Calculating Error In Wavelength

  • Thread starter Thread starter azntoon
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Error Wavelength
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 9K views
azntoon
Messages
392
Reaction score
2

Homework Statement



I am unsure whether I am calculating the error correctly for the wavelength
given that x=14.3,15.3,16.2,17.1,23.3 all in degrees

Homework Equations



[tex]\lambda=d*Sin(x)[/tex]

where d is my slit size in meters [tex]\frac {1}{600000}[/tex]
x=measured angle
[tex]\delta x= 0.1 degrees[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



[tex]\delta\lambda= \frac {|Cos(x)|\delta x}{600000}[/tex]

Now with my given x's they would produce a different error each time is that right or how do I get an over all error?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, that is the correct expression for the error and it will be different for each angle. Error is an estimate, so it is quite common to just work it out for a middle value and apply that same size error bar to all the points.