Question

A student is measuring the mass of a two metal cylinders. The following data is collected. The actual mass of each cylinder is given. Answer the following questions. Metal Cylinder A 12.4 grams Actual mass of metal cylinder A 12.7 g Metal Cylinder B 75.4 grams Actual mass of metal cylinder B 75.1 g a. What is the absolute error for the measurement of metal cylinders A and B

Answer 1

Answer:

Absolute error in measurement of A = 0.3

Absolute error in measurement of B = 0.3

Explanation:

Absolute error is a measure of the amount of error in a measurement i.e. a measure of how far away a measurement is from a true value or an indication of the uncertainty in a measurement.

The Absolute Error is the difference between the actual and measured value. In formula, the absolute error, Δx is given as:

Δx = |xi – x|,

Where:  xi is the measurement, x is the true value,

| | indicates that only absolute values are taken

In the measurements by the student in the question:

Metal Cylinder A

measured value = 12.4 grams

actual mass of metal cylinder A = 12.7 g

Using the absolute error formula; Δx = |xi – x|

Absolute error in measurement of A = |12.4 - 12.7| = 0.3

Metal Cylinder B

measured value = 75.4 grams

actual mass of metal cylinder B = 75.1 g

Using the absolute error formula; Δx = |xi – x|

Absolute error in measurement of B = |75.4 - 75.1| = 0.3