Problem 1.

50 [Difficulty: 3]

Given: Lateral acceleration, a = 0.70 g, measured on 150-ft diameter skid pad; Uncertainties in Path
deviation ±2 ft; vehicle speed ±0.5 mph

Find: Estimate uncertainty in lateral acceleration; ow could experimental procedure be improved?

Solution: Lateral acceleration is given by a = V2/R.

From Appendix F, u a = ±[(2 u v ) 2 + ( u R ) 2 ]1/ 2

ft ft
From the given data, V 2 = aR; V = aR = 0.70 × 32.2 2
× 75 ft = 41.1
s s
δV mi s ft hr
Then uv = ± = ±0.5 × × 5280 × = ±0.0178
V hr 41.1 ft mi 3600 s

δR 1
and uR = ± = ±2 ft × = ±0.0267
R 75 ft
so
1/ 2
u a = ± (2 × 0.0178) 2 + (0.0267) 2 = ±0.0445
u a = ±4.45 percent

Experimental procedure could be improved by using a larger circle, assuming the absolute errors in measurement are
constant.

For
D = 400 ft; R = 200 ft
ft ft
V 2 = aR; V = aR = 0.70 × 32.2 2
× 200 ft = 67.1 = 45.8 mph
s s
0.5 2
uV = ± = ±0.0109; u R = ± = ± 0.0100
45.8 200
[ ]
u a = ± (2 × 0.0109) + 0.0100 2 = ± 0.0240 = ± 2.4%
2