Name(s): Ashley Hart and Abby Perez Phys103- _021____

Measurement Errors
Do the computations for the wooden block (points 1-4) or the metal cylinder
(points 5-8) but not both.

1. Dimensions of the wooden block.

Value Measurement error

Height 1.8 cm .1 cm
Length 7.7 cm .1 cm
Width 4.1 cm .1 cm

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.

= 7.7 4.1 1.8

= .

=

. 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

= . /

5. Dimensions of the metal cylinder.

Value Measurement error

Height 18.67 m .01 m
Base diameter 12.65 m .01 m

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%