Q.
In successive experiments while measuring the period of oscillation of a simple pendulum. The readings turn out to be 2.63s,2.56s,2.42s,2.71s and 2.80s.
Calculate the mean absolute error.
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Physical World, Units and Measurements
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Solution:
The mean period of oscillation of the pendulum, Tmean =52.63+2.56+2.42+2.71+2.80 =513.12=2.624=2.62s
The absolute errors in the measurements are ΔT1=2.63s−2.62s=0.01s ΔT2=2.56s−2.62s=−0.06s ΔT3=2.42s−2.62s=−0.20s ΔT4=2.71s−2.62s=0.09s ΔT5=2.80s−2.62s=0.18s
The arithmetic mean of all the absolute errors is ΔTmean =i=1∑55∣ΔTi∣ =[(0.01+0.06+0.20+0.09+0.18)]/5 =0.54/5=0.108=0.11s