1

Questions - 1.1 Errors &

1. The equation relating current I through a
semiconductor diode to the applied potential
-~
difference V at temperature T is 1= loe kT where
q is the electron charge, and k is a constant. If fo
is a characteri stic constant of the diode with th e
same units as current I , find the units of k .
2. Newton's law of gravitation states that th e force of
attraction F between two pa rticles of ma ss es m
and M , at a di stance r apart, is given by
mM
F = G-2- , where G is a universal constant known
r gradient to find resistance will help to
as the gravitational constant . Find the units of G.
3. The resultant force acting on an electron as it
pa sses through a region with both electric field and
magnetic field is given by F =qE + qvB , whe re q is
the charge on the electron, v is the velocity of the
electron in the region, E is the electric field
strength and B is the magnetic field strength . Find
the units of E and B.
~ 2. Four students measured and calculated the
uncertainties
MCQs
1. Which of the following statements is correct?
(A) In the measurement of the diameter of a
sphere, taking more readings and finding the
average value of these readings will help to
reduce the fractional uncertainty of the
diameter.
(B) Plotting a graph of voltage and current
readings for an ohm ic device and using its
eliminate random error.
(C) Measuring the timing of a larger number of
oscillation s will help to reduce the fractional
uncertainty of the period .
(D) Checking for zero erro r on a voltmeter before
mea suring a voltage will help to redu ce
random error.
electronic charge, e. The table shows the re sults
obta ined . Which student obtained a set of results
that could be described as accu rate but least
precise?

19
Student Electronic Charge, e (10- C)
A 1. 62 1.59 1.59 1.61 1.60
B 1.57 1.63 1.64 1.58 1.59
C 1.59 1.60 1.58 1.57 1.57
D 1.58 1.62 1.65 1.59 1.66
:~

3. A cylindrical container has a diameter of

(2.45 ± 0.05) m and a depth of (1 .25 ± 0.05) m .
The maximum percentage uncertainty in the
volume of the container is

(A) 4% (B) 5%
(C) 6% (D) 8%
4. A quantity x is measured many times and the
number N of measurements giving a value x is
plotted against x . The true value of the quantity is
Xo . Which graph best represents an accurate
measurement with poor precision?
N (A) N (8)
6. In an experiment to measure the density of
steel, a steel sphere was used. The following
measurements were obtained:
Mass of the sphere = 530 mg ± 1mg
Diameter of the sphere = 0.51 cm ± 0.01 cm
Estimate the percentage error in the calculated
value of the density of steel.

Llx Jt Xo

N
Xo
x
(A) 0.4%
(C) 4%
(B)
(0) 6%
2%

7 . A student determined the density of the material

of a rectangular block by measuring the mass and
N
linear dimensions of the block. His measurements

tL., Ih,
were as follows:

Mass = (80 .0 ± 0.2) g

Length = (5.00 ± 0.01) cm
Xo Xo Breadth = (2.00 ± 0.01) cm
Height = (1.00 ± 0.01) cm

How should he express the uncertainty in his

result?
5. The deflection of the needle of an ammeter varies
with the current passing through the ammeter as (A) 0.01 gcm·3 (B) 0.02 gcm 1

shown in the graph .

(e) 0.1 gcm-3 (0) 0.2 gcm-3

Deflection
of the

ammeter
8. A steel rule ca n be read to the nearest millimeter.
needle
It is used to mea sure the length of a bar whose
true length is 895 mm . Repeated measurements
Current give the following readings .

