ERRORS AND UNCERTAINTIES (Page 1)

1. When asked to determine the resistance R of a closed. The new reading is shown in diagram 2
given conductor from 6 sets of voltage V and
current I readings, student A plotted V against I
and obtained the gradient of the plot while
student B found R by averaging 6 sets of (V, I )
readings. Which of the following statements is
correct?
(A) Procedure taken by student A will only reduce
Diagram 1
random errors computed for R.
(B) Procedure taken by student B will only reduce
the systematic errors in finding R.
(C) Procedure taken by student A reduces both
systematic and random errors.
(D) Procedure taken by student B is basically the
same in effect as taken by student A.
Diagram 2
2. Which of the following experimental techniques
reduces the systematic error of the quantity being What is the diameter of the wire?
investigated? (A) 1.90mm (B) 2.45mm
(A) timing a large number of oscillations to find a (C) 2.59mm (D) 2.73mm
period
(B) measuring several antinodal distances on a
standing wave to find the mean internodal 6. Which of the following recorded measurements of
distance. a physical quantity has the greatest percentage
(C) measuring the diameter of a wire repeatedly uncertainty?
and calculating the average. (A) (243 ± 1) g (B) (76.4 ± 0.2) mm
(D) Adjusting an ammeter to remove its zero error (C) (22.43 ± 0.01) s (D) (36.4 ± 0.5) mA
before measuring a current.
7. The resistance of an unknown resistor can be
3. When comparing systematic and random errors, found by formula R=V/I.
the following pairs of properties of errors in an The voltmeter reading has a 3 % uncertainty and
experimental measurement may be considered: the ammeter has a 2% uncertainty.
P1 : error can possibly be eliminated What is the uncertainty in the calculated
P2 : error cannot possibly be eliminated resistance?
Q1 : error is of constant sign and magnitude (A) 1.5% (B) 5 % (C) 3% (D) 6%
Q2 : error is of varying sign and magnitude
R1 : error will be reduced by averaging repeated 8. A thermometer can be read to an accuracy of
measurements ± 0.5 °C. This thermometer is used to measure a
R2 : error will not be reduced by averaging temperature rise from 40 °C to 100 °C.
repeated measurements. What is the percentage uncertainty in the
Which properties apply to random errors? measurement of temperature rise?
(A) P1 , Q1 , R2 (B) P1 , Q2 , R2 (A) 0.5% (B) 0.8% (C) 1.3% (D) 1.7%
(C) P2 , Q2 , R1 (D) P2 , Q1 , R1

4. Which experimental technique reduces the 9. In an experiment, the length and breadth of a
systematic error of the quantity being rectangular card was found to be (64 ± 2) mm and
investigated? (47 ± 1) mm respectively.
(A) adjusting an ammeter to remove its zero error The uncertainty in the area is at most
before measuring a current (A) 75 mm2 (B) 150 mm2
(B) measuring several internodal distances on a (C) 100 mm2 (D) 200 mm2
standing wave to find the mean internodal
distance
An experiment is done to measure the resistance of a
(C) measuring the diameter of a wire repeatedly 10. wire.
and calculating the average The current in the wire is 1.0 ± 0.2 A and the potential
(D) timing a large number of oscillations to find difference across the wire is 8.0 ± 0.4 V.
a period What is the resistance of the wire and its uncertainty?
(A)
5. A micrometer screw gauge is used to measure the (B)
diameter of a copper wire. The reading with the (C )
wire in position is shown in diagram 1. The wire (D)
is removed and the jaws of the micrometer are
MEASUREMENTS & ERRORS
1
 {Q. 1/Nov. 17/9702/22}
2.

{Q. 5/Nov. 17/9702/21}

3.

{Q. 4/Nov. 17/9702/23}

4.

