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Base quantities:
v m s1
a v k k = = kg1m4s1
kg m 3
2. Find the base units of R in the gas equation pV = nRT where n is the number of moles of a
given gas. [kg m2 s-2 mol-1 K-1]
PV kg m s m m
2 2 3
pV nRT R = = kg m2 s 2 mol1 K 1
nT mol K
3. Which of the following could be the correct expression for the velocity of ocean waves in
terms of the density of sea water, g the acceleration of free fall, h the depth of the ocean
and the wavelength?
g
A A B gh C g D
h
C. [gλ] m s m m s
-2 -1
1
5. Which of the following estimate is realistic?
6. A voltmeter connected across a resistor in a circuit gives readings which have high
precision but low accuracy. Which of the following best describes the likely error in
readings taken with this voltmeter?
C.
7. 2010 H2 P1 Q1
An object falls freely from rest and travels a distance s in time t. A graph of t2 against s is
plotted and used to determine the acceleration of free fall g.
A.
2
Calculation of uncertainties:
(a) y=a+d+e
(b) p = 3e – b
ab
(c) z5
e
c
(d) h
a
1
a2 4
(e) k [13.5 ± 0.3, 3.4 ± 0.7, 13 5, 10.12 ± 0.07, 0.56 0.03]
ce
ab 12.26 0.25
(c) z5 5 =12.77
e 1.2
z a b e
z a b e
z 0.08 0.05 0.2
12.77 12.26 0.25 1.2
z 5 (to 1 s.f.)
z 13 5
c 1256
(d) h =10.122
a 12.26
h 1 c a
h 2 c a
h 1 8 0.08
10.12 2 1256 12.26
h 0.07 (to 1 s.f.)
h 10.12 0.07
3
1 1
a2 4 12.262 4
(e) k 0.562
ce 1256 1.2
k 1 a c e
2
k 4 a c e
k 1 0.08 8 0.2
2
0.562 4 12.26 1256 1.2
k 0.03 (to 1 s.f.)
k 0.56 0.03
9. In an experiment, the external diameter d1 and internal diameter d2 of a metal tube are
found to be (64 ± 2) mm and (47 ± 1) mm respectively. What is the percentage uncertainty
in (d1 - d2)? [18 %]
d1 – d2 64 2 – 47 1 = 17 3 mm
d 1 d 2 3
Percentage uncertainty 100 100 18%
d1 d 2 17
10. A body, dropped from a tower, is timed to take (2.0 ± 0.1) s to fall to the ground. If the
acceleration of free fall is taken as 10 m s-2, the calculated height of the tower should be
quoted as
1 2 1
gt 10 2.0 20 m
2
D. h
2 2
h t h 0.1
2 2 h 2 m
h t 20 2.0
h 20 2 m
11. The formula for the period of a simple pendulum is T 2 L . Such a pendulum is used to
g
determine g. The fractional uncertainty in the measurement of the period T is ±x and that
in the measurement of the length L is ± y. The fractional uncertainty in the calculated value
of g is no greater than
A x+y B x-y C 2x + y D 2x - y
L L L
C. T 2 T 2 4 2 g 4 2 2
g g T
g L T
2 y 2x
g L T
4
12. A student makes measurements from which he calculates the speed of sound as 327.66
m s-1. He estimates that his result is accurate only to ±3%. Which one of the following
gives his result reduced to the appropriate number of significant figures?
v
D. 0.03
v
v
0.03
327.66
v 10 m s 1 (to 1 s.f.)
Thus v 330 10 m s 1
The meter reads 4.072 V. How should he record his reading, together with its uncertainty?
[4.07 ± 0.05 V]
14. To find the density of an aluminum sheet, the mass, length and breadth were determined
within 1%. Its mean thickness was found by folding it twice to give a stack of four sheets,
the thickness of which was measured to be 11.2 ± 0.4 mm and the zero reading of the
screw gauge was recorded as 1.2 ± 0.4 mm. Calculate the percentage uncertainty of its
density. [11%]
t 2.5 0.2 mm
t 0.2
0.08
t 2.5
M
xbt
M x b t
M x b t
0.01 0.01 0.01 0.08 0.11
Percentage uncertainty = 11%
5
15. The length of a piece of paper is measured as 297 ± 1 mm. Its width is measured as 209 ±
1 mm.
