Physics SL/HL

1.2 Uncertainties and errors

Practice

A student measures a line to be 3.8 cm  0.1 cm.

1. Find the absolute uncertainty in the measurement. 1. ___ 0.1cm______________

2. Find the fractional uncertainty in the measurement. 2. _____0.026____________

3. Find the percentage uncertainty in the measurement. 3. _______2.6%__________

4. A flagpole is placed on the roof of a house. A student measures the flagpole to be 4.25 m  0.05 m. The same
student measures the height from the ground to the base of the flagpole to be 6.40 m  0.15 m. If the flagpole is
mounted vertically upward (straight up), how far is the tip of the flagpole above the ground? Be sure to use
significant figures and include an uncertainty with your answer.

4.25m + 6.40m = 10.65m

0.05m + 0.15m = 0.2m

____10.65m  0.2m ____

5. A car travels 250 m  15 m in 12.2 s  0.2 s. Calculate its speed. Be sure to use significant figures and include an
uncertainty with your answer.

250m / 12.2s = 20.49 m s-1

{ (15m / 250m ) + (0.2s / 12.2s) } x 20.49 m s -1 =  1.56 m s-1

____20.49  1.56 m s-1____

 Physics SL/HL
1.2 Uncertainties and errors
A table of data was created by a student during an experiment in which the mass of a liquid was measured using
various volumes of the liquid.

Volume Mass of liquid Average mass Range

V/ ml m/g m/g
V = 0.1 m m = 0.2 g
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
1.0 1.4 1.7 1.6 1.6 0.3
1.5 2.0 2.2 1.8 2 0.4
2.0 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.6 0.3
2.5 3.1 3.7 3.4 3.4 0.6
3.0 3.9 3.8 4.2 3.9 0.4

6. Complete the last two columns of the table.

7. Does it appear that the student has done the right number of trials and variations to satisfy the internal
assessment requirements of the IBO? Be sure to explain very clearly your reasoning.

The student has done the right number of variations to satisfy the internal assessment, but not the right number
of trials. This is because the IBO stated that there should be 5 number of trials and variations when a student
conduct an experiment of his/her own design, so that the data collected will be more accurate.

8. Create a graph, which plots mass of the liquid vs. volume. Be sure to label the graph properly.

Mass of the liquid vs. volume

Mass of the liquid

4.5

4 f(x) = 1.4 x − 0
f(x) =
f(x) = 1.2
1.05x x++0.3
0.65
3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
0 .5 1 1 .5 2 2 .5 3 3 .5
Volume

9. On the same graph sketch the vertical error bars on each point.

10. On the same graph sketch in your line of best fit.

 Physics SL/HL
1.2 Uncertainties and errors

11. Calculate the slope of the line of best fit. Be sure to include the units.

1.2g ml-1

12. From your graph, determine the intercept. Include its units.

0.3 g

13. On the same graph sketch in the maximum and minimum slopes, using the first and last error bars as your guide.

14. Calculate the minimum and maximum slopes. Be sure to include the units.

Minimum slope: 1.05 g ml-1

Maximum slope: 1.4g ml-1

15. Calculate the uncertainty of the slope.

(1.4 – 1.05) g ml-1 / 2 =  0.175 g ml-1

16. What are the intercepts of the lines representing the minimum and maximum slopes?

Minimum: (0, 0.65)

Maximum: (0, 2 x 10-15)

17. Calculate the uncertainty of the intercept.

( 2 x 10-15 – 0.65 ) / 2 =  0.65

18. State, in words, the slope (and uncertainty) of your graph and its physical meaning.
The slope of my graph is 1.225  0.175 g ml-1 ; the gradient of the line
 Physics SL/HL
1.2 Uncertainties and errors
19. State, in words, the intercept (and uncertainty) of your graph and its physical meaning.

The intercept of my graph is 0.325  0.65 ; the point where the line crosses the y-axis