincide with 9 divisions of the main scale. When the two jaws of the instrument touch each other the
seventh division of the vernier scale coincide with a scale division and the zero of the vernier lies to the right
of the zero of main scale. Furthermore, when a cylinder is tightly placed along its length between the two
jaws, the zero of the vernier scale lies slightly to the left of 3.2 cm; and the fourth vernier division coincides
with a scale division. Calculate the measured length of the cylinder.
ER0004
5. The VC shown in the diagram has zero error in it (as you can see). It is given that 9 msd = 10 vsd.
(i) What is the magnitude of the zero error? (1msd = 1 mm)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14

(ii) The observed reading of the length of a rod measured by this VC comes out to be 5.4 mm. If the vernier
had been error free then reading of main scale would be ___ and the coinciding division of vernier scale
would be _____.
node06\B0B0-BA\Kota\JEE(Advanced)\Enthuse\Physics\Sheet\Error in measurements & instruments\Eng\01_Exercises.p65

ER0005
6. Consider a home made vernier scale as shown in the figure.

P
l
Q
In this diagram, we are interested in measuring the length of the line PQ. If both the inclines are identical and
their angles are equal to q then what is the least count of the instrument.
ER0065

E
30 JEE-Physics ALLEN
7. The pitch of a screw gauge is 0.5 mm and there are 50 divisions on the circular scale. In measuring the
thickness of a metal plate, there are five divisions on the pitch scale (or main scale) and thirty fourth division
coincides with the reference line. Calculate the thickness of the metal plate.
ER0006
8. The pitch of a screw gauge is 1 mm and there are 50 divisions on its cap. When nothing is put in between
the studs, 44th division of the circular scale coincides with the reference line zero of the main scale is not
visible. When a glass plate is placed between the studs, the main scale reads three divisions and the circular
scale reads 26 divisions. Calculate the thickness of the plate.
ER0007
9. In a given optical bench, a needle of length 10 cm is used to estimate bench error. The object needle, image
needle & lens holder have their reading as shown.
x0 = 1.1 cm xI = 21.0 cm xL = 10.9 cm
Estimate the bench errors which are present in image needle holder and object needle holder. Also find the
focal length of the convex lens when.
x0 = 0.6 cm xI = 22.5 cm xL = 11.4 cm
ER0066
10. Make the appropriate connections in the meter bridge set up shown. Resistance box is connected between
___. Unknown resistance is connected between___. Battery is connected between ______.
A B C D

E F
ER0008
11. A body travels uniformly a distance of (13.8 ± 0.2)m in time (4.0 ± 0.3) sec. Calculate its velocity.
ER0009
12. Consider S = x cos (q) for x = (2.0 ± 0.2) cm, q = 53 ± 2 °. Find S.
ER0010
13. Two resistance R1 and R2 are connected in (i) series and (ii) parallel. What is the equivalent resistance with
limit of possible percentage error in each case of R1 = 5.0 ± 0.2 W and R2 = 10.0 ± 0.1 W.
ER0011
14. 5.74 gm of a substance occupies a volume of 1.2 cm . Calculate its density with due regard for significant figures.
3 node06\B0B0-BA\Kota\JEE(Advanced)\Enthuse\Physics\Sheet\Error in measurements & instruments\Eng\01_Exercises.p65

ER0012
15. The time period of oscillation of a simple pendulum is given by T = 2p l / g . The length of the pendulum
is measured as l = 10.0 ± 0.1cm and the time period as T = 0.50 ± 0.02 s. Determine percentage error in
the value of g.
ER0013
16. In a Searle's experiment, the diameter of the wire as measured by a screw gauge of least count 0.001 cm
is 0.050 cm. The length, measured by a scale of least count 0.1 cm, is 110.0 cm. When a weight of 50 N
is suspended from the wire, the extension is measured to be 0.125 cm by a micrometer of least count
0.001 cm. Find the maximum error in the measurement of Young's modulus of the material of the wire from
these data. [JEE 2004]
ER0014

E
 ALLEN Error in measurements & instruments 31
17. The pitch of a screw gauge is 1 mm and there are 100 divisions on the circular scale. While measuring the
diameter of a wire, the linear scale reads 1 mm and 47th division on the circular scale coincides with the
reference line. The length of the wire is 5.6 cm. Find the curved surface area (in cm2) of the wire in
appropriate number of significant figures. [JEE 2004]
ER0015
18. A physical quantity P is related to four observables A, B, C and D as P = 4p 2 A 3B 2 /( C D )
The percentage error of the measurement in A, B, C and D are 1%, 3% and 2%, 4% respectively.
Determine the percentage error & absolute error in the quantity P. Value of P is calculated 3.763.
ER0067
19. A glass prism of angle A = 60° gives minimum angle of deviation q = 30° with the max. error of 10 when
a beam of parallel light passed through the prism during an experiment. Find the permissible error in the
measurement of refractive index m of the material of the prism.
ER0068
20. In a vernier calipers the main scale and the vernier scale are made up of different materials. When the room
temperature increases by DT°C, it is found the reading of the instrument remains the same. Earlier it was
observed that the front edge of the wooden rod placed for measurement crossed the Nth main scale
division and (N + 2) msd coincided with the 2nd vsd. Initially, 10 vsd coincided with 9 msd. If coefficient of
linear expansion of the main scale is a1 and that of the vernier scale is a2 then what is the value of a1/ a2?
(Ignore the expansion of the rod on heating)
ER0069
21. In a vernier callipers, n divisions of its main scale match with (n + 1) divisions on its vernier scale. Each
division of the main scale is a units. Using the vernier principle, calculate its least count.
[JEE 2003]
ER0070
22. The period of oscillation of a simple pendulum in an experiment is recorded as 2.63 sec, 2.56 sec, 2.42
sec, 2.71 sec and 2.80 sec respectively. Find the time period, the absolute error in each observation,
average absolute error and the percentage error.
ER0016
23. The side of a cube is measured by vernier callipers (10 divisions of a vernier scale coincide with 9 divisions
of main scale, where 1 division of main scale is 1 mm). The main scale reads 10 mm and first division of
vernier scale coincides with the main scale. Mass of the cube is 2.736 g. Find the density of the cube in
appropriate significant figures. [JEE 2005]
node06\B0B0-BA\Kota\JEE(Advanced)\Enthuse\Physics\Sheet\Error in measurements & instruments\Eng\01_Exercises.p65

ER0017