Vol.

– 1
Error Analysis – 1

Q.11 Fractional error

Time period of a simple pendulum is measured as – 3 4
2.63 sec, 2.42 sec, 2.56 sec, 2.80 sec (a) (b)
628 628
Q.1 Mean absolute value of time period 5 6
(c) (d)
(a) 2.59 (b) 2.60 628 628

(c) 2.61 (d) 2.62

Q.12 Percentage error
(a) 0.45% (b) 0.46%
Q.2 Mean absolute error
(a) 0.9 (b) 0.10 (c) 0.47% (d) 0.48%
(c) 0.11 (d) 0.12
Depth of a cylinder is measured as –
15.98 cm, 15.92 cm, 15.88 cm, 15.82 cm
Q.3 Fractional error Q.13 Percentage error
9 10
(a) (b) (a) 0.29% (b) 0.30%
260 260
11 12 (c) 0.31% (d) 0.33%
(c) (d)
260 260

Q.14 Least count for ordinary scale is –

Q.4 Percentage error (a) 1 cm (b) 0.1 cm
(a) 4.1% (b) 4.2%
(c) 0.01 cm (d) 0.001 cm
(c) 4.3% (d) 4.4%

Q.15 Least count for vernier callipers is –

In an experiment refractive index of glass was observed to be – (a) 1 cm (b) 0.1 cm
1.45, 1.56, 1.54, 1.44 (c) 0.01 cm (d) 0.001 cm
Q.5 Mean absolute value of refractive index
(a) 1.47 (b) 1.48 Q.16 Least count for screw gauge is –
(c) 1.49 (d) 1.50 (a) 1 cm (b) 0.1 cm
(c) 0.01 cm (d) 0.001 cm
Q.6 Mean absolute error
(a) 0.02 (b) 0.03 Q.17 Error –
(c) 0.04 (d) 0.05 (a) may be +ve, −ve or zero.
(b) always +ve
(c) always −ve
Q.7 Fractional error
2 3 (d) always +ve in some measuring instruments and always –ve in
(a) (b) some other.
150 150
4 5
(c) (d)
150 150 Q.18 Systematic error –
(a) whose cause is known
Q.8 Percentage error (b) whose cause is not known
(a) 3.31% (b) 3.32% (c) due to carelessness of observer
(c) 3.33% (d) 3.34% (d) cannot be reduced

Q.19 Random error –

In an experiment, resistance of wire is measured as – (a) due to error in instrument
6.23 Ω, 6.32 Ω, 6.29 Ω, 6.26 Ω (b) whose cause is known
Q.9 Mean absolute value of resistance (c) whose cause is not known
(a) 6.27 (b) 6.28 (d) due to carelessness of observer
(c) 6.29 (d) 6.30
Q.20 Gross error –
(a) due to error in instrument
Q.10 Mean absolute error (b) whose cause is known
(a) 0.01 (b) 0.02 (c) whose cause is not known
(c) 0.03 (d) 0.04 (d) due to carelessness of observer
 Vol. – 1
Error Analysis – 2

