Chapter 1, Problem 74A

To determine

To Measure:The length of the leaf with the uncertainty.

Answer to Problem 74A

The length of the leaf with uncertainty is $\text{8}\text{.3 cm ± 0}\text{.05 cm}$

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Uncertainty in measurement through an instrument is the value by which the measurement the value is off from the true value.

To calculate the uncertainty of a ruler, divide the smallest scale increment of the ruler by 2.

In this case,the smallest scale division is a tenth of a centimeter or $1\text{mm}$ .

Therefore, the uncertainty

  $\Delta x=\frac{\text{1mm}}{\text{2}}$

  $\Delta x=0.5\text{mm}$

or

  $\Delta x=0.\text{05}\text{cm}$

Conclusion:

Hence, the length of the leaf with uncertainty is $\text{8}\text{.3 cm ± 0}\text{.05 cm}$ .