Required practical: A student determines the density of a small cube cut from a sample of pine wood. The side length of the cube is measured five times, at different points and orientations, using vernier calipers of resolution 0.02 mm. The readings obtained are: 40.00 mm, 40.08 mm, 39.96 mm, 44.50 mm, 40.04 mm. The mass of the cube, measured on an electronic balance of resolution 0.1 g, is 28.3 ± 0.05 g.
(a)Identify the anomalous reading in the table of side-length measurements, and suggest one possible cause for it.(2)
(b)Calculate the mean side length of the cube, excluding the anomalous reading.(2)
(c)Estimate the absolute uncertainty in the mean side length using half the range of the four valid readings, and hence calculate the percentage uncertainty in the side length.(2)
(d)Calculate the volume of the cube in m3, and the percentage uncertainty in this volume.(3)
(e)Calculate the density of the cube in kg/m3, and express it with its absolute uncertainty, to an appropriate number of significant figures.(4)
(f)The accepted density range for this species of pine is 350-600 kg/m3. Comment on the accuracy of the student's result, and suggest why a wooden sample might reasonably have an accepted density range rather than a single fixed value.(2)
(Total for Question 9 is 15 marks)