PHY 101 Lab

Error Analysis

Equipment Required

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

Please bring along a calculator and some extra pages for the rough work.

Exercise 1

1. Measure the length and width of your table sing a meter rod. Each member of the team should
repeat the measurement at least 3 times. Also write the error for each measurement.

2. Combine your data and get the mean value of the length and the associated error.

3. Calculate the perimeter length of the table and report the error.

4. Calculate the area of the table and report the error.

Exercise 2

1. What is the reaction time of each group member?

2. Use the stop watch to measure the time for one swing of the pendulum as precisely as possible.
State the result with error?

3. What are the dominant sources of error in this activity?

4. Measure the time for 3 swings. State your result with error?

5. Calculate the time period with your last result. Comment on the error in the value of the time
period?

6. Each member of the team should repeat the last activity at least twice independently. Take these
numbers for the value of the time period and calculate the mean and the associated error?

7. You now have several values of the error in the time period obtained in the last activity. Which
one will you choose to represent this quantity properly?

8. Measure the length l of the pendulum as precisely as possible. State your results with error?

9. What are the dominant sources of error in this activity?

10. Find the value of the acceleration due to gravity from the measurements you have just made and
report your result with error?