A boiling-point experiment is performed with two different thermometers
PHYSICS · Multi-part · CBSE · Physics · Units and Measurements · Units and Measurements
Problem
A boiling-point experiment is performed with two different thermometers.
Thermometer A has a least count of 0.1 °C and gives the following readings for the boiling point of water (°C): 102.1, 102.3, 101.9, 102.2, 102.0
Thermometer B has a least count of 1 °C and gives the readings (°C): 100, 100, 100, 100, 100
The true boiling point under the existing atmospheric pressure is 100.0 °C.
Analyse the data as follows.
(i) Compute the mean reading for each thermometer, expressing the result with the appropriate significant figures.
(ii) For each thermometer, find the absolute error of the mean reading with respect to the true value.
(iii) Using (a) the least count and (b) the range of the readings, discuss the precision offered by each thermometer.
(iv) Indicate which thermometer is more accurate and which is more precise, giving numerical support for your answer.
(v) Explain how the data illustrate the presence of systematic error in one instrument and random error in the other.