Length/mm : 89 2, 891,892, 891, 89 1,892

Which diagram could represent the appearance of

Are the readings accurate and precise to within
the scale of this meter?
Imm?
(A) (8)
Results are Results are
0 3 6 9 0 3 6 9 accurate to precise to
within Imm within Imm
I I I I 111111 IIII1I11 1 I
(A) , No No
(C) (D)
(B) No Yes
0 3 6 9 0 3 6 9
(C) Yes No
I I II1I11 I I I II I I I 1I1 I (0) Yes Yes
 1­

9. Which of the following experimental techniques
does not reduce the random error of the quantity
being investigated?
(A) calibrating the V-sensitivity of the oscilloscope
before measuring a voltage
(B) measuring several internodal distances on a
standing wave to find the mean internodal
distance
(C) timing a large number of oscillatiors to find a
period
(D) plotting a graph of voltage and current
readings for an ohmic device and using its
gradient to find resistance
12. In an experiment to determine the acceleration of
free fall, g , a student presented his calculated
value as 9.7846 ms-2 which is accurate only to
±5% . Which of the following gives his result
reduced to the appropriate number of significant
figures?
(A) 10 ms·2 (B) 9.8 ms- 2
(C) 9.78ms-2 (D) 9.785ms-2
13. A student measures the diameter of a cylindrical
wooden pencil with a ruler. How could he increase
the precision of the measurement?

(A) Use a micrometer with zero ~rror and take one

10. An experimenter wishes to determine the
resistivity of a metal X. He made some
measurements of the length L and diameter 0 of
a rod of metal X. After connecting the rod to a
battery, he measured the potential difference V
across the ends of the rod and the current I
flowing through the rod. He obtained the
following data .
Length, L = (400 ± 1) mm
Diameter, D = (3.0±0.2)mm
Current, 1= (0 .2 20 ± 0.005) A
Potential Difference, V = (8.0 ± 0.2) V
value of the diameter.
(B) Take the average value of several
measurements of the diameter along different
parts of the pencil using the j-uler.
(e) Take the average value of sevei-al
measurements of the diameter along different
parts of the pencil using vernier calipers
without zero error.
(D) Take the average value of several
measurements of the diameter along different
parts of the pencil using vernier calipers with
zero error.

The percentage uncertainty in the value of the

resistivity, p calculated is
14. In the determination of t he electro-chemical
equivalent, z, of copper by electrolysis, the
(A) 6 (B) 9
following equation is employed: z = m1 ­ m2
(C) 12 (D) 18 It
where

m, = (47 .66 ± 0.01) x 10-3 kg

11. A student makes measurements from which he
calculates the density of a liquid to be m2 =(43.67 ± 0.01) x 10.3 kg
3
951.5 kgm- . He estimates that his result is only 1= (2.00 ± 0.05) A
accurate to ±4% . The density for the liquid should
t =. (6000 ± 1) s
be written as
The value of z calculated from these readings will
(A) (951.50 ± 3806) kgm 1
have an error of at most about
(B) (952.0 ± 38.1) kgm- 3
(A) 2.5% (8) 2.8%
3
(e) (952 ± 38) kgm (C) 3.0% (D) 3.3%
3
(D) (950 ± 40) kgm-
6

15. The volume of a cylinder was found by measuring 19. Shown below are four target boards from a
its diameter and height to within 0.01 and 0.03 shooting competition. Which one of them indicates
fractional uncertainty respectively. The percentage a small random error but large systematic error?
uncertainty in the calculated volume of metal
cylinder is at most (A) (B)

~ ~
(A) 2% (B) 3%
(C) 4% (0) 5%

(e) (0)
16. A measurement of the length of string is made

~ ~:.
using a metre rule . The length / of the string is half
a metre. What is the fractional uncertainty of /2 ?

(A) 0.001 (B) 0.004

• (C) 0.0005 (0) 0.00025
as 20. In determining the acceleration of free fall, g,
using the formula for the period of a simple
17. Which expression could be correct for the speed c
of gas molecules in terms of p the density and P
pendulum, T = 2n H' the length of the pendulum

the pressure of a gas, and 9 the acceleration of was found to be / =(0.500 ± 0.001) m , while the
free fall? periodic time was measured to be

(A) i­ (B) ,JPpg

T =(1.42 ± 0.02) s. What should the student record
as the value of g?