Q.1 The percentage error in the volume of a cube is 8%. The percentage Q.11 The percentage errors in the measurement of mass and speed are 2%
error in the length of the edge of the cube is : [AIPMT 2008] and 3% respectively. How much will be the maximum percentage
(a) 2.7% (b) 4% error in the estimation of the kinetic energy obtained by measuring
(c) 6% (d) 20% mass and speed
(a) 11% (b) 8 %
Q.2 Error in the measurement of radius of a sphere is 1%. The error in (c) 5 % (d) 1%
the calculated value of its volume is :
(a) 1% (b) 3% Q.12 A body travels uniformly a distance of (13.8 ± 0.2) m in a time (4.0
(c) 5% (d) 7% ± 0.3) s. The velocity of the body within error limits is
(a) (3.45 ± 0.2) ms-1 (b) (3.45 ± 0.3) ms-1
Q.3 A thin copper wire of length 1 meters increases in length by 2% when (c) (3.45 ± 0.4) ms-1 (d) (3.45 ± 0.5) ms-1
heated through 10°C. What is the percentage increase in area when a
square copper sheet of length 1 metre is heated through 10°C : Q.13 If the error in the measurement of side of a cube is 2% then the error
(a) 4% (b) 8% in the determination of volume of the cube will be
(c) 16% (d) None of the above (a) 8% (b) 2%
(c) 4% (d) 6%
Q.4 The resistance R=V/i where V=100 ± 5 volts and i = 10 ± 0.2
amperes. What is the percentage error in R : Q.14 According to Joule‟s law of heating, heat produced H = i2 Rt, where I
(a) 5% (b) 7% is current, R is resistance and t is time. If the errors in the
measurement of I, R and t are 3%, 4% and 6% respectively then error
(c) 5.2% (d) 5/2%
in the measurement of H is
(a) ± 17% (b) ± 16%
Q.5 The length of a cylinder is measured with a meter rod having least
count 0.1cm. Its diameter is measured with vernier calipers having (c) ± 19% (d) ± 25%
least count 0.01cm. Given that length is 5.0cm and radius is 2.0cm.
The percentage error in the calculated value of the volume will be Q.15 The percentage errors in the measurement of length and time period
(a) 1% (b) 2% of a simple pendulum are a 1% and 2% respectively. Then the
(c) 3% (d) 4% maximum error in the measurement of acceleration due to gravity is
(a) 5 % (b) 3%
Q.6 If the length of rod A is 3.25 ± 0.01cm and that of B is (c) 4% (d) 6%
4.19 ± 0.01cm then the rod B is longer than rod A by :
𝐴3𝑏𝑚
(a) 0.94 ± 0.00cm (b) 0.94 ± 0.01cm Q.16 A physical quantity P is given by P = 𝑛 . The quantity which
𝐶 −𝑜 𝐷𝑚
(c) 0.94 ± 0.02cm (d) 0.94 ± 0.005cm brings in the maximum percentage error in P is
(a) A (b) B
Q.7 A physical quantity y related to four observable a, b, c and x as (c) C (d) D
𝑎3𝑏3
follows, y = the percentage errors of measurement in a, b, c and x
𝑐 𝑥
are 1%, 3%, 2% and 4% respectively. What is the percentage error in Q.17 A student measures the distance traversed in free fall of a body
the quantity y : (IIT-1991) initially at rest in a given time. He uses this data to estimate g, the
(a) 12% (b) 7% acceleration due to gravity. If the maximum percentage errors in
(c) 16% (d) 14% measurement of the distance and the time are e1 and e2 respectively,
the percentage error in the estimation of g is
Q.8 A wire has a mass 0.3 ± 0.003kg, radius 0.5 ± 0.005m and length 6 ± (a) e2 – e1 (b) e1 + 2e2
0.06m. The maximum percentage error in the measurement of its (c) e1 + e2 (d) e1 – 2e2
density is : [IIT 2004]
(a) 1% (b) 2%
Q.18 Resistance of a given wire is obtained by measuring the current
(c) 3% (d) 4% flowing in it and the voltage difference applied across it. If the
percentage errors in the measurement of the current and the voltage
Q.9 The length, breadth and height of a strip are given by ℓ =(10.0 ± difference are 3% each, then error in the value of resistance of the
0.1)cm, b =(1.00 ± 0.01)cm, h = (0.100 ± 0.001)cm. The relative error wire is
in volume of strip will be : (a) 6% (b) Zero
(a) 0.03 (b) 0.111 (c) 1% (d) 3%
(c) 0.012 (d) 0.12

Q.19 Find the relative error in Z, if Z = A4B1/3 /CD3/2.

