IA2 Phy 06 Practical

An Absolute Uncertainty is denoted by the symbol “……or ………” and has the same units as the quantity.
A Relative or Percentage Uncertainty is denoted by the symbol “………or ……..” and has no units.
Absolute Uncertainty of a data set
𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆
Absolute Uncertainty = ∓ 𝟐 Range = Highest value – Lowest value

The absolute uncertainty value should be rounded off to the same number of ……………………… places
(precision) as in the ………………..…..values and has the ……………….. units as the original quantity.
Percentage uncertainty
𝑨𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒚
Percentage Uncertainty = 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑿𝟏𝟎𝟎
The percentage uncertainty should be rounded off to same …………………….……… of absolute uncertainty.
Percentage Difference
𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆
Percentage Difference = 𝑿𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆

The percentage difference should be rounded off to ………… or …………. Significant figures only.
Note:- If the percentage difference is ………………… than or ……………….. to the percentage uncertainty,
then the experimental value is ……………………. with the standard value or the given theory.
Combined Uncertainties
1) 𝑅 = 𝑤𝑡
𝜌𝑙
1) Addition and Subtraction: ; Where R = (60.3 ∓ 0.5) Ω , l =
If p=X+Y–Z (25.8 ∓ 0.1) cm, w = (3.24 ∓ 0.02) cm & t =
Add the …………………… uncertainties of x, y & z (4.57 ∓ 0.04) mm
to obtain the ………………….. uncertainty of p. i) Find the percentage uncertainty of 𝜌 and
∆p = ∆X + ∆Y + ∆Z hence determine the uncertainty of 𝜌
If there are numerical coefficients, absolute Uncertainty
is …………………. by the numerical coefficients.
If p= aX + bY – cZ
∆p = a ∆X + b ∆Y + c ∆Z
The ……………………… uncertainty
of p can be calculated as follows.
∆𝒑
%∆p = 𝑷 x 100
𝒂𝒗𝒈

2) Multiplication and Division

𝑿𝒀
If p= 𝒁
Add the …………………….. uncertainties of x, y & z to
obtain the ………………………. uncertainty of p.
%∆p = %∆X + %∆Y + %∆Z
Percentage Uncertainty is not multiplied by the ……………
……………..……… but if the quantities have powers, then
the percentage uncertainty of the respective quantity should
be ………………….. by the power.
𝒙𝒎 𝒏√𝒚
p=𝒂
𝒛𝒑
𝟏
%∆p = %∆X x m + %∆Y x 𝒏 + %∆Z x p
The absolute uncertainty of p can be calculated
by using the following equation. .
∆𝒑 %∆𝒑
%∆p = 𝑷 x 100 ∆p = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 x 𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒈
𝒂𝒗𝒈

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2) The following readings are being recorded to find the acceleration due to gravity.
s = (1.20 ∓ 0.02) m, u = (3.0 ∓ 0.2) m/s
t/s – 0.28, 0.30, 0.21, 0.31
The student used s = ut + ½ at2 to find g.
Find the percentage uncertainty of 𝑔

Special Tips
If the questions says “Show that the object is made from a particular material”, Use the following steps
 Find the percentage …………………………… of density of the object
 Find the percentage difference between density of the object and the density of the material.
 If the percentage difference is ………………… than or ……………….. to the percentage uncertainty,
then the object is ……………………. with the given material.

If the questions says “Show that two objects are made from the same material”, Use the following steps
 Find the percentage ……………………………………….of densities of both objects
 Find the percentage difference between densities of the two object.
 If the percentage difference is ………… than or …………. to the
addition of percentage uncertainties, then the objects are
……………………. from the same material.

In Both cases, the range method can be used as follows.

 Find the uncertainty of the density values using the percentage uncertainty.
 Find the uncertainty range; density ∓ Uncertainty of both values
 If the ranges are overlapping, they are made from the same material or the
object is made out of the given material.

1) A student is taking measurements from a piece of wire.

(a) She measures the diameter d.
i) Suggest the most suitable instrument to record the diameter and explain your choice of instrument.

ii) Explain how to use the above instrument to record the diameter accurately

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b) She obtains the following readings.

i) Use her readings to obtain the most accurate mean value and
uncertainty for the diameter of the wire.

ii) Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value for the diameter of the wire.

b) She then makes the following measurements.

Length of wire = 663 mm mass of wire = 0.32 g
i) Use her measurements to calculate the
volume of the wire.

ii) Hence determine the percentage uncertainty iii) Calculate the density of the material of the
of the volume. wire in SI units.

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iv) Hence determine the percentage uncertainty

of the density

c) The standard density of the particular type ii) Hence state whether the student’s wire is
of wires is 8300kgm-3 made out of previously mentioned type of wires.
i) Find the percentage difference of density

2) A student determines the circumference C of a glass test tube by wrapping a piece of string around
x
the outside. C is given by C = ( /10) – πd
Where x is the length of string wrapped 10 times around the outside of the test tube and d is the
diameter of the string.
(a) She measures the diameter d of the string as 1.70 ± 0.04 mm.
She finds x = 803 ± 4 mm.
(i) Use the equation above to calculate a value (ii) Calculate the uncertainty of c
for C.

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(iii) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in your value for C

Use your value for C to calculate a value for the external cross-sectional area A of the test tube where
A = C2/ (4π) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in your value for A.