(C) ~ (0) f!­ (A)

(B)
(9.8 ± 0.2) ms·2

(9.8 ± 0.3) m S · 2

(C) (9.97 ± 0.0 3) m s· 2

18. The period T fo,' a mass m hanging on a spring

(0) (9.789 ± 0. 295) ms·
2

pe(forming simple harmonic motion is

T = 2nj'ff . Such a system is used to determine

21. In a simple electri cal circ uit, th e current in a resi stor
k , the Hooke' s constant. The fractional error in is measured as (20.0 ± 0.4) mA . The resistor ie
the measurement of the period T is p and that in
marked as having a value of ( 4.8 kO ± 2%). If t hese
the measurement of the mass m is q What is the
values were used to calculate the power dissipated
fractional erro r in the calculated value of k?
in the resistor, w hat w ould be the percentage
(A) p +q (B) 2p-q uncertainty in the value obtained?
(e) p-q (0) 2q-p (A) 2% (B) 4%
(C) 6% (0) 8%

22. In an experiment, the force constant k of a spring

was found to be 6.3457 Nmm" . If the answer is
accurate to 5%, how should the result be
expressed as?

(A) 6Nmm· 1 (B) 6.3 Nmm· 1

(C) 6.35 Nmm· 1 (0) 6.346 Nmm·1

 1

23. The radius of a solid sphere is measured to be

(7.50 ± 0.03) cm and its mass is measured to be
Questions - 1.2
(1.65 ± 0.02) kg . Determine the density of the
1. For each of the following, find the value of X and
sphere in kgm'3 and the uncertainty in the density.
its associated uncertainty.
(A) 0.00093, 0 00002 (a) X = 6a + 4b , a = 40 ± 2, b = 20 ± 2
(B) 933.71, 0.02 3
(b) X = a , a = 10.0 ± 0.3
(C) 934, 2
a
(D) 930,20 (c) X =-, a = 100 ± 4, b = SO ± 1
b

24. A student wishes to determine the density p of a

2. For each of the following, find the value of X and
cylinder of mass M , height h and diameter of
its associated uncertainty given that
.cross section d , using the formula M = !!~hp
If a = 0.200 ± 0.004, b = 0.100 ± 0.003 and
4
c = 0.050 ± 0.002 .
the percentage uncertainties of his measurements
of M , d and hare ±4%, ±1% and ±0.5% ab 2
respectively, what will be the percentage (a) X = ­
c
uncertainty of p ?
(A) 1.5% (B) 2.5% (b) X = (a-b)
c
(C) 5.5% (D) 6.5%

25. In an experiment, the length and breadth of a

rectangular card was found to be (64 ± 2) mm and
(47 ± 1) mm resp <2 ctively. The uncertainty in the 3. (a) A recent th eory suggests that time may be
area cannot be more than quantized, and tir,le T is given by the

equation T = ~ where h is the Planck

120 mm 2
2
(A) 90mm (B) mpc
(C) 150mm; (D) 180mm 2 con stant, mp is the proton mass and c is the
speed of light. Confirm that this equation is
homogeneous.
(b) The theory of gas flow through small
diameter tubes at low pressures is an
important consideration of high vacuum
technique . One equation which occurs is the

