Physics help please - Sources of error in lab experiments

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on identifying and correcting sources of error in various physics lab experiments. Key errors mentioned include environmental factors affecting the center of gravity, parallax errors in density measurements, and human reaction time delays in heat conduction experiments. Limitations such as the need for gentle pouring to prevent mixing and the impact of temperature variations on density are also highlighted. Participants suggest additional sources of error, including measurement instrument variations and impurities in materials. Overall, the thread seeks to refine understanding of experimental accuracy and reliability in physics labs.
Shordaay
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Physics help please -- Sources of error in lab experiments

Ok so i need some help with a few labs.. some I've tried out and a few i just can't get.. what i want to know is whether the limitations and sources of errors that i wrote down for each of these labs are correct or not and what i could have said instead. Thank you for your help in advance.

Sources of errors for center of gravity of an irregular shaped object:
-environmental error: when the wind blows it may remove the irregular shaped object from equilibrium.
- (i couldn't think of a next one)

sources of errors for density column:
- parallex error: when pouring the liquid into the container, the container should be on a flat surface and poured with eyes at an eye level or at 90 degrees.
- do not pour liquids along the side of the container to avoid mixing

limitations for density column:
-pouring should be gentle to avoid the mixing of the liquids
- try tilting the container a little so that the liquid you are adding runs down the side more slowly

sources of errors for rate of conduction of heat in copper, nickel, tin, brass and aluminium:
-human reaction time error: was slow when timing the exact time the match stick fell
- mechanical error: electrical glitches when using the stop watch

sources of errors for thermal expansion of ball and ring:
- mechanical error: electrical glitches when using the digital vernier caliper
-(i could not think of another one)
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Sources of errors for center of gravity of an irregular shaped object:
-environmental error: when the wind blows it may remove the irregular shaped object from equilibrium.
- (i couldn't think of a next one)

add: density variations, shape variations 'say, thickness], in ability to measure precisely, inability to compute precisely...

sources of errors for density column:
- parallex error: when pouring the liquid into the container, the container should be on a flat surface and poured with eyes at an eye level or at 90 degrees.
- do not pour liquids along the side of the container to avoid mixing

add: density varies slightly with height, with temperature, with atmospheric pressure,

limitations for density column:
-pouring should be gentle to avoid the mixing of the liquids
- try tilting the container a little so that the liquid you are adding runs down the side more slowly

sources of errors for rate of conduction of heat in copper, nickel, tin, brass and aluminium:
-human reaction time error: was slow when timing the exact time the match stick fell
- mechanical error: electrical glitches when using the stop watch

add: impurities in metals, measurement instrument variations, different ambient temperatures,varying ambient temperatures, thickness/size of metals,

sources of errors for thermal expansion of ball and ring:
- mechanical error: electrical glitches when using the digital vernier caliper

variations in temperature of heat source...location of ball ring wrsp to heat source; cooling while measuring, ambient condition variations,
 


thank you very much for your help.. by the way are those i came up with okay?
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top