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Measurement Errors
Do the computations for the wooden block (points 1-4) or the metal cylinder
(points 5-8) but not both.
2. Mass of the wooden block (note the measurement error based on the precision of the
display):
49.9 .1 grams
3. Compute the volume of the wooden block. Compute the error for the volume.
= .
=
. 1 . 1 . 1
= ( + + ) 56.8 3
7.7 4.1 1.8
= .
4. Using the computed volume and the measured mass compute the density of the wood.
Compute the error in density and present the result using the proper significant digits.
49.9
=
56.8 3
=. /
= ( + )
.1 5.3 3
= ( + ) .87852 /3
49.9 56.8 3
= . /
6. Mass of the metal cylinder (note the measurement error based on the precision of the
display):
m= 20.0 .1 g
7. Compute the volume of the metal cylinder. Compute the error for the volume.
= 2 r = 6.325 r = .005
= (6.325 )2 18.67
= .
= ( )
.01 .005
= (
18.67
+
6.325
) 2346.47 3
= 3.111730065 3
= .
8. Using the computed volume and the measured mass compute the density of the wood.
Compute the error in density and present the result using the proper significant digits.
20.0
=
2346.473
=. /
= . /
= ( )
.1 3.117
= (20.0 + 2346.473 ) .008523442 /3
= 5.39 105 /3
= . /
Questions:
1. Assume the density of air was measured as 1.00 kg/m3 5%. The room has dimensions
4 m 5 m 2 m, each measured with 10% relative error. What is the mass of the air in
the room? What is the relative error for the mass?
= 4 5 2
= 403
= ( + + )
10 % = 4 10 % = 10 % = 2
5
= .4 = .5 = .2
.4 .5 .2
= ( + + ) 403
4 5 2
= 12 3
1.00
= 403
3
5 % =
1.00/3
= .05/3
= ( + )
. 05/3 12 3
= ( + ) 40
1.00 /3 40 3
= 14
14
= 100
40
RE m= 35%