Finding the maximum/absolute error in calculating the density of a metal sample.

AI Thread Summary
To find the maximum error in calculating the density of a metal sample with a mass of 63.8 grams and a volume of 8.8 cm³, the formula for density (density = mass/volume) is applied. The initial attempt used a relative error approach, but the result was deemed incorrect. A more accurate method involves calculating the maximum and minimum density using the provided error margins for mass and volume. The maximum density is calculated with the highest mass and lowest volume, while the minimum density uses the lowest mass and highest volume, allowing for the determination of the maximum error as the larger difference between these values. The correct approach yields the accurate maximum error in density measurement.
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Homework Statement



"You are measuring the density of a metal sample. You have determined that the mass of the sample is 63.8 grams, and your error in this result is plus or minus 0.1 g. The volume of the sample is 8.8 +/- 0.1 cm^3. What is the maximum error (in g/cm^3) in your measurement of the sample density? "

Homework Equations


density=mass/volume
For z = x/y:
δz/z = δx/x + δy/y


The Attempt at a Solution


Well, filling into the equation for δz/z and substituting this for δρ/ρ and solving for δρ:
δρ=ρ(δm/m + δv/v)
=(63.8g/8.8cm^3)(0.1g/63.8g + 0.1cm^3/8.8cm^3)
=(7.25g/cm^3)(0.01293)
=0.0937g/cm^3


However, it says this answer is incorrect.
Any hints on where I am going wrong?
 
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Maybe it should be done in this way:
\rho_{max}=\frac{m+\Delta m}{V-\Delta V}\\<br /> \rho_{min}=\frac{m-\Delta m}{V+\Delta V}\\<br /> \Delta\rho=max\left(\rho-\rho_{min},\rho_{max}-\rho\right)<br />
 
Last edited:
I'm not quite sure I understand that last equation..
 
You choose larger of these two differences.
 
ok thanks for the clarification but that still doesn't produce the correct answer. Thanks for your help though.
 
What is the correct answer?
 
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