National University of Science & Technology (NUST)

School of Natural Science (SNS)

Group M-1

Department of Physics, SNS

Lab Demonstrator(s): _Samsaam uddin Asad_________ __Amir Khan__________

School: SNS (BS Mathematics) Date: 27 October, 2020

Semester: I Section:

Lab 01: Error Analysis

S.no Name Reg. no.

1 Umer Ahmed 349251

2 Qasim Mahmood Raja 336801

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National University of Science & Technology (NUST)
School of Natural Science (SNS)
Error Analysis

Equipment Required

1. Stopwatch
2. Meter rod
3. Metal bob and string (for pendulum)
4. Metal stand

Abstract: The First experiment was carried out in order to determine the area and
perimeter of a rectangular table by individually measuring its length and width.
Calculations were done on the taken measurements to deduce errors in the
measurements as well.
The second experiment was carried out to determine the value of the earth’s
acceleration due to gravity, ‘g’, using the working principles of a pendulum. Values
of the time period and length of the pendulum were used to calculate the value of
g.

In both experiments, errors were calculated using mathematically driven formulae.

Procedure: For the first experiment, a meter ruler was used to measure the length
and widths of the said rectangular table. Five readings of each, length and widrh,
were taken one after another and an average value was calculated to be used for
calculating the area and perimeter. Standard deviation and Standard errors in length
and width were also calculated to determine the uncertainties in the Area and
Perimeter.

For the second experiment, a Bob was attached to a clamp with a string of unknown length. The
length of the string from the top to the centre of the Bob was taken five times and an average
value was calculated. After that, the Bob was released from a distance and the time for ten
complete oscillations was noted using a stop watch. The time for one single oscillation was then
found from the former. Five readings were taken and an average value was calculated. This
average value, along with that of the length, were used to calculate the value of g and the
uncertainty in g was calculated using the standard errors of time (T) and length (L), calculated
using the standard deviations in the five readings of each quantity.

Exercise 1

1. Measure the length and width of your table using a meter rod. Each member of the
team should repeat the measurement at least 5 times. Also write the standard error
for each measurement.

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National University of Science & Technology (NUST)
School of Natural Science (SNS)

No. of observations Length (cm) Width (cm)

1. 182.9 76.1
2. 183.0 76.2
3. 182.6 76.1
4. 182.8 76.0
5. 182.9 76.1

6. Combine your data and get the mean value of the length and the standard error.

Average Length = 182.8 cm

Average Width = 76.1 cm

182.9+182.6+183.0+182.8+182.9
Ĺ=
5
Ĺ=182.8 cm
2
Σ ( L− Ĺ ) =( 182.9−182.8 )2+ (183−182.8 )2 + ( 182.6−182.8 )2+ ( 182.8−182.8 )2 + ( 182.9−182.8 )2

2
Σ ( L− Ĺ ) =0.1 c m2

SD=

σ L=
√
Σ ( L− Ĺ )
N −1
SD 0.158
=
=8
0.1
√
5−1
=0.071 cm
=0.158 cm

√N 5

76.1+76.2+76.1+76.0+76.1
Ẃ =
5

Ẃ =76.1 cm
2 2 2 2 2 2
Σ ( w−ẃ ) = (76.1−76.1 ) + (76.2−76.1 ) + (76.1−76.1 ) + (76.0−76.1 ) + ( 76.1−76.1 )

Σ ( w−ẃ )2=0.02 c m2

SD=
√
Σ ( W −Ẃ )
N−1
=
0.02
4 √
=0.0707 cm

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National University of Science & Technology (NUST)
School of Natural Science (SNS)
SD 0.0707
σW = = =0.032cm
√N √3

7. Calculate the perimeter length of the table and report the standard error.

Perimeter= 2 ( l + w )
P=2 L+2 W
∂P 2 2 ∂P 2 2
σ p=
∂P
√(
∂L
∂P
σL +) ( )
∂W
σW

=2, =2
∂L ∂W

2 2 2 2
σ P= √ ( 2 ) ( 0.071 ) + (2 ) ( 0.032 )

