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\prob{48}
The magnitude of the force F on an object can be determined by measuring both the mass m of an object and the magnitude of its acceleration a, where F=ma. Assume that these measurements are uncorrelated and normally distributed. if the standard deviations of the measurements of the mass and acceleration are $\sigma_m$ and $\sigma_a$ respectively, then $\sigma_F/F$ is

  1. $(\frac{\sigma_m}{m})^2+(\frac{\sigma_a}{a})^2$
  2. $(\frac{\sigma_m}{m}+\frac{\sigma_a}{a})^{1/2}$
  3. $((\frac{\sigma_m}{m})^2+(\frac{\sigma_a}{a})^2)^{1/2}$
  4. $\frac{\sigma_m \sigma_a}{ma}$
  5. $\sigma_m/m + \sigma_a/a$
Lab Methods}Uncertainty

The general equation for uncertainty is given by \delta f/f=\sqrt{\sum_i (\frac{\delta x_i}{x_i})^2}, where f=\Pi_i x_i and \delta x_i is the generalized standard deviation of quantity x_i.

So, for this case, one has f=ma and thus its uncertainty is given by \delta f/f = \sqrt{(\frac{\delta m}{m})^2+(\frac{\delta a}{a})^2}. (Basically, one has x_1=m and x_2=a.)

This is choice (C).
See below for user comments and alternate solutions! See below for user comments and alternate solutions!
Alternate Solutions
LF
2015-10-16 02:47:49		It's possible to guess the answer even without knowing anything about error analysis.

There should be nothing special about the equation F = ma, so a priori, there should be no restriction on m or a being negative. However, the standard deviation is always positive. With these two observations we eliminate A, B and E:

A is eliminated because if m or a are negative, then F (=ma) is negative. However option A is always positive, so sigma_F/F = [something positive] -> sigma_F must be negative, something that's not possible.

B is eliminated because if both a and m are negative, then we have a negative number within the square root and the standard deviation can't be imaginary.

E is eliminated because if m is negative and really large, while a is positive and really small, then the second term dominates the first and we have a positive sum. But F (=ma) is again negative, so sigma_F is again negative, and that is impossible.

That leaves C and D. Now we can use another observation: if we can measure either m or a with infinite precision, then its standard deviation would be zero. However because of the other variable, we do not know F with infinite precision, and therefore sigma_F is not zero. Plugging in this condition eliminates D, leaving C as the only possible answer.		Alternate Solution - Unverified
Comments
LF
2015-10-16 02:47:49		It's possible to guess the answer even without knowing anything about error analysis.

There should be nothing special about the equation F = ma, so a priori, there should be no restriction on m or a being negative. However, the standard deviation is always positive. With these two observations we eliminate A, B and E:

A is eliminated because if m or a are negative, then F (=ma) is negative. However option A is always positive, so sigma_F/F = [something positive] -> sigma_F must be negative, something that's not possible.

B is eliminated because if both a and m are negative, then we have a negative number within the square root and the standard deviation can't be imaginary.

E is eliminated because if m is negative and really large, while a is positive and really small, then the second term dominates the first and we have a positive sum. But F (=ma) is again negative, so sigma_F is again negative, and that is impossible.

That leaves C and D. Now we can use another observation: if we can measure either m or a with infinite precision, then its standard deviation would be zero. However because of the other variable, we do not know F with infinite precision, and therefore sigma_F is not zero. Plugging in this condition eliminates D, leaving C as the only possible answer.
LF
2015-10-16 03:46:36		 Attempting to fix the broken code. It looks OK in the preview, hope it displays right as well.
---
It's possible to guess the answer even without knowing anything about error analysis.

There should be nothing special about the equation F = ma, so a priori, there should be no restriction on m or a being negative. However, the standard deviation is always positive. With these two observations we eliminate A, B and E:

A is eliminated because if m or a are negative, then F (=ma) is negative. However option A is always positive, so \\sigma_{F}/F = [something positive] -> \\sigma_{F} must be negative, something that's not possible.

B is eliminated because if both a and m are negative, then we have a negative number within the square root and the standard deviation can't be imaginary.

E is eliminated because if m is negative and really large, while a is positive and really small, then the second term dominates the first and we have a positive sum. But F (=ma) is again negative, so \\sigma_{F} is again negative, and that is impossible.

That leaves C and D. Now we can use another observation: if we can measure either m or a with infinite precision, then its standard deviation would be zero. However because of the other variable, we do not know F with infinite precision, and therefore \\sigma_{F} is not zero. Plugging in this condition eliminates D, leaving C as the only possible answer.
Alternate Solution - Unverified
MuffinSpawn
2009-09-24 18:57:56		If you don't remember the product rule, you can always derive it quickly using the general function rule:

\sigma f = \sqrt{\sum \left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x_i} \sigma x_i\right)^2}		NEC
petr1243
2008-03-09 18:13:35		Just a simple application of the general rules from error analysis:

For A = B +/- C :

\delta A = \sqrt{(\delta B)^2 + (\delta C)^2}

For A = B*C or A = B/C:

\frac{\delta A}{A} = \sqrt{(\frac{\delta B }{B})^2 + (\frac{\delta A }{A})^2}

Just treat \sigma as our \delta

note
2008-08-21 23:12:47		 There's a typo in your last equation, I think you meant dC/C
NEC

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