TARGET JEE (MAIN/ADVANCED)

PRACTICE CatalyseR
SHEET # 02 PHYSICS www.catalyser.in

CHAPTER: ERROR & MEASUREMENT

TOPIC: PROPOGATION OF ERRORS & PRACTICE

1. Using the expression 2d sin = one calculates the values of d by measuring the corresponding angles in the range 0
to 90. The wavelength is exactly known and the error in is constant for all values of . As increases from 0,
(A) the absolute error in d remains constant.
(B) the absolute error in d increases
(C) the fractional error in d remains constant.
(D) the fractional error in d decreases.

2. The least count of a stopwatch is 1/5 second. The time for 20 oscillations of a pendulum is measured to be 25 seconds.
The percentage error in the measurement of time will be
(A) 0.1% (B) 8% (C) 1.8% (D) 0.8%

3. A research worker takes 100 careful readings in an experiment. If he repeats the same experiment by taking 400 readings,
then by what factor will the probable error be reduced?

4. The length, breadth and thickness of a rectangular sheet of metal are 4.234m, 1.005m and 2.01 cm respectively. Find the
area and volume of the sheet to correct significant figures.

5. Two resistors have resistances R1 = ( 24 0.5 ) and R2 =( 8 0.3 ) . Calculate the absolute error and the percentage
relative error in calculating the combination of two resistances when they are in -
a) series b) parallel

6. In an electrical set up the following readings are obtained.

Voltmeter Reading (V) = 6.4 V
Ammeter Reading (I) = 2.0 A
The respective least counts of the instruments used in these measurements are 0.2 V and 0.1 A. Calculate the value of
resistance of the wire with maximum permissible absolute error and relative percentage error.

7. The coefficient of viscosity ( ) of a liquid by the method of flow through a capillary tube is given by the formula

R4 P
= .
8 Q
where,
R = radius of the capillary tube,
= Length of the tube,
P = Pressure difference between its ends, and
Q = volume of liquid flowing per second.
Which measurement needs to be made most accurately and why?

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8. Find out the maximum percentage error while the following observations were taken in the determination of the value of
acceleration of the value of acceleration due to gravity.
Length of thread = 100.2 cm;
Radius of bob = 2.34 cm;
Time of one oscillation = 2.3 s.
Calculate the value of maximum percentage error up to the required significant figures. Which quantity will be measured
more accurately?

9. Determine the focal length of the lens from the following readings :
Object distance, u = 20.1 0.2 cm
Image distance, v = 50.1 0.5 cm.

10. The specific gravity of the material of a body is determined by weighing the body first in air and then in water. If the weight
in air is 10.0 0.1 gf and weight in water is 5.0 0.1 gf, then what is the maximum possible percentage error in the specific
gravity?

11. The following observations were actually made during an experiment to find the radius of curvature of a concave mirror
using a spherometer : = 4.4 cm ; h = 0.085 cm. The distance between the legs of the spherometer was measured with
a metre rod and the least count of the spherometer was 0.001 cm. Calculate the maximum possible error in the radius of
curvature.

mv 2
12. The centripetal force is given by F = .
r
The mass, velocity and radius of the circular path of an object are 0.5 kg, 10 m/s and 0.4 m respectively. Find the
percentage error in the force. Given : m, v and r are measured to accuracies of 0.005 kg, 0.01 m/s and 0.01 m respectively.

13. An experiment to determine the specific resistance of a metal wire provided the following observations
Resistance of R = (64 2) ohm
Length = (156 0.1) cm
Radius r = (0.26 0.02) cm
r 2R
If s is expressed as : = .

Find the percentage error in .

END OF PRACTICE SHEET

ANSWER KEY
Ans. 1. D Ans. 2. D Ans. 3. By a factor of 4
Ans. 4. Volume 0.0855, Area = 8.720
Ans. 5. R=
s ( 32 0.8 ) , Rs =(32 2.5%) ; R=
P ( 6 0.5 ) , RP =(6 8.33%)
Ans. 6. =
R ( 3.2 0.26 ) , R=(3.2 8%)
Ans. 7. R
Ans. 8. 9.2%, Time period
Ans. 9. 14.3 0.4 cm
Ans. 10. 5%
Ans. 11. 0.068 cm
Ans. 12. 3.7% Ans. 13. 18.6%

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