How to Calculate Uncertainty for Electrical Fields?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the electric field at a specific distance from a charge, while also determining the associated uncertainty in the measurement. The problem involves understanding how to account for variations in both distance and charge values.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss how to find the range of possible values for the electric field based on the uncertainties in the measurements. Questions are raised about combining errors and the interpretation of tolerances in the context of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of how to calculate the uncertainty. Some guidance has been offered regarding the calculation of mean values and limits of deviation, but no consensus has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of given tolerances for both distance and charge, and there is some uncertainty about how to properly combine these errors in the context of the electric field calculation.

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Homework Statement


Find the electrical field a distance of 2.09 ± 0.02 m from a charge of 1.82 ± 0.03 µC.
What is the uncertainty?



2. The attempt at a solution
I was able to answer part one correctly. Very easy. However, I am not sure of how to find the uncertainty
 
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What are the possible range of values that you can calculate for the electric field given the tolerance of your parameters?
 
Do you know how to combine errors? If not, try this:

http://home.clara.net/rod.beavon/err_comb.htm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Born2bwire said:
What are the possible range of values that you can calculate for the electric field given the tolerance of your parameters?

i don't understand what you mean
 
I don't know about ideasrule suggestion but if I wanted to find the error, then I would say that the mean value would be calculated off of the nominal values given. Then, given the tolerance on these nominal values, what is the largest and smallest possible electric field? This would be the limits of the deviation from your calculated nominal value.
 

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