A student records the following current measurements at a single junction: • Into the…

PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Current Electricity · Current Electricity

Problem

A student records the following current measurements at a single junction: • Into the junction:

2.00\,\text{A}\;\pm\;0.05\,\text{A}

• Out through branch 1:

1.18\,\text{A}\;\pm\;0.03\,\text{A}

• Out through branch 2:

0.80\,\text{A}\;\pm\;0.03\,\text{A}

Which conclusion is most strongly supported by these data? (a) The junction rule is violated because the

0.02\,\text{A}

mismatch exceeds the

0.03\,\text{A}

uncertainty of each branch current. (b) The data are inconclusive because the combined uncertainty in the difference is

0.02\,\text{A}

, the same as the mismatch. (c) The junction rule is supported because the

0.02\,\text{A}

difference is smaller than the combined experimental uncertainty. (d) The junction rule would be confirmed only if the current entering exceeded the current leaving by at least

0.05\,\text{A}

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