TOPIC 1: MEASUREMENTS TUTORIAL SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS

1 (a)
Derived
quantities
Area
Force
Moment
Pressure
Work done
Power
Electric
charge
Potential
difference
Resistance
Frequency

Defining Equation

Derived units
(base)
Length x breadth
m2
Mass x Acceleration kgm s-2
Force x
kgm2s-2
perpendicular
distance
Force/area
kgm-1s-2
Force x
kgm2s-2
displacement in
direction of force
Work done / time
kgm2s-3
Current x time
As
Energy / charge
OR Work / charge
Potential
difference/current
Number of
cycles/time

Alternative
unit(s)
N
Nm
Nm-2 , Pa
J
Js-1 , W
C

kgm2s-3 A-1

JC-1 , V

kgm2s-3A-2

VA-1,

s-1

Hz

1(b) Given that Energy E = hf

Re-writing, h = E / f
Unit of h = Unit of (E/f)
Unit of h =

kgm 2 s 2
s 1

kgm 2 s 1 .

2
1

Base units of CD Base units of

F
1
Av 2
2

kgms 2

(kgm 3 )(m 2 )(ms 1 ) 2

kgms 2
3

(kgm )(m )(m s 2 )

2

kgms 2

1
kgms 2
Hence, CD is dimensionless (unitless).
3.

A homogeneous equation is one in which every term has the same

units. To determine whether an equation is homogeneous, find the
units of each term and compare. If the units are the same, the equation
is homogeneous.
Unit of v = ms-1.

(A)

Units of

( ms 2 )(m)

Comparing units of v and

homogeneous.
(B) v

m 2 s 2 ms 1.
g

, we conclude that the equation

is

g
h

Units of (B) =

ms 2
s 2 s 1.
m

Comparing units of v and

g
, we
h

conclude that the equation

g
h

is not homogeneous.
(C)

v gh
2

Units of gh (kgm 3 )(ms 2 )(m) kgm 1s 2 kg 2 m 2 s 1

Comparing units of v and gh , we conclude that the equation

v gh is not homogeneous.
(D)

Units of

g
ms 2
1 4 2

kg m s kg 2 m 2 s 1 .
3

kgm

Comparing units of v and

, we conclude that the equation

is

not homogeneous.
4(a) Two other base units are Ampere, Kelvin.
4(b) The unit of energy, the joule, may be expressed as a combination of
base units kgm2s2 derived from the products of base units (kg, m, s).
4(c)(i)

Pressure is defined as

Force
Area

Base unit for pressure P = Base unit for

P

kgm 1s 2

Force kgms 2

kgm 1s 2 .
Area
m2

m 2 s 2 ms 1.

(ii)

Unit of c Unit of

(iii)

c could be velocity or speed.

5.

1.02 1.02 1.01 1.02 1.02

( 0.02) 1.04
5

Random errors
cannot possibly be eliminated (P2)
has varying sign and magnitude (Q2)
can be reduced by averaging repeated measurements (R1)

(C) Adjusting an ammeter to remove its zero error before measuring a

current

kgm 3

An object of mass 1.000kg is placed on four different balances. For

each balance the reading is taken five times. The table shows the
values obtained together with the means. Which balance has the
smallest systematic error but is not very precise?
(N2002/I/2)
Balance
A
B
C
D

1
1.000
1.011
1.012
0.993

Reading/ kg
2
3
4
1.000
1.002
1.001
0.999
1.001
0.989
1.013
1.012
1.014
0.987
1.002
1.000

5
1.002
0.995
1.014
0.983

mean/kg
1.001
0.999
1.013
0.993

Smallest systematic error gives better accuracy, i.e. the mean of the
readings is closer to the true value of 1.000 kg. (Either balance A or B whose
mean readings are 1.001 and 0.999 respectively)
Not precise means that the measurements has large random errors, i.e. the
readings are not close to each other. This can be quantified using the
spread of the readings given by (largest reading smallest reading).
Spread for balance A = 1.002 - 1.000 = 0.002
Spread for balance B = 1.011 - 0.989 = 0.022
Readings for balance B are less precise than those for balance A.
Answer: Balance B has small systematic error but not very precise.
9

