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Question: Answered & Verified by Expert
A student measures the distance covered and time taken by a body under free fall which was initially at rest. He uses this data for estimating g, the acceleration due to gravity. If the maximum percentage errors in measurement of the distance and the time are e1 and e2 respectively, then the maximum possible percentage error in the estimation of g is
PhysicsExperimental PhysicsJEE Main
Options:
  • A e2e1
  • B e1+ 2e2
  • C e1+e2
  • D e12e2
Solution:
2734 Upvotes Verified Answer
The correct answer is: e1+ 2e2
From the relation

h = ut + 1 2 gt 2

h = 1 2 gt 2 g = 2 h t 2 body initially at rest

Taking natural logarithms on both sides, we get

lng=lnh-2lnt+ln2

Differentiating, Δ g g = Δ h h - 2 Δ t t

For maximum permissible errors, we add both the errors. So

Δgg×100max=Δhh×100+2×Δtt×100


Δ h h × 100 = e 1 and Δ t t × 100 = e 2

Therefore, Δ g g × 100 max e 1 + 2 e 2  

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