UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, JAMAICA

Faculty of Science & Sport/ School of Natural & Applied Sciences

Engineering Physics 1 (PHS1005)
TUTORIAL # 1

1. In an experiment, three (3) quantities were measured and their results recorded as follows:
P = (4.02 ± 0.11) m
Q = (8.32 ± 0.33) m
R = (5.65 ± 0.15) m
(i) Given that T = 3P + Q – R, determine T and the maximum possible error in T.
(ii) Given that Q = P +6 T – 2R, determine T and the percentage error in T.

P
(iii) Given that X = , determine X and the percentage error in X.
Q2R

2. The surface area A of a sphere of radius r is given by A = 4πr². If r measures 15.0 ± 0.5 mm.
Calculate the:
(i) absolute error in A.
(ii) percentage error in A.
(iii)volume V of the sphere (V=4/3 πr3)
(iv) fractional error in V
(v) absolute error in V

3. A pressure P is calculated from force F and radius R using the formula P = F/πR². If the % possible
errors are ± 2% for F and ± 1% for R, what is the percentage possible error of P?

4. A quantity P is calculated from measured values of X, Y, and Z using the formula:

P=K ( X )Y ( Z )
3 5 3

K is a constant which is assumed not to have an error. The uncertainties in the measured values are:

X ± 0.65 %, Y ± 0.30 % & Z ± 0.45 %. Calculate the percentage error in P.

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5. In an experiment to measure the acceleration due to gravity a steel ball took (810 ± 5.0) ms to fall a
distance of (3.20 ± 0.050) m from rest.
(i) Calculate a value for the acceleration due to gravity.
(ii) What is the percentage uncertainty in the value of the acceleration due to gravity?
(iii) What is the absolute error in the acceleration due to gravity?

6. In an experiment to determine the acceleration due to gravity a steel ball bearing was timed falling
from rest through a distance D. The reading obtained were as follows:

D = (1.215 ± 0.005) m and time taken t = (496, 497, 503, 496, 501) ms. Calculate the:
(i) percentage error in D.
(ii) percentage error in t.
(iii)value of g.
(iv) absolute error in g.

7. A student wishing to determine the density of glass in a length of glass tubing obtained the following:

Length of tube (h) = (50 ± 1.0) mm, External diameter (D) = (14.0 ± 0.20) mm
Internal diameter (d) = (10.0 ± 0.2) mm Mass of tube (m) = (25 ± 1.0) g

The density of the glass, ρ = m/V

The volume (V) of the glass in the tube is given by, V = ⅓π (D2 – d2) h

(i) Calculate the percentage error in each reading.

(ii) Calculate the density of the glass.
(iii)Calculate the absolute error in the density of the glass.
(iv) The correct value for the density of the glass is 3.70 x 10-3g/mm3.
1. Would you describe your result as being accurate and precise?
2. Explain.
(v) List one thing that the student could have done to increase the accuracy of the experiment.

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8. If, L =
( c − b) d 2
, Given:
q t

c = (184 ± 1.0) cm q = (4.38 ± 0.05) m3/s

b = (160 ± 1.0) cm
d = (1.16 ± 0.030) × 10 – 3 m t = (3.9 ± 0.1) × 103 s2

Find L and the absolute error in L.

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 Additional Questions

1. An experimenter wishing to determine the volume of glass in a length of glass tubing obtains the
following readings:
Length, L = (50 ± 1.0) mm
External diameter D = (15.0 ± 0.20) mm
Internal diameter. d = (10 ± 0.20) mm

 ( D2 − d 2 ) L
The volume V of the glass is calculated using the formula: V =
4
(i) What is the percentage error in each reading?
(ii) Calculate the volume of the glass V.
(iii) Calculate the percentage error in the value of V from the readings.

2. The flow rate (Q) of an incompressible fluid undergoing lamina flow in a round tube depends on the
viscosity (η) of the fluid, pressure difference (P1 - P2), internal radius (r) and the length of the tube (l) is
represented by Poiseuille’s Equation:

𝜋(𝑃1 − 𝑃2 )𝑟 4
𝑄=
8𝜂𝑙
Engine oil passes through a tube of radius (r) in a prototype engine. The tube length is given by (l). The
pressures at each end of the tube are (P1) and (P2), and the viscosity of the oil is (η). Given that:
𝑟 = (1.0 ± 0.10) 𝑚𝑚
𝑙 = (5.50 ± 0.50) × 10−2 𝑚
𝑃1 = (6.45 ± 0.050) × 103 𝑁𝑚−2
𝑃2 = (2.20 ± 0.050) × 103 𝑁𝑚−2
𝜂 = (2.0 ± 0.20) × 10−1 𝑁𝑠𝑚−2

Determine the:
(i) absolute error in the pressure difference (P1-P2).
(ii) absolute error in flow rate, Q.
(iii) percentage error in flow rate, Q.