(a) What is the fractional uncertainty and percentage uncertainty in its length?
(b) What is the area of one side of the piece of paper? State your answer with
uncertainty. [0.0034, 0.34%, 62100 500 mm2]
l 1
(a) 0.0034
l 297
Percentage uncertainty = 0.34%
16. The equation governing the volume rate of flow, V , of a fluid under streamline conditions
t
V r 4
through a horizontal pipe of length L and radius r is where is the pressure
t 8LY
difference across the pipe and Y is the viscosity of the fluid. In an experiment to find Y for
water, a student quotes his result as 1.137 x 10-3 kg m-1 s-1. He estimates the percentage
V
uncertainties in his measurements of , , L and r as ±3%, ±2%, ±0.5% and ±5%
t
respectively. How should he have written the result? [(1.1 0.3) x 10-3 kg m-1 s-1]
V r 4 r 4
Y
t 8LY V
8L
t
Y r L V /t
4
Y r L V /t
Y
0. 02 40. 05 0. 005 0. 03
1. 137 10 3
Y 0. 3 10 3 kg m-1 s -1 to1 s.f.
Y 1. 1 0. 3 10 3 kg m-1 s -1
6
17. 2012 H2 P1 Q2.
The equation connecting object distance u, image distance v and focal length f for a
1 1 1
lens is
u v f
A student measures values of u and v, with their associated uncertainties. These are
u = 50 mm 3 mm
v = 200 mm 5 mm
He calculates the value of f as 40 mm. What is the uncertainty in this value?
A 2.1 mm B 3.4 mm C 4.5 mm D 6.8 mm
A.
Note: There are some circumstances where the uncertainty in the final value is best
found by working the problem through twice, once with the readings as taken and
once with the limiting values which will give the maximum result.
18. This question gives you practice on the estimation of the number of significant figures.
Given that a = 0.87
b = 23.0
c = 1453.00
d = 0.0008
e = 1.85 x 105
f = 1.11
Evaluate the following functions, giving your answers with the appropriate number of
significant figures.
(a) Y=b+c–d (e) M = sin a (assuming a is in degrees)
(b) Z=cxe (f) N = (c x e)1/2
e (g) P = b2 – a2
(c) K (h) Q = log10 b
ad
3b (i) R = log10 a
(d) L (j) S = log10 f
c
[1476.0, 2.69 x 108, 2.7 x 108, 4.75 x 10-2, 0.0152, 1.64 x 104, 528, 1.362, –0.060, 0.045]
e 1.85 105
(c) K =2.7 108 (to 2 s.f.)
ad 0.87 0.0008
3b 3 23.0
(d) L =4.75 102 (to 3 s.f.)
c 1453.00
7
(e) M sin a sin 0.87 0.0152 (to 3 s.f.)
1
1
(f) N c e 2 1453.00 1.85 105 2
1.64 104 (to 3 s.f.)
19 2011 H2 P1 Q1
A picture frame is hung by a cord form a nail.
Which vector trainagle represents the resultant R of the two tension forces T in the cord?
B.
8
20. An object has an initial velocity of 20 m s-1 at an angle of 180o to OX. At a later time, its
velocity is 20 m s-1 at an angle of 120o to OX. (Directions are indicated by measuring
angles anticlockwise from the direction OX.)
20 m s-1
O X
(a) Sketch a vector diagram to show the initial velocity, final velocity and the change in
velocity of the object.
(b) Find the change in velocity. [20 m s-1 at 60o to OX]
(a) –vi
v vf
v
vf
60o 60o
vi
v v f -v i v f -v i
21. A car travels due east with speed of 50 km h-1. Rain is falling vertically relative to Earth.
The traces of rain on the side windows of the car make an angle of 60o with the vertical.
Find the velocity of the rain relative to (a) the car and (b) the Earth.
[57.7 km h-1, 28.9 km h-1 downwards]
(a) v RC v R vC v R (vC )
vC 50
From the vector triangle, sin60o =
v RC v RC
VRC
v RC 57.7 km h1 at 60o with the vertical 60o
VR
vC 50
(b) From the vector triangle, tan60o = -VC= 50 km h-1
vR vR
v R 28.9 km h1 downwards