ST 214: Mathematical Analysis of Experimental Data.

Assignment # 1 (10 Points)

(Significant Digits and Analysis of Error)

20th of August 2019

Due on : 27rd of August 2019 at the begining of the class
Instructions :
• Clearly state all the assumptions made.
• Clearly quote the source of data used.
• Clearly show your work

1. In an experiment measuring the mass of coin, 24 replicates gave the following results in grams.

1.2568 1.2679 1.2544 1.2575

1.2664 1.2427 1.2547 1.2980
1.2329 1.2445 1.2578 1.2488
1.2601 1.2448 1.2579 1.2494
1.2630 1.2465 1.2600 1.2423
1.2530 1.2733 1.2377 1.2462
1.2735 1.2486

From the above data:

(i) Calculate the mean value of the mass of a coin,
(ii) Calculate the standard deviation for these replicates,
(iii) Calculate the uncertainty in the mass at the 95% confidence level, and
(iv) Report the result for the mass of a coin at the 95% confidence level. (5 marks)

2. In an experiment you are doing, you need to draw gas samples into a Tedlar bag, from your reactor
and send it out for analysis. Your reactor is at pressure P1 and its volume is V1. The gas collected
is conditioned to reach a final volume of V2. The sampling was done at a constant temperature of
T. The following data are collected.

T = 300 ± 1 K, P1= 300 ± 0.2 torr, V1 = 300 ± 0.1 ml, V2 = 30 ± 0.02 ml. Assuming ideal gas law i.e.,

Calculate ρ2 and uncertainty in ρ2 (5 marks)