Question: evaluate the equation E = L2/L1.
L1 = 48.5 cm and L2 = 51.5 cm. both measurements have +/- .05 cm of uncertainty.
My Approach: I have seen 2 methods, but i get differing answers. what is a good answer to this problem???
2007-02-25 15:01:57 · 2 answers · asked by Jimmy 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Please share with us your 2 methods in the future.
I feel that since both have uncertainty, the measurements will deviate by -.1 or +.1 at best. You could cancel out the uncertainty factor since they both have it..or give a ranged answer (doing the math with both the negative & positive to get 4 answers..taking the least and greatest). Maybe just pick the average answer out of them..I believe thats called the mean.
2007-02-25 15:24:50 · answer #1 · answered by Sore wa himitsu desu! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
use partial differentiation.
dE = ∂E/∂(L1) *∆(L1) + ∂E/∂(L2) * ∆(L2)
= -L2/L1^2 * ∆L1 + 1/L1* ∆L2
2007-02-25 16:46:45 · answer #2 · answered by novice 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