theory is Q = kr (p 1 - P)~
3
2 _
I RT

where k is a number without units, r is the

radius of the tube, PI and P2 are the
pressures at each end of the tube of length I ,
M is the molar mass of the gas (unit:
l
kgmol ), R is the molar gas constant and T is
the thermodynamic temperature. Use the
equation to find the base units of Q.
 (c) A student attempts to measure the radius of a
steel ball by using a ruler to measure three
identical balls in a row .
S. (a) What is meant by a systematic error and
x y
(b) The spring constant of a spring may be
The student estimates the positions on the
scale to be as follows.
X: (2.0 ± 0.3) cm
Y: (7.0 ± 0.3) cm
What is the radius of the steel ball together
with its associated uncertainty?
(d) In a simple electrical circuit, the current in a
resistor is measured as (2.3 ± 0.1) A . The
resistor is marked as having a value of
47 kO ± 4% What is the power dissipated in
the resistor together with its associated
uncertainty?
4. It is possible to devise system of units based on
quantities other than mass, length and time.
Planck proposed a system in which the base
quantities we re the speed of light c , the
gravitational constant G and the Planck constant
h divided by 2n. In Planck system, the numerical
h
values of c, G and - were exactly 1.
2n
6. (a)
(a) Obtain the 51 units of G and ~.
2n
(b) In the Planck system, t is defined by
(b) The energy per unit time, P , radiated by an
_, .I. h)1
t=c ' G' ( - ' .
2n
(i) Using 51 base units, confirm that the
right-hand side of this equation has the
unit seconds.
(ii) By substituting the 51 numerical values of
c, G and h in the above equation, find
the number of seconds equivalent to one
Planck unit of time.
(iii) The percentage uncertainties in the
accepted values of G and hare
±7 x 10.2 % and ±6 x 10.4 % respectively.
What is the corresponding percentage
uncertainty in the conversion factor
between the Planck unit of time and
seconds?
a random error?
determined by finding the extension of the
spring and the load applied using the
apparatus shown in the figure below.
!~
metre
rule
load
(i) Give one example of a systematic error
and one example of a random error
which could occur in this experiment.
Readings of the position of the lower end
of the spring are made using the metr"e
rule. Suggest a method by which the
error in these readings may be kept to a
minimum using an optical pin.
(ii) If the extension of the spring is of the
order of a few milli meters, comment on
the reliability of the measurements.
State the difference between a vector quantity
and a scalar quantity. Give one example of
each quantity.
object with a surface area A at
thermodynamic temperature T is given by
P = eO"AT ~ where e is the emissivity of the
surface and 0" is the Stefan-Boltzmann
constant.
4
(i) The 51 unit for 0" is Wm· 2 K· . Use the
equation to find the base units of
emissivity, e .
 1­

(ii) In an experiment to determine emissivity
e of a circular surface of diameter d, the
following measurements are taken:
P =(3.0 ± 0.2) W
d=(S.O±O.l)cm
T =(500 ± 1) K
8.
Find a value for the emissivity, e of the
surface and express it
with its associated uncertainty.
The figure below shows the apparatus used
by a student to measure the acceleration of free
fall, g. Pressing switch Sl simultaneously starts the
time counter and releases the ball by withdrawing
the peg P. The counter is stopped when the ball
closes the lightly sprung switch S2' The acceleration
of free fall is calculated from the expression
d = O.S gt 2 where d is the distance the ball falls
and t is the time it takes.
(c) He then repeated the experiment for different
values of d and measured the corresponding
values of time t. How would he use a graph to
find a value for the acceleration of free fall?
(d) Give one reason for calculating the results with
the aid of a graph.
(a) Explain what is meant by a random error and
give an example of a random error.
(b) A student measured the internal diameter of a
capillary tube using a traveling microscope.
Explain why taking the mean of several
microscope readings of the diameter tends to
reduce random error.
(c) Another student determined the internal
diameter d of the same capillary tube by using
a different approach. He introduced a thread of
mercury into the capillary tube and measured
the mass and length of the thread to be
m = (2.23 ± 0.04) g and 1= (19.8 ± 0.1) cm .The
3
density of mercury is p = (13600 ± 100) kgm .

(i) Calculate the value of d.

(ii) Determine the uncertainty in d.
Timer (iii) Express d together with its uncertainty to
counter
the correct number of significant figures .
dj .~

S2
1
A student conducted the experiment and measured
the distance d with a metre rule.

(a) How might this introduce into the

measurement
(i) a random error
(ii) a systematic error
(b) He recorded the distance as d = (90.4 ± 0.1) cm
and the time as t =(0.43 ± 0.01) s . Calculate
the absolute uncertainty in the determination
of g.