Which graph best represents precise measurements with poor

accuracy?
A

xo

xo

xo

xo

(B) Interpretation of the graph of N against x:

N is the number of times a particular value of x is obtained, i.e. it is the
frequency of x. The graph of N against x is a plot of frequency against the
measured value x.
4

The graphs are more or less bell-shaped, i.e. the values of x are normally
distributed. The mean (average) of the distribution coincides with the
median (largest number of N), which is the peak of the curve.
Precise measurements x are close to each other, that is, the measurements
has smaller spread when plotted on the x axis. The bell-shape curve will be
thinner (smaller spread), with taller and sharper peak. Measurements with
poor precision have a larger spread, the bell-shape curve appears broader
(larger spread) and flatter.
Poor accuracy means the average of the measurements is not close to the
true value xo, that is, the peak of the curve is not close to x o. Good accuracy
means the peak of the curve is close to x o. Poor accuracy means the
average of the measurements is not close to the true value x o.
10(a) The omission of zero reading introduces a systematic error in all the
readings, which results in all the readings consistently larger or consistently
smaller than the actual reading.
10(b) The readings are not accurate because the mean of these readings
will not be close to the true reading since the readings have not been
corrected by subtracting the zero reading. The readings may be precise
because the values may be close to each other due to the ability of the
micrometer screw gauge to differentiate minute distances, about 0.01 mm.
11

Given p p, q q
p
q
y p q

y
p
q

Let

Fractional Uncertainty of

12

p
q

is

p q

p
q

Ans: C

Let D = d1 d2 = 64 47 = 17 mm
Absolute error in D, D= d1 + d2 = 2+1 = 3 mm.
Percentage error in D =

D
3

100 18%
D
17

13

Percentage uncertainty in P = (2

14

Given

V R
) 100 2(3%) 2% 8%
V
R

x x = (1.0 0.2) cm
5

y y = (4.0 0.2) cm

y x 4 1 3

0.75cm
4
4
4

D=

1
1
y x
4
4

1
1
1
1
y x (0.2) (0.2) 0.1cm
4
4
4
4

D D = (0.8 0.1) cm
15

Ans : D
D

D1 D2 D 3 D4 D5
5

1.52 1.48 1.49 1.51 1.49

1.498mm
5

1
1
1
1
1
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5
5
5
5
5
5

1
1
1
1
1
(0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.01) (0.01)
5
5
5
5
5

= 0.01 mm

D D = (1.50 0.01) mm
16

Given T = 2
g = 4 2

l
g

l
2 1.150
= 9.7308 ms-2
2 = 4
T
2.16 2

g l
T

2
g
l
T

g
0.005
0.01

2
9.7308 1.150
2.16

g = 0.1 ms-2 (to 1 sf)

g g = (9.7 0.1) ms-2

17

Given:

V r 4 ( p1 p2 )

t
8L

r 4 (p1 p2 )t

8LV
=

(0.43 10 3 ) 4 (0.150 10 5 )(4.0)

8(5.5 10 2 )(10.0 10 6 )

m4 (kgms2 m2 )s
m m3

= 1.4646 x 10-3 kgm-1s-1

r p p2 t L V
4 1

r
p1 p2
t
L
V
0.01

0.010

0. 1

0.1

0.1

= 4 0.43 0.150 4.0 5.5 10.0

= 0.213
= 0.213 x
= 0.213 x 0.0014646
= 0.3 x 10-3 kgm-1s-1 (to 1 s.f.)

