Uncertainty Contents: General Rules for addition and subtraction Whiteboards for addition and subtraction Rule for multiplication and division Examples of multiplication and division
Concept 0 TOC Consider: 5 ± 2 m The (absolute) uncertainty is 2 The fractional uncertainty is 2/5 (or 40%)
Rule for addition and subtraction TOC The uncertainty of a sum or difference is always the sum of the uncertainties If y = a + b then y = a + b - uncertainty in (2.3 ±.1) + (3.6 ±.3) 5.9 ±.4 (7.6 ±.4) - (2.5 ±.3) 5.1 ±.7
Whiteboards Uncertainty with + and - TOC
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty (45 ± 3) + (12 ± 2) = ?? W 57 ± 5
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty (12.1 ±.3) - (4.5 ±.6) = ?? W 7.6 ±.9
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty (11 ± 3) - (7 ± 2) = ?? W 4 ± 5 Ummm? ??????
Rule for multiplication and division TOC The fractional uncertainty of a product or quotient is the sum of the fractional uncertainty of the operands: (??) Example - (5 ± 10%) x (20 ± 15%) (100 ± 25%)
Whiteboards Uncertainty with x and / in % TOC
Express the answer with the correct % uncertainty (6 ± 3%) x (8 ± 2%) = ?? W 6x8 = 48 uncty = 3% + 2% = 5% %
Express the answer with the correct % uncertainty (72 ± 5%) (9 ± 2%) = ?? W 72/9 = 8 uncty = 5% + 2% = 7% 8 + 7%
Rule for multiplication and division TOC The fractional uncertainty of a product or quotient is the sum of the fractional uncertainty of the operands: (??) If y = ab, then y = a + b + c c y a b c - uncertainty in…
Rule for multiplication and division TOC If y = ab, then y = a + b + c c y a b c Example: A metal plate measures cm by cm. What is its area? Find the area: 21.1 x 15.3 = Use the formula: y = y = 9.76 ≈ 9.8 (2 SF?) cm 2
Whiteboards Uncertainty with x and / TOC
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty (45 ± 1) x (12 ± 1) = ?? W 12 x 45 = 540 uncty = 540(1/45+1/12) = ± 57
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty (30.0 ±.7) (1.2 ±.1) = ?? W 30/1.2 = 25 uncty = 25(.7/30+.1/1.2) = ± ± 2.7
Rule for powers TOC If y = a n then
Rule for powers TOC If y = a n then A cube measures 2.52 ±.05 cm on a side. What is its volume in cc? Volume = cc dV = ±.95 cc
Whiteboards Uncertainty with Powers TOC
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty (8.1 ± 1.0) 2 = ?? W = uncty = 65.61(2*1/8.1) = ± ± 16??
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty A circle has a radius of cm. What is its area? Area = r 2 = x r x r W r 2 = = uncty = (.1/4.5+.1/4.5) = cm 2
Express the answer with the correct uncertainty = ?? W √(25.0) = 5.00 uncty = 5.00*(.5*.2/25) = ±.02