σ P=0.1557
σ P=0.156 cm

P=2 ( 182.8 ) +2 ( 76.1 )

P= (517.8 ± 0.156 ) cm

8. Calculate the area of the table and report the standard error.

Area = L x w

A=L× W

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National University of Science & Technology (NUST)
School of Natural Science (SNS)

∂A 2 2 ∂A 2 2
σ A=
√( ∂L ) ( )
σ L+
∂W
σW

∂A ∂A
=W =76.1 , =L=182.8
∂L ∂W

2 2 2 2
σ A = √( 76.1 ) ( 0.01 ) + ( 182.8 ) ( 0.032 )

σ A =7.96
Area=76.1× 182.8=13911.8 c m2

9. List the dominant sources of error in this activity.

a. Parallax error.
b. Use of poorly calibrated measuring instrument.
c. Uneven surface and ends of the table.

Exercise 2

10. Use the stopwatch to measure the time for 10 swing of the pendulum as precisely as
possible and divide the value by 10 to get the time for 1 swing. State the result with
error.

Observations Length of the Time for 10 Time for 1

string (cm) oscillations (sec) oscillation (sec)
1. 28.1 10.55 1.055
2. 28.2 10.56 1.056
3. 28.0 10.57 1.057
4. 28.0 10.60 1.060
5. 28.2 10.60 1.060

28.1+28.2+28+28+28.2
Ĺ=
5

Ĺ=28.1 cm
2
Σ ( L− Ĺ ) =( 28.1−28.1 )2 + ( 28.2−28.1 )2+ ( 28−28.1 )2 + ( 28−28.1 )2 + ( 28.2−28.1 )2

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National University of Science & Technology (NUST)
School of Natural Science (SNS)
2
Σ ( L− Ĺ ) =0.04 c m 2

SD=

σ L=
√
Σ ( W −Ẃ )
N−1
SD 0.10
=
=
0.04
4
=0.045 cm
=0.10 cm
√
√N √5
1.055+ 1.056+1.057+1.060+1.060
T́ =
5

T́ =1.058 s
2
Σ ( T −T́ ) = (1.055−1.058 )2 + ( 1.056−1.058 )2+ ( 1.057−1.058 )2 + ( 1.060−1.058 )2 + ( 1.060−1.058 )2

2
Σ ( T −T́ ) =2.2×10−6 s 2

SD=
√
Σ ( T −T́ )
N −1
=
SD 2.34 × 10−3
2.2× 10−6
4 √
=2.34 × 10−3 s

σT = = =0.00105 s
√N √5

L
T =2 π
√ g

4π2L
g=
T2
4 π 2 ( 28.1 )
g= 2
=991.05 cm s−2
( 1.058 )

∂g 2 2 ∂ g 2 2
σ g=
√( ∂L ) ( )
σ L+
∂T
σT

∂ g 4 π2 4 π2
= 2= =35.27
∂L T ( 1.058 )2

2 2
∂ g −2 ( 4 π L ) −2 ( 4 π ) ( 28.1 )
= = =−1873.44
∂T T3 1.0582

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National University of Science & Technology (NUST)
School of Natural Science (SNS)
2 2 2 2
σ g= √( 35.27 ) ( 0.045 ) + (−1873.44 ) ( 0.00105 )

σ g=2.53 cm s−1

g=991.05± 2.53 cm s−1

experimental−theoretical value
discrepancy= × 100
theoretical value
991.05−981.00
¿ ×100=1.0245 %
981.00

Avg time period =1.058 ± 0.00105 sec

Avg length = 28.1 ± 0.045 cm

g = 991.05 ± 2.53 cm/s2

11. List the dominant sources of error in this activity.

a. Human reaction time.

b. Error in the calibration of the instruments used.
c. Parallax error.