Question:

Three students S1, S2 and S3 perform an experiment for determining the acceleration due to gravity (g) using a simple pendulum. They use different lengths of pendulum and record time for different number of oscillations. The observations are as shown in the table.
Student No.Length of Pendulum (cm)No. of oscillations (n)Total time for n oscillationsTime period (s)
164.08128.016.0
264.0464.016.0
320.0436.09.0

(Least count of length = 0.1 cm and Least count for time = 0.1 s)
If \(E_1\), \(E_2\) and \(E_3\) are the percentage errors in 'g' for students 1, 2 and 3 respectively, then the minimum percentage error is obtained by student no. ________.

Show Hint

\(g = 4\pi^2 L/T^2\), so \(\dfrac{\Delta g}{g} = \dfrac{\Delta L}{L} + 2\dfrac{\Delta t}{t}\) with \(\Delta L = 0.1\) cm, \(\Delta t = 0.1\) s on the total time.
Updated On: Nov 4, 2026
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

Correct Answer: 1

Solution and Explanation

From \(T = 2\pi\sqrt{L/g}\): \(g = \dfrac{4\pi^2 L}{T^2}\), and \(T = t/n\) so the relative error in T equals the relative error in the total time t.
\(\dfrac{\Delta g}{g} = \dfrac{\Delta L}{L} + 2\dfrac{\Delta t}{t}\), with \(\Delta L = 0.1\) cm and \(\Delta t = 0.1\) s.
Student 1: \(\dfrac{0.1}{64} + 2\cdot\dfrac{0.1}{128} = 0.0015625 + 0.0015625 = 0.003125\), so \(E_1 = 0.3125\%\).
Student 2: \(\dfrac{0.1}{64} + 2\cdot\dfrac{0.1}{64} = 0.0015625 + 0.003125 = 0.0046875\), so \(E_2 = 0.469\%\).
Student 3: \(\dfrac{0.1}{20} + 2\cdot\dfrac{0.1}{36} = 0.005 + 0.00556 = 0.01056\), so \(E_3 = 1.056\%\).
The minimum percentage error is \(E_1\): student number 1.
Answer: 1
Was this answer helpful?
0
0

Top JEE Main Physics Questions

View More Questions

Top JEE Main Units and measurement Questions

View More Questions