Question

The volume of a cylinder is to be determined from measurements of the diameter and length. If the length and diameter are measured at four different locations by means of a micrometer with an uncertainty of 0.5% of reading, determine the uncertainty in the measurement.

Answer 1

Answer: The uncertainty in the measurements is 4%

Explanation: uncertainty is the doubt or level of not being sure about an outcome or a result.

Because the volume of the cylinder is gotten by measuring length and diameter of the cylinder, using a micrometer that has a 0.5% uncertainty, this will cause the measurements of each value to have a 0.5% uncertainty.

Therefore, since the length has 0.5% uncertainty and the diameter has 0.5% uncertainty too.

The uncertainty in the measurement will be.

0.5% + 0.5% = 1%

Since we are told that this measurement was carried out in four different locations, that means the uncertainty will become;

1% × 4 = 4%

As the number of locations increases, the uncertainty in the measurement will increase as well.