How Should Error Be Calculated When Determining Angles from Voltage Maxima?

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 · 2K views
CricK0es
Messages
54
Reaction score
3

Homework Statement



I have taken 5 sets of readings of voltage against angle for an experiment to determine specific rotation. (I'm using the maxima to determine the phase shift) So, having averaged these values and determined the maximum, I can then trace back to the angle at which this appears. Naturally, this will move depending on the concentration of my solution.

But I don't know how I should obtain the error on this angle. Because I'm obtaining it via the voltage maximums and then merely tracing back to known/consistent values...

So I feel a little stuck, Any guidance would be very much appreciated

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I considered taking the fractional error on my mean voltage and simply applying this to my angle to accommodate for fluctuation [As in the mean value may be the greatest, but individual readings within my 5 may fall before or beyond.]

OR

Use each individual set and determine an angle at which the maximum applies, and then use the standard error on the mean of the angle as my error on each value
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Sorry, but I could do with a clearer description of the experiment and how you dealt with the data.
What does one set of readings consist of?
What numbers are being averaged, and of what numbers is the maximum being taken?
Maybe you could post the full details of your working.
 
haruspex said:
Sorry, but I could do with a clearer description of the experiment and how you dealt with the data.
What does one set of readings consist of?
What numbers are being averaged, and of what numbers is the maximum being taken?
Maybe you could post the full details of your working.

It's okay. I managed to sort it out and the latter approach was the correct one. I had marked it as solved using my phone but it musn't have gone through. Regardless, thank you