Question 66

MCQMEDIUM

A student uses a simple pendulum of exactly 1 m1 \text{ m} length to determine gg, the acceleration due to gravity. He uses a stop watch with the least count of 1 sec1 \text{ sec} for this and records 40 seconds40 \text{ seconds} for 20 oscillations20 \text{ oscillations}. For this observation, which of the following statement(s) is (are) true?

(A)

Error ΔT\Delta T in measuring TT, the time period, is 0.05 seconds0.05 \text{ seconds}

(B)

Error ΔT\Delta T in measuring TT, the time period, is 1 second1 \text{ second}

(C)

Percentage error in the determination of gg is 5%5\%

(D)

Percentage error in the determination of gg is 2.5%2.5\%

Detailed Solution

The time period is given by T=tnT = \frac{t}{n}, where tt is the total time and nn is the number of oscillations. The error in time period is

ΔT=Δtn\Delta T = \frac{\Delta t}{n}.

Given least count Δt=1 s\Delta t = 1 \text{ s} and n=20n = 20, we get

ΔT=120=0.05 s\Delta T = \frac{1}{20} = 0.05 \text{ s}.

Thus, option A is correct. The formula for gg is g=4Ï€2LT2g = 4\pi^2 \frac{L}{T^2}.

The relative error in gg is given by Δgg=ΔLL+2ΔTT\frac{\Delta g}{g} = \frac{\Delta L}{L} + 2\frac{\Delta T}{T}.

Since the length LL is given as exactly 1 m1 \text{ m}, we will take ΔL=0\Delta L = 0.

The time period T=4020=2 sT = \frac{40}{20} = 2 \text{ s}.

Therefore, Δgg=2×0.052=0.05\frac{\Delta g}{g} = 2 \times \frac{0.05}{2} = 0.05.

In percentage, this is 0.05×100=5%0.05 \times 100 = 5\%. Thus, option C is correct.

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