The discussion revolves around determining the absolute uncertainty of a mass reading from an electronic scale that displays 502.4 g. Participants are exploring the implications of significant figures and the lack of additional information regarding the scale's precision.
The conversation is ongoing, with various interpretations being explored regarding the uncertainty. Some participants have proposed potential values for uncertainty based on their reasoning about significant figures, but no consensus has been reached.
Participants note that the question appears to lack sufficient context, as it is taken directly from a textbook without additional details about the scale's specifications or measurement accuracy.
Haborix said:My first thought is to consider significant figures. If you were given a value of 10, would you think it's reasonable to have an uncertainty of +/- 0.1? Probably not, because the output you have is not given to any decimal places. So in this case where we have 502.4g we should ask how exact can we get before we reach the limit of the measurement.
-Eric
aborder said:Homework Statement
If an electronic scale reads 502.4 g, what is the absolute uncertainty in the mass reading.
Homework Equations
Not sure
The Attempt at a Solution
Not a clue, it seems that there isn't enough information given. How am I supposed to figure out the absolute uncertainty if this is all that is given?
Phrak said:It's a lousy question and your text should be burned in an effort to the improvement the human condition.
However
It seems we are supposed to assume the measuring electronics deliver 100% accuracy to the display.
If the actual mass were 502.351 g what would the meter read?
If the actual mass were 502.449 g what would the meter read?
PeterO said:I think all figure are taken as =- 1/2 of the last digit - unless stated as bigger.
So 502.4 =-0.05
aborder said:Wouldn't it also be + 0.05 as well if the meter rounds to the nearest tenth? I guess we really don't know since there isn't any additional information provided.
aborder said:I suppose that it would read 502.4 because it rounds to the nearest tenth. I guess we assume that when only the tenths place is given. The thing is, how do I know what to assume when this isn't discussed in the text.
phrak said:given that I've correctly read between the lines of your text, what do you get for the absolute error?
PeterO said:Look at the keyboard ... I was too brief with the shift key so got = instead of +
PeterO said:Look at the keyboard ... I was too brief with the shift key so got = instead of +
Phrak said:That's a good trick. How do you typo "+/-" into "="? The fingers must by flying.