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Propagation of Errors-Basic Rules: See Chapter 3 in Taylor, An Introduction To
Propagation of Errors-Basic Rules: See Chapter 3 in Taylor, An Introduction To
Rules
10/5/01 1
3. If z = f (x) for some function f (), then
z = |f 0(x)|x.
z = xy
log z = log x + log y
p
log z = ( log x)2 + ( log y)2
s 2
2
z x y
= +
z x y
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where we used
X
log X = ,
X
the calculus formula for the derivative of the
logarithm.
10/5/01 3
Quick Check 3.4
Problem: To find the volume of a certain
cube, you measure its side as 2.00 0.02 cm.
Convert this uncertainty to a percent and then
find the volume with its uncertainty.
V = 3s2 s = 0.24,
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Quick Check 3.8
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Quick Check 3.9
x = 200 2, y = 50 2, z = 40 2,
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General Formula for Error
Propagation
q = f (x1, . . . , xn).
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If
q = x1 + x2,
we recover rule 1:
q
= 1,
x1
q
= 1,
x2
q
q = x21 + x22
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If
q = x1 x2,
we recover rule 2:
q
= x2,
x1
q
= x1,
x2
q
q = x22 x21 + x21 x22
v " #
u 2 2
u x x
= tq 2
1 2
+
x1 x2
s 2 2
q x1 x2
= +
q x1 x2
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Problem 3.47
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Solution: The partial derivatives are
a (M + m) (M m)
= g
M (M + m)2
2mg
= 2
,
(M + m)
a (M + m) (M m)
= g
m (M + m)2
2M g
=
(M + m)2
so we have
2g p
a = m 2M 2 + M 2m2.
(M + m)2
9.8 50
a= = 3.27 m/s2
150
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and
2 9.8 p 2 2 = 0.097
a = 50 + 100
1502
so our answer is
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Problem 3.49
Solution:
f q(p + q) pq q2
= 2
= 2
,
p (p + q) (p + q)
f p(p + q) pq p2
= 2
= 2
.
q (p + q) (p + q)
Therefore
p
q 4p2 + p4q 2
f = 2
.
(p + q)
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(b) The uncertainty in 1/p is p/p2, and
the uncertainty in 1/q is q/q 2. The
uncertainty in
1 1
+
p q
is s 2 2
p q
+ ,
p2 q2
which is a relative uncertainty of
s 2 2
1 p q
1 1 + .
p + q
p2 q2
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Problem 3.50
x = 10 2, y = 7 1, = 40 3
q 2 = (0.732 2)2
+(0.963 1)2
+(9.813 3 /180)2
= 3.3.
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Alternate Solution
1 y cos 4 2
=1+ .
q x+2
2 = |y cos 4| 1 = 1.1.
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3. The relative uncertainty in 1/q 1 is
s 2 2
2 x
3 = +
y cos 4 2 x+2
= 0.21.
4 = |1/q 1| 3 = 0.15,
q = q 2 4 = 2.
10/5/01 21