Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Physics

Chapter

Units and Measurements

Question:

A student measures the distance traversed in free fall of a body, initially at rest, in a given time. He uses this data to estimate g, the acceleration due to gravity. If the maximum percentage errors in measurement of the distance and the time are e1 and e2 respectively, the percentage error in the estimation of g is

Options:

$e_2 - e_1$

$e_1 + 2e_2$

$e_2 + e_1$

$e_1 - 2e_2$

Correct Answer:

$e_1 + 2e_2$

Explanation:

Initially the body is at rest

h = $\frac{1}{2}gt^2$

g = $\frac{2h}{t^2}$

Maximum percentage error in g is 

$\frac{\Delta g}{g}$ = $\frac{\Delta h}{h}$ +$2\frac{\Delta t}{t}$

$\frac{\Delta h}{h}$ = $e_1$

$\frac{\Delta t}{t}$ = $e_2$

$\frac{\Delta g}{g}$ = $e_1$ + 2$e_2$