3) A student is asked to determine the density of two coins, X and Y, to decide if they are made from
the same material. The diameter of each coin is about 25 mm.
(a) She uses vernier callipers to measure the diameter of coin X. Show that the percentage uncertainty
for this measurement is less than 1%. (1)

(b) She records the following values for coin X:

diameter/mm 25.9, 25.9, 25.9 thickness/mm 1.80, 1.85, 1.82
(i) Use these measurements to calculate the mean value for the volume of coin X. (2)

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(ii) Use the measurements to estimate the percentage uncertainty in the volume. (3)

(c) She measures the mass of coin X as 7.08 g with negligible uncertainty. Calculate the density of coin
X. (2)

(d) The student makes the same measurements for coin Y. The value of the density for coin Y is
6900kgm–3. The percentage uncertainties in the measurements are the same for both coins.
Use these measurements to decide if the coins are made from the same material. (2)

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Converting exponential and polynomial Graphs to linear graphs

Exponential Graphs Polynomial graphs

Analysing Exponential graph Analysing the graph for an Inverse proportion

Record four y coordinates at regular x intervals. Record at-least three coordinates from the graph.
Calculate the ratio of consecutive y coordinates. Calculate the product of the x & y coordinates.
If the ratios are approximately equal, then it can If the products are similar, then the graph supports
be said that the graph is an exponential graph. inverse proportion.

Uncertainty of a graph

Uncertainty of an axis = ± value of one small square on the axis

2

1) A student measured length l0 of a spring. She suspended different weights W from the spring &
measured the new length l each time. She drew a graph of W against l. She measured the gradient of
the line of best fit as 7.14 N m–1.
(a) She measured l0 using a metre rule and recorded l0 = 5.2 cm. Explain why a metre rule is a suitable
instrument to make this measurement. (2)

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(b) (i) The student suspended a piece of modelling clay from the spring. She recorded the new length
of the spring as l = 14.3 cm. Determine the weight W1 of the clay. (1)

(ii) The student estimated the uncertainty in l as 2 mm. Use this uncertainty
and the graph to estimate the uncertainty in your value for W1. (2)

(iii) Calculate the percentage uncertainty in your value for W1. (1)

(c) The student immersed the clay in water as shown in the diagram. The upthrust of the water on
the clay reduced the force of the clay on the spring to a new value
W2 and so l was also reduced.
(i) On the diagram draw and label the three forces acting on the clay. (1)
(ii) When the clay was immersed the student recorded l = 9.1 cm. Determine W2. (1)

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d) The ratio density of water = 1000 kg m–3 Calculate a value for the density of
clay. (2)

(e) The manufacturer’s value for the density of this clay is 1680 kg m–3. Comment on the accuracy of
your result. (3)

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2) The graph shows how the spreadsheet current

varies with time.
(a) The student thinks that the graph is an
exponential curve.
i) How would you justify this graph as an
exponential graph?

ii) How would you use another graph to confirm this? (3)

3) A designer needs a circuit that will cause a delay

in switching off the interior light in a car after the
door is shut. She uses a circuit with a resistor and a
capacitor. She knows that the time constant T is
given by T = RC. Where R is the resistance in ohms
and C is the capacitance in farads.
With the switch in position X the capacitor is
charged to 12 V. When the switch is moved to position Y, the capacitor discharges through the
resistor and the potential difference (p.d.) across the resistor falls steadily from 12 V.
(a) (i) Calculate a theoretical value for the time constant for this circuit. (1)

(ii) What is the significance of the time constant for such a discharge? (1)

(b) She decides to check the theoretical value for the time constant T using a stopwatch,
with a precision of 0.01s.
(i) State why the voltmeter needs to have a high resistance. (1)

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(ii) State why a stopwatch is suitable for measuring the time in this context. (1)

(iii) State what she should do to make her value for T as reliable as possible. (1)

(c) For a capacitor discharging through a resistor, the potential difference V across the resistor at
time t is given by
Explain why a graph of ln V against t should be a straight line. (2)

(d) The designer uses the circuit to obtain the following data.
(i) The student suggests that the results show that V is
inversely proportional to t.
State why this suggestion cannot be true. Your answer does
not require a calculation. (1)

ii) Plot a suitable graph on the grid opposite to show that

these data are consistent with V = V0 e–t/RC.
Use the extra column in the table above for your processed data. (5)

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(e) (i) Use your graph to obtain another value for the time constant. (2)

(ii) Calculate the percentage difference between your value from the graph and the theoretical value
from (a)(i). (1)

(f) (i) Use your graph to find how long it takes for the p.d. to decrease to 5.0 V. Add to your graph to
show how you did this. (2)

(ii) The designer wants the p.d. to decrease to 5 V in 12 s. Find the value of R she should use. (1)

g) (i) State the resolution of the voltmeter used to record the voltages shown in the table. (1)

(ii) The resolution of the voltmeter can be changed so the display shows fewer or more significant
figures. The student changed the number of significant figures shown on the voltmeter from three to
two. Suggest why this might have been a sensible change to make. (1)

(iii) The student states that the readings for V are precise. Explain why this is not correct. (2)

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Calculate the percentage uncertainty of E and

hence determine the absolute uncertainty of E

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