AS Level Physics OCR B Coursework - How do you find out the percentage error?

How do you find out the percentage and uncertainty error from my experiment? My coursework is finding the resistivity of a constantan wire. I worked out my final figure which was very close to the actual resistivity but how do I work out the tolerences of uncertainty?

If anyone done a similar coursework before or can help in any way it would be much appreciated!

Reply 1

rayquaza17

Original post by Erulia

Percentage error:

|Actual value - calculated value| / calculated value

In case you aren't familiar with the || notation, it means you take the positive value. e.g.: If I had 3-5=-2, I would use 2.

I think uncertainty error has something to do with possible errors in the things you used (like a ruler only goes to so many millimetres). - Hopefully someone has a better explanation than I do.