Physics 9702 · AS & A Level · Errors and uncertainties

Errors and uncertainties — practice question

A student carried out an experiment in which an electric current was known to fall with time. The readings obtained, from first to last, were $3.62\,\text{mA}$, $2.81\,\text{mA}$, $1.13\,\text{mA}$, $1.76\,\text{mA}$ and $0.90\,\text{mA}$. Which statement would be unable to account for the anomalous $1.13\,\text{mA}$ reading?

  • AHe has reversed the third and fourth readings in the results table.
  • BHe read the ammeter incorrectly; the reading should have been $2.13\, ext{mA}$.
  • CHe took the current reading at the wrong time.
  • DThere was a systematic error in the readings from the ammeter.

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