A tape measure gives the length of a laboratory corridor as
PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Scientific Practice & Experimental Methods · Uncertainty in measurement · Uncertainty in measurement
Measurement and Method, Ch What a measured value is: quantities, units and the SI
Problem
A tape measure gives the length of a laboratory corridor as L=(24.360±0.020)m, and a micrometer gives the diameter of a human hair as d=(47.0±1.5)μm.
((a)) Calculate the relative uncertainty of each result, quoting it in per cent or in ppm as the chapter recommends.
((b)) Which result has the smaller relative uncertainty, and by roughly what factor? Compare this with the ratio of the two absolute uncertainties.