This document contains 7 multiple choice and calculation problems involving combining uncertainties in experimental measurements. The problems involve calculating percentage uncertainties, expressing results to the appropriate number of significant figures, determining uncertainties in calculated values based on measured quantities, calculating average speeds and uncertainties, determining densities of materials from measurements of mass, length, and uncertainties, calculating wave speeds and uncertainties, and determining densities and uncertainties of materials based on measurements of diameter, length, mass and associated uncertainties.
This document contains 7 multiple choice and calculation problems involving combining uncertainties in experimental measurements. The problems involve calculating percentage uncertainties, expressing results to the appropriate number of significant figures, determining uncertainties in calculated values based on measured quantities, calculating average speeds and uncertainties, determining densities of materials from measurements of mass, length, and uncertainties, calculating wave speeds and uncertainties, and determining densities and uncertainties of materials based on measurements of diameter, length, mass and associated uncertainties.
This document contains 7 multiple choice and calculation problems involving combining uncertainties in experimental measurements. The problems involve calculating percentage uncertainties, expressing results to the appropriate number of significant figures, determining uncertainties in calculated values based on measured quantities, calculating average speeds and uncertainties, determining densities of materials from measurements of mass, length, and uncertainties, calculating wave speeds and uncertainties, and determining densities and uncertainties of materials based on measurements of diameter, length, mass and associated uncertainties.
This document contains 7 multiple choice and calculation problems involving combining uncertainties in experimental measurements. The problems involve calculating percentage uncertainties, expressing results to the appropriate number of significant figures, determining uncertainties in calculated values based on measured quantities, calculating average speeds and uncertainties, determining densities of materials from measurements of mass, length, and uncertainties, calculating wave speeds and uncertainties, and determining densities and uncertainties of materials based on measurements of diameter, length, mass and associated uncertainties.
1. A thermometer can be read to an accuracy of ± 0.5 °C. This thermometer is used
to measure a temperature rise from 40 °C to 100 °C. What is the percentage uncertainty in the measurement of the temperature rise?
A 0.5 % B 0.8 % C 1.3 % D 1.7 %
2. A student makes measurements from which she calculates the speed of sound as 327.66 m s–1. She estimates that her result is accurate to ±3 %. Which of the following gives her result expressed to the appropriate number of significant figures?
A 327.7 m s–1 B 328 m s–1 C 330 m s–1 D 300 m s–1
3. The power loss P in a resistor is calculated using the formula P = V 2/R. The uncertainty in the potential difference V is 3% and the uncertainty in the resistance R is 2%. What is the uncertainty in P?
A 4% B 7% C 8% D 11% 4 In an experiment, a radio-controlled car takes 2.50 ± 0.05s to travel 40.0 ± 0.1m. What is the car’s average speed and the uncertainty in this value?
5. The density of the material of a rectangular block is determined by measuring
the mass and linear dimensions of the block. The table shows the results obtained, together with their uncertainties. mass = (25.0 ± 0.1)g length = (5.00 ± 0.01)cm breadth = (2.00 ± 0.01)cm height = (1.00 ± 0.01)cm
The density is calculated to be 2.50gcm–3.
What is the uncertainty in this result? 6. The speed v of a transverse wave on a uniform string is given by the expression
where T is the tension in the string, l is its length and m is its mass. An experiment is performed to determine the speed v of the wave. The measurements are shown in Fig. 1.1.
Fig. 1.1 (a) (i) Use the data in Fig. 1.1 to calculate the speed v.
v = ................................................. m s 1 [2]
(ii) Use your answer in (b)(i) and the data in Fig. 1.1 to determine the value of v, with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.
v = ...................................... ± ...................................... m s 1 [3]
7. The volume V of the wire is given by the expression
The diameter, length and mass M are measured to determine the
density of the metal of the wire. The measured values are: d = 0.38 ± 0.01 mm, L = 25.0 ± 0.1 cm, M = 0.225 ± 0.001 g. Calculate the density of the metal, with its absolute uncertainty. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