{Q. 5/Nov. 17/9702/23}

11. The dimensions of a cube are measured with 17. The following are the readings of a travelling
vernier calipers. microscope when the cross-wires are aligned at
opposite ends of a diameter of a capillary bore.
R1 = (21.14 ± 0.01) cm
30 mm R2 = (20.98 ± 0.01) cm
What is the maximum percentage uncertainty in
the area of the cross-section of the capillary bore?
(A) 13 % (B) 25 %
30 mm (C) 18 % (D) 29 %
30 mm
18. Using a micrometer, the diameter of apiece of
The measured length of each side is 30 mm. If wire was found to be (0.15 ± 0.01) mm. The area
the vernier calipers can be read with an of cross-section of the wire may be quoted as
uncertainty of ± 0.1 mm, what does this give for (A) 0.01767 ± 0.00236 mm2
the approximate uncertainty in the value of its (B) 0.0176714 ± 0.002356 mm2
volume? (C) (1.76 ± 0.24) x 10-2 mm2
(A) 1/27 % (B) 0.3 % (C) 1/3 % (D) 1% (D) (0.018 ± 0.002) mm2
The diameter, height and mass of a given
12. 19. The wall thickness of a cylindrical glass tube is
cylinder are found to be (3.6 ± 0.1) cm, (2.8 ±
determined by measuring its external and internal
0.1) cm and (56 ± 1)g respectively. The density
diameters with the help of vernier calipers. If the
of the cylinder can be quoted as
readings obtained are (27.23 ± 0.01) cm and
(A) (1.97 ± 0.22) g cm-3
(24.15 ± 0.01) cm respectively, the wall thickness
(B) (1.9 ± 0.2) g cm-3
of the glass tubing is
(C) (2.00 ± 0.22) g cm-3
(A) 3.08 ± 0.02 cm (B) 1.54 ± 0.02 cm
(D) (2.0 ± 0.2) g cm-3
(C) 3.08 ± 0.01 cm (D) 1.54 ± 0.01 cm
In an experiment, a radio-controlled car takes
13. 20. A student finds the density of liquid by measuring
2.50 ± 0.05 s to travel 40.0 ± 0.1 m.
its mass and its volume. The following is a
What is th
summary of his measurements.
uncertainty in this value? Mass of empty beaker = (20 ± 1) g
(A) 16 ± 1 m s-1 (B) 16.0 ± 0.2 m s-1 Mass of empty beaker + liquid = (70 ± 1) g
(C) 16.0 ± 0.4 m s-1 (D) 16.00 ± 0.36 m s-1 Volume of liquid =(10.0 ± 0.6) cm3
He correctly calculates the density of the liquid as
5.0 g cm-3.
In a simple electrical circuit, the current in a What is the uncertainty in this value?
14.
resistor is measured as (2.50 ± 0.05) mA. The (A) 0.3 g cm-3 (B) 0.5 g cm-3
resis (C) 0.6 g cm -3
(D) 2.6 g cm-3
2%.
If these values were used to calculate the power A student uses a metre rule to measure the length
dissipated in the resistor, what would be the
21. of an elastic band before and after stretching it.
percentage uncertainty in the value obtained? The lengths are recorded as
(A) 2 % (B) 4 % (C) 6 % (D) 8 % band before stretching, Lo = 50.0 ± 0.1 cm
band after stretching, Ls = 51.6 ± 0.1 cm.
A student makes measurements from which she Determine
15.
calculates the speed of sound as 327.66 ms 1.She (a) the change in length (Ls - Lo), quoting your
estimates that her result is accurate to ±3 %. answer with its uncertainty,
Which of the following gives her result
expressed to the appropriate number of (Ls - Lo [1]
significant figures? (b) the fractional change in length, (Ls - Lo)
(A) 327.7 ms 1 (B) 328 ms 1 Lo
(C) 330 ms 1 (D) 300 ms 1
[1]
(c) the uncertainty in your answer in (b).
The power loss P in a resistor is calculated
16.
Using the formula
P= V2/R.

The uncertainty in the potential difference V is

3% and the uncertainty in the resistances R is
2%. What is the uncertainty in P?
(A) 4% (B) 7% (C) 8% (D) 11%
[3]