Class 11 Physics simulations · Units and Measurements

Propagating errors: density of a cube

Measure a cube’s side and mass with instrument uncertainty and see how the errors combine in ρ = m/a³.

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What to notice

The side length is cubed, so its relative error counts three times in the density.

Key relation

Δρ/ρ = Δm/m + 3Δa/a

Try this

Halve Δa and compare how much the total error falls versus halving Δm.

What you can change

• Side length a: 1 to 5 cm
• Side uncertainty Δa: 0.01 to 0.1 cm
• Mass m: 10 to 500 g
• Mass uncertainty Δm: 0.1 to 5 g

More in Units and Measurements

• Dimensional analysis of a pendulum
• Parallax: view from the right angle
• Micrometer screw gauge
• Spherometer
• Measurement uncertainty
• Vernier caliper

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