If the mass of an object is measured as 10.0 kg with an uncertainty of ±0.2 kg,
Practice Questions
Q1
If the mass of an object is measured as 10.0 kg with an uncertainty of ±0.2 kg, what is the percentage error?
2%
0.2%
0.02%
0.5%
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
If the mass of an object is measured as 10.0 kg with an uncertainty of ±0.2 kg, what is the percentage error?
Correct Answer: 2%
Step 1: Identify the measured value of the mass, which is 10.0 kg.
Step 2: Identify the absolute error, which is the uncertainty of the measurement, ±0.2 kg.
Step 3: Use the formula for percentage error: Percentage error = (absolute error / measured value) * 100.
Step 4: Substitute the values into the formula: Percentage error = (0.2 / 10.0) * 100.
Step 5: Calculate the division: 0.2 divided by 10.0 equals 0.02.
Step 6: Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage: 0.02 * 100 equals 2%.
Step 7: Conclude that the percentage error is 2%.
Percentage Error – Percentage error is a way to express the uncertainty of a measurement relative to the measured value, calculated as (absolute error / measured value) * 100.
Uncertainty in Measurements – Understanding how to quantify the uncertainty associated with a measurement and its impact on calculations.
