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Experiment 1: Errors, Measurements and Uncertainties

This document summarizes an experiment that measured the diameter of an iron ball using different measuring devices to determine their accuracy. The devices used were a foot rule, vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper. Each device took 10 measurements of the diameter. The micrometer caliper was found to be the most accurate based on its low average deviation (0.00005 cm) and percentage error (0.99%), followed by the vernier caliper (0.001 cm, 9.56% error), then the foot rule (0.02 cm, 14.23% error). The experiment also measured group members' thumb widths to compare body measurements between individuals.

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Mark Arquilla
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298 views

Experiment 1: Errors, Measurements and Uncertainties

This document summarizes an experiment that measured the diameter of an iron ball using different measuring devices to determine their accuracy. The devices used were a foot rule, vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper. Each device took 10 measurements of the diameter. The micrometer caliper was found to be the most accurate based on its low average deviation (0.00005 cm) and percentage error (0.99%), followed by the vernier caliper (0.001 cm, 9.56% error), then the foot rule (0.02 cm, 14.23% error). The experiment also measured group members' thumb widths to compare body measurements between individuals.

Uploaded by

Mark Arquilla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements

Laboratory Report
Jeun Marianne Alba, Mark Lawrence Arquilla, John Hermoso
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila, Philippines
Abstract

In this experiment, different


measuring devices were used to determine
the measurement of an iron ball. By
calculating the average deviation of each of
the device, the accuracy of the devices was
known. It shows that the micrometer caliper
was the most accurate, followed by the
vernier caliper and the foot rule.
1. Introduction
Measurements deal with the exact
quantity of a certain vessel or matter. It
gives an optimum value in terms of the
accuracy and precision of a value of the said
matter
that
is
being
measured.
Measurements sure doesnt give the exact
and perfect quantity because of some
instinctive errors and also, it is somewhat
based on a persons skill on doing the said
experiment.
There are two types of measurement
error, systematic and random. A systematic
error is a component of error that stays
constant or depends in a specific manner on
other quantity. Readings consistently be too
high or too low, due to this, repeated trials
will not reduce systematic error. Random
error on the other hand is when a
measurement is being repeated, it provides a
different value. The next measured value
cannot be predicted from the previous
values, thus making the value random. The

random error can be reduced through


repeated
experimental trials, since there are equal
probabilities of them being high or low each
time measurements are taken.
In this experiment, the group should
be able to achieve the following objectives:
(1) to study errors and how they propagate
in simple experiment, (2) to determine the
average deviation of a set of experimental
values, (3) to determine the mean of a set of
experimental values as well as set of average
deviation of the mean, (4) to familiarize the
students with the vernier caliper, micrometer
caliper, and foot rule, (5) to compare the
accuracy of these measuring devices, (6) and
to determine the density of an object given
its mass and dimensions.
2. Theory
Using significant figures was one of
the key theory that was used in this
experiment, since accuracy and precision is
also key in achieving the quantities that
were needed. Also there are other formulas
that were used:
3. Methodology
The first part of the experiment
involved the use of the foot ruler, vernier
caliper and micrometer caliper which were
to measure the diameter of an iron ball.
These measurements were taken ten times
for each measuring device. The mean

diameter was calculated after each diameter


was measured. The deviation of each
measurement was taken from their
corresponding mean diameters. The average
deviation; the average deviation of the mean
diameter; the volume and density of the iron
ball; and the percent error (% error) for
density were also calculated. The Iron ball
was weighed using the electronic gram
balance in order to solve for it mass. The
second part of the experiment utilized the
width of the thumb of each member of the
group and they were measured using the
foot ruler.
4. Results and Discussion
Activity 1:
Tables 1, 2, and 3 show the diameter of a
sphere in centimeters, using a foot rule,
vernier caliper, and a micrometer caliper.
Each of the measuring devices comprised of
ten trials in order to get the precise
measurements of the sphere using the
different instruments.
Diameter of Sphere (cm)

No. of Trials
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean Diameter
Average Deviation (a.d.)
Average Deviation of the
Mean (A.D.)

