JEE Main · Physics ↓ Falling

Units and Measurements appeared 50 times across 3 years — 5.8% of Physics. This question is from Errors in Measurement.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 14 22 14 50

A tiny metallic rectangular sheet has length and breadth of 5 ~mm and 2.5 ~mm , respectively. Using a specially designed screw gauge which has pitch of 0.75 ~mm and 15 divisions in the circular scale, you are asked to find the area of the sheet. In this measurement, the maximum fractional error will be x100 where x is ________.

Numerical Answer Type:
Enter a numerical value Answer: 3 to 3 +4 marks

Solution & Explanation

Core Logic

First, find the least count of the measurement tool:

Least Count = PitchNumber of circular scale divisions = 0.75 ~mm15 = 0.05 ~mm

Least count calculation tracking diagram for Q21
Least count calculation tracking diagram for Q21

The area of the rectangular metallic sheet is calculated as:

A = L · W

Expressing the absolute error via fractional configuration parts:

dAA = dLL + dWW

Substituting the instrument limits (dL = dW = 0.05 ~mm):

dAA = (0.05)/(5) + (0.05)/(2.5) = (1)/(100) + (2)/(100) = (3)/(100)
Step 1: Final Value Match

Comparing this to the target format x100 gives:

x = 3

Pattern Recognition

The absolute measurement uncertainty matches the instrument's least count value directly. Sum up individual fractional errors to compute the total area uncertainty parameter.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

Reference Study Guides

More Units and Measurements Previous-Year Questions — Page 8

Q jee_main_2025_29_jan_morning Dimensional Homogeneity
The expression given below shows the variation of velocity (v) with time (t), v = At² + (Bt)/(C + t) . The dimension of ABC is:
  • A. [M⁰ ~L² T⁻³]
  • B. [M⁰ ~L¹ T⁻³]
  • C. [M⁰L¹T⁻²]
  • D. [M⁰ ~L² T⁻²]

Solution

Related Formula
[v] = [At²] = [(Bt)/(C+t)]
Core Logic

By the principle of dimensional homogeneity:

  • [C] = [t] = [T]
  • [At²] = [v] [A][T²] = [LT⁻¹] [A] = [LT⁻³]
  • [(Bt)/(T)] = [v] [B] = [LT⁻¹]
Step 1: Calculate Dimensions of ABC
[ABC] = [LT⁻³] · [LT⁻¹] · [T] = [L² T⁻³]
Pattern Recognition

Denominator terms matched first give C, tracking linear velocity units sets the balance for A and B

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

Q42 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Vernier Calliper
10 divisions on the main scale of a Vernier calliper coincide with 11 divisions on the Vernier scale. If each division on the main scale is of 5 units, the least count of the instrument is:
  • A. (1)/(2)
  • B. (10)/(11)
  • C. (50)/(11)
  • D. (5)/(11)

Solution

Related Formula

Least Count (LC) definition:

LC = 1 MSD - 1 VSD
Core Logic

From the problem:

10 MSD = 11 VSD 1 VSD = (10)/(11) MSD

Substitute into the Least Count formula:

LC = 1 MSD - (10)/(11) MSD = (1)/(11) MSD
Step 1: Calculate with Main Scale Units

Given that 1 MSD = 5 units:

LC = (1)/(11) × 5 = (5)/(11) units
Pattern Recognition

Watch out for unconventional scale arrangements where VSD > MSD. The fundamental difference formula 1 MSD - 1 VSD safely determines magnitudes without needing sign corrections.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

Q44 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Error Analysis
The radius (r), length (l) and resistance (R) of a metal wire was measured in the laboratory as: r = (0.35 ± 0.05)~cm R = (100 ± 10)~Ω l = (15 ± 0.2)~cm The percentage error in resistivity of the material of the wire is:
  • A. 25.6%
  • B. 39.9%
  • C. 37.3%
  • D. 35.6%

Solution

Related Formula

Resistivity formula:

ρ = R(A)/(l) = R(π r²)/(l)

Maximum relative error equation:

(Δρ)/(ρ) = (Δ R)/(R) + 2(Δ r)/(r) + (Δ l)/(l)
Core Logic

Substitute the measured fractions:

(Δρ)/(ρ) = (10)/(100) + 2((0.05)/(0.35)) + (0.2)/(15) (Δρ)/(ρ) = (1)/(10) + 2((1)/(7)) + (1)/(75) (Δρ)/(ρ) = 0.1 + 0.2857 + 0.0133 = 0.399
Step 1: Convert to Percentage
% severance = 0.399 × 100% = 39.9%
Pattern Recognition

The power of 2 in r² doubles its fractional error impact, making it the most dominant source of error in this setup.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements Class 12 Physics: Current Electricity

Q45 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Dimensional Analysis
The dimensional formula of angular impulse is:
  • A. [M L⁻²T⁻¹]
  • B. [M L²T⁻²]
  • C. [M L T⁻¹]
  • D. [M L²T⁻¹]

Solution

Related Formula

Angular Impulse equation:

Angular Impulse = ∫ τ dt = Δ L Angular Momentum (L) = mvr
Core Logic

By the impulse-momentum theorem for rotation, angular impulse equals the net change in angular momentum.

Extract dimensions from [mvr]:

[m] = [M] [v] = [LT⁻¹] [r] = [L]
Step 1: Combine Dimensions
[Angular Impulse] = [M] × [LT⁻¹] × [L] = [ML²T⁻¹]
Pattern Recognition

Angular impulse shares the exact same dimensional signature as Planck's constant (h) and angular momentum (L).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements Class 11 Physics: System of Particles and Rotational Motion

Q33 jee_main_2024_29_january_evening Error Analysis
A physical quantity Q is found to depend on quantities a, b, c by the relation Q = (a⁴ b³)/(c²). The percentage error in a, b and c are 3%, 4% and 5% respectively. Then, the percentage error in Q is:
  • A. 66%
  • B. 43%
  • C. 34%
  • D. 14%

Solution

Related Formula

For a quantity Q = (a^x b^y)/(c^z), the maximum relative error is:

(Δ Q)/(Q) = x (Δ a)/(a) + y (Δ b)/(b) + z (Δ c)/(c)

Multiplying by 100 gives the percentage error equation:

% error in Q = x(% error in a) + y(% error in b) + z(% error in c)
Core Logic

Given formula:

Q = (a⁴ b³)/(c²)

Applying the error propagation rule:

(Δ Q)/(Q) × 100 = 4 ((Δ a)/(a) × 100) + 3 ((Δ b)/(b) × 100) + 2 ((Δ c)/(c) × 100)
Step 1: Substitute the Percentage Errors

Substitute the given values:

  • % error in a = 3%
  • % error in b = 4%
  • % error in c = 5%
% error in Q = 4(3%) + 3(4%) + 2(5%) % error in Q = 12% + 12% + 10% = 34%
Pattern Recognition

Error percentages always add up, weighted by their exponents in the mathematical expression, regardless of whether the variable is in the numerator or denominator.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Units and Measurements

More Units and Measurements Questions — jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning

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