4 ∆𝐴 1 ∆𝐵 ∆𝐶 3 ∆𝐷
Q.10 A physical quantity (a) can be determined by measuring the (a) + + +
5 𝐴 3 𝐵 𝐶 2 𝐷
parameters b, c, d and e using the relation a = bαcβ/dγeδ. If the
∆𝐵 1 ∆𝐴 ∆𝐶 2 ∆𝐷
maximum errors in the measurement of b, c, d and e are b1%, c1%, (b) 4 + + +
𝐵 3 𝐴 𝐶 3 𝐷
d1% and e1%, then the maximum percentage error in the value of a
determined by the experiment is (IIT-1992) ∆𝐴 1 ∆𝐵 ∆𝐶 3 ∆𝐷
(c) 4 + + +
(a) (b1+c1+d1+e1)% (b) (b1+c1-d1-e1)% 𝐴 3 𝐵 𝐶 2 𝐷

(c) (αb1+βc1-γd1-δe1)% (d) (αb1+βc1+γd1+δe1)% (d) 2

∆𝐴
+
1 ∆𝐵
+
∆𝐶
+
3 ∆𝐷 11
𝐴 3 𝐵 𝐶 2 𝐷
 Vol. – 1
Significant Figures

Write no. of significant figures in following cases - Q.33 2.3 × 4.210

(a) 9.683 (b) 9.68
Q.1 16 ……………….
(c) 9.7 (d) 10
Q.2 365 ……………….
Q.3 1001 ………………. Q.34 2.30 × 4.210
(a) 9.683 (b) 9.68
Q.4 2000202 ……………….
(c) 9.7 (d) 10
Q.5 002 ……………….
Q.6 0.02 ………………. Q.35 The significant figures in 300.500 are
(a) 6 (b) 5
Q.7 0.000001 ……………….
(c) 4 (d) 2
Q.8 000001 ……………….
Q.9 100 ………………. Q.36 Which of the following numerical values have three significant
figures ?
Q.10 28000 ………………. (a) 3.033 (b) 0.030
Q.11 0.100 ………………. (c) 30.30 (d) 0.300
Q.12 100.0 ……………….
Q.37 What is the number of significant figures in (3.20 + 4.80) × 105 ?
Q.13 0.00100 ……………….
(a) 5 (b) 4
Q.14 1000 m ………………. (c) 3 (d) 2
Q.15 0.02 m ……………….
Q.16 0.00001 mm ………………. Q.38 Three measurements are made as 18.425 cm, 7.21 cm and 5.0 cm.
Q.17 0.010001 mm ………………. The addition should be written as
(a) 30.635 cm (b) 30.64 cm
Q.18 4.70 × 1028 ……………….
(c) 30.63 cm (d) 30.6 cm
Q.19 3× 108 ……………….
Q.20 1.000 × 10-100 ………………. Q.39 Subtract 0.2 J from 7.26 J and express the result with correct number
of significant figures
Q.21 3× 108 m/sec ……………….
(a) 7.1 J (b) 7.06 J
Q.22 22000 m ………………. (c) 7.0J (d) 7 J
Q.23 22 × 103m ……………….
Q.40 The best way to express the product 17.8 × 3.1143 is
Q.24 2000 × 103 ………………. (a) 55.4354 (b) 55.4
Q.25 1.000 × 106 ………………. (c) 55.44 (d) 55.435
Q.26 1000 × 106 ……………….
Q.41 What is the value of (600 m + 600 mm) with regard to significant
Q.27 1000 × 1026m …....…………. figures ?
Q.28 5 balls ………………. (a) 600 m (b) 600.600 m

Q.29 3 eggs ………………. (c) 601 m (d) 600.6 m

Q.30 10 pens ……………….

Q.42 If a current of 2.33 amp. Is passed through a resistance of 10.458 Ω,
the potential is 24.43005, its value in proper significant figures
Q.31 2.3 + 2.46 would be
(a) 4.76 (b) 4.7 (a) 24.37 V (b) 24.4 V
(c) 4.8 (d) 5 (c) 24.367 V (d) 24.36714 V

Q.32 6.2836 + 5.289 + 3.20 + 5.324 Q.43 The mass of a block is 87.2g and its volume is 25 cm3. its density
(a) 20.0966 (b) 20.097 upto correct significant figures is
(a) 3.488 g/cc (b) 3.5 g/cc
(c) 20.10 (d) 20.1
(c) 3.48 g/cc (d) 3.4 g/cc