Question

The period of oscillation for a simple pendulum is measured in the successive oscillations are 2.63 s,2.56 s,2.92 s,2.71 s,2.8 s.calculate true value,absolute error ,mean absolute error,relative error and percentage error?

Answer 1

mean value of Time period  =  ( 2.63 + 2.56 + 2.92 + 2.71 + 2.80  ) / 5    = 2.72 sec
true value = mean value = 2.72 sec

 Absolute error for each measurement  =  |  measurement - mean value |
                          = 0.09,    0.16 ,  0.20 ,   0.01  ,  0.08
absolute error =  mean absolute error
           =  (0.09 +   0.16 +  0.20 +  0.01 +  0.08) / 5 =  0.11  rounded
 So the time period measured is likely to be  2.72 +- 0.11

relative error =  mean absolute error / mean value
                   = 0.11 / 2.72  = 0.40
% error  =  100 * relative error = 40 %