18

a)

b)

= (1.5 0.3) x 10-3 kgm-1s-1 OR

Given:

l l = (40 1) mm
D D = (12.0 0.2) mm
d d = (10.0 0.2) mm

l
1

2.5%
l
40
D 0.2

1.7%
D 12.0
d 0.2 2.0 %

2%
d 10.0
V

1
l ( D 2 d 2 )
4

1
lP
4
V l P

V
l
P

V=

Nsm-2

Let P = D2 d2
Let Q = D2 = 12.02 = 144 mm2
Let R = d2 = 10.02 = 100 mm2
Then P = Q R
= 144 100
= 44 mm2
Q
D
0.2
1
2
2

Q
D
12.0 30

1
144 = 4.8 mm2
30
R
d
0.2
1
2
2

R
d
10.0 25
1
100 = 4 mm2
R =
25
Since P = Q R
Then P = Q + R
= 4.8 + 4
= 8.8 mm2
Q =

% uncertainty in V
V
=
x 100%
V
1 8.8

100%
=
40 44
= 23 % (2 s.f.)

c)

1
l ( D 2 d 2 ) =1382.301
4

mm3

V = 0.23 x 1382.301 = 300 mm3 (to 1 s.f.)

V V

= (1400 300) mm3

= (1.4 0.3) x 103 mm3

19

(a)

Fx = 8.0cos55o = 4.6 N
Fy = 8.0sin55o = 6.6 N

(b)

vx = 37cos28o = 33 ms-1
vy= 37sin28o = 17 ms-1

(c)
(d)

8.0 N

Fx = 530cos51o = 334 N
Fy = 530sin51o = 412 N

55

Fx = 9.5cos28o = 8.4 N
Fy= 9.5sin28o = 4.6 N

x
x
28
37 ms-1

9.5 N
y
x

530 N

x
39

28

20(i) Resultant vector in the x-x direction

Rx = -35cos45o + 15cos30o+ 0= 11.8 N
Resultant vector in the y-y direction
Ry = 35sin45o + 15sin30o-78 = 45.8 N
Vector diagram to show resultant:

-45.8N

-11.8N

Magnitude of resultant force R =

45.8 2 11.8 2 47.3 N

 tan 1 (

45.8
) 76 o
11.8

Resultant force R = 47.3 N in the direction 76o

anticlockwise from ve x-axis.
(ii)

Smallest force that must be applied such that the resultant is along x-x
direction is 45.8 N in the direction 90o anti clockwise from +ve x-axis.

21

Force component in the North direction

= 27.56 + 7.89cos34o + 10sin200 12 sin 60o 10 sin10o
= 25.4 N
Force component in the East direction
= 7.89sin34o +10cos20o + 12 cos60o -10 cos10o
= 9.96 N
North

9.96 N

25.4 N

Magnitude of resultant force = (25.42 + 9.962) = 27.3 N

= tan-1(9.96 / 25.4) = 21.4o
The resultant force is 27. 3 N, 21.4o clockwise from the North direction.
22a)

35 ms-1
racket

30 ms-1
Taking leftward direction as positive,
Change in velocity

= Final velocity
= 30

initial velocity
35

= 30

35

= 65 ms-1
10

Thus the change in velocity is 65 ms-1 towards the left.

22 b)
60o 60o

15 ms-1

15 ms-1
Change in velocity

= Final velocity
15 ms-1

60o

15 ms-1
60o

15 ms-1

initial velocity

15 ms-1

60o
15 ms-1
v
~

60o
60o

60o

It is an equilateral triangle!
Thus the change in velocity is 15 ms-1, vertically
downwards.

15 ms-1

22c

3 ms-1
30o

Change in velocity

5 ms-1

= Final velocity
=

3 ms-1

initial velocity

5 ms-1

5 ms-1

30o
=

3 ms-1
30o

11

5 ms-1
30o
-1
3 ms

150

By Cosine Rule,
v = (32 + 52 2 x 3 x 5 x cos 150o)
= 7.7 ms-1

v
~

By Sine Rule, = sin-1(5 sin150o/7.7)

= 19 o
The change in velocity is 7.7 ms-1, (30 o - 19 o) = 11 o anticlockwise from the
horizontal.
22d

batter
first base
30 ms-1
40o

v
~

40o

30 ms-1
130o
35 ms-1

35 ms-1
By Cosine Rule,
v = (302 + 352 2x 30 x 35 cos 130o)
= 58.9 ms-1
By Sine Rule, = sin-1(30 sin130o/58.9)
= 23o

F = m ( v/ t) = 75 x10-3 x (58.9/0.05) = 88.4 N

Thus, the force of the bat on the ball is 88.4 N, 63 o anticlockwise from the
horizontal.

12