Question

A 50-mL beaker only has a scale that measures 10, 20, 30, and 40 mL. What is the uncertainty associated with the 50 mL beaker.

Answer 1

Usually the uncertainty of a graduated cylinder is given however if it is not, then it is simply assumed to be equal to half of the least interval of that instrument. In this case, the least interval is 10 ml, so half of this is 5 ml. Hence, the graduated cylinder has an uncertainty of +/- 5 ml