A. Solve the following problems.
1. The radius of a solid sphere is measured to be (6.5 ± 0.2) cm. Determine the volume of the sphere with its uncertainty.
2. A resistor is marked as having a value of 5.9 ± 2%. The power P dissipated in the resistor, when connected in a simple electrical circuit, was to be calculated from the current in the resistor, which measured as (1.40 ± 0.05) mA. What is the value of calculated P together with its associated uncertainty?
3. A car accelerates uniformly from rest and travels a distance of (100±1) m. If the acceleration of the car is (6.5 ± 0.5) m/s², what would be its final velocity. together with its associated uncertainty, at the end of the distance covered?
I will report unhelpful answers
Answers & Comments
Note: I don't know what exactly your teacher have discussed on how to calculate uncertainties. But I give you two options:
(1) the simple method, and
(2) the average deviation method.
I will not show the third and fourth options which are the standard deviation method and the propagation of errors. The average deviation and standard deviation methods involve the application of statistics. The propagation of errors involves the application of calculus.
Item 1: First Option
The volume V of the sphere is
Assume the value of π as 3.1416.
Given:
Then,
Take the average of the volume:
Take the uncertainty:
Thus,
(in significant figures)
Item 1: Second Option
Calculating the quantity of the volume,
Calculate the uncertainty using the average deviation,
Thus,
(in significant figures)
Item 2: First Option
The power P with the relationship of current I and resistance R is given by
Given:
and
Then,
Take the average of the power:
Take the uncertainty:
Thus,
(in significant figures)
Item 2: Second Option
Calculate the quantity of the power,
Calculate the uncertainty using the average deviation,
Thus,
(in significant figures)
Item 3: First Option
The kinematic equation having the acceleration a, the initial and final velocities (u and v), and the distance s is given by:
Since the car starts at rest, the initial velocity is zero. So,
Given:
and
Then,
Take the average of the final velocity:
Take the uncertainty:
Thus,
(in significant figures)
Item 3: Second Option
Recall the formula,
Calculate the quantity of the final velocity,
Calculate the uncertainty using the average deviation,
Thus,
(in significant figures)
I used 5.92 ± 2%, instead of 5.9 ± 2%