Foot Rule
1.50
1.52
1.55
1.47
1.53
1.55
1.50
1.55
1.53
1.50
1.52
0.02
0.006

Volume (cm3)
Mass(g)
Exp. Value
Acc. Value
% Error for Density

1.84cm3
16.40g
8.91g/cm3
8.91g/cm3
14.23%

Table 1. Diameter of a Sphere using a Foot Rule


Diameter of Sphere (cm)

No. of Trials
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean Diameter
Average Deviation (a.d.)
Average Deviation of the
Mean (A.D.)
3

Volume (cm )
Mass(g)
Exp. Value
Acc. Value
% Error for Density

Vernier caliper
1.70
1.545
1.540
1.535
1.545
1.540
1.540
1.535
1.535
1.540
1.542
0.001
0.0003
1.919cm3
16.40g
8.546g/cm3
7.8g/cm3
9.56%

Table 2. Diameter of a Sphere using a Vernier


caliper
Diameter of Sphere (cm)

No. of Trials
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean Diameter

Micrometer caliper
1.5731
1.5822
1.5900
1.5854
1.5711
1.5844
1.5818
1.5830
1.5841
1.5845
1.5845

Average Deviation (a.d.)


Average Deviation of the
Mean (A.D.)

0.00005

Volume (cm3)
Mass(g)
Exp. Value
Acc. Value
% Error for Density

2.0819cm3
16.40g
7.8774g/cm3
7.8g/cm3
0.99%

0.00002

Table 3. Diameter of a Sphere using a Micrometer


caliper

Activity 2:
Group
Member
Width of
Thumb(in)

0.92

0.97

5. Conclusions
Among the three measuring devices, it
was found out that the micrometer caliper is
the most accurate and precise instrument
used for measuring. This is followed by the
vernier caliper and the foot rule which is
showed to be the farthest to the accepted
value. To support this, the calculated mean
diameter and percent error of each of the
measuring device showed how close each of
the measurement was to the true value or the
accepted value. In addition, different body
parts cannot be used because body
measurements vary among different person.
Thus, body parts as measuring tools are not
precise and accurate.
6. Applications
1. Which among the three measurement devices
give you the least %error? Is the accuracy of a
measurement affected by the least count of the
measuring device?

Among the devices used in measuring, the


micrometer caliper gave the least percentage
error which is 0.99%, followed by the vernier
caliper which has a 9.56% error. And lastly, the
foot rule which has a 14.23% error. Yes, each of
the least count of the device is the smallest
possible increments in the readings. It
determines the degree of accuracy of a device
and has an indirect proportion with the accuracy.
2. What do you mean by error? What are the
types of errors? What are the errors you
encountered in this experiment?
Errors determine how close the calculated
value to the accepted value. There are two types
the systematic and the random error. A
systematic error is caused by the problems
which a device has while a random error is a
type of error which cannot be avoided, this can
be human error. In this experiment, both errors
were encountered due to device imperfection
and human faults.
3. Sketch a) vernier caliper that reads 3.48cm b)
micrometer caliper that reads 7.05mm
a. Vernier caliper

b. Micrometer caliper

4. A student weigh himself using a bathroom


scale calibrated in kilograms. He reported
his weight in pounds. What is the percentage
error in his reported weight if he used this
conversion: 1kg = 2.2lb? The standard
kilogram is equal to 2.2046lb.
If the student reported that his weight is
55kg and converted it using 2.2lb. His
weight in pounds is 121lb. If he used the
conversion factor of 2.2046lb, his weight
would be 121.253lb. When percent error is
computed:

error

accepted valueexperi mental value


x 100
accepted value
121. 253121
error =
x 100
121.253

% error = 0.208654631 0.209% error


5. In an experiment on determination of mass of
a sample, your group consisting of 5 students
obtained the following results: 14.34g, 14.32g,
14.33g, 14.30g and 14.23g. Find the mean, a.d.
and A.D. Suppose that your group is required to
make only four determinations for the mass of
the sample. If you are the leader of the group,
which data will you omit? Recalculate the mean,
a.d. and A.D. without this data. Which results
will you prefer?

mean=

14.34+14.32+14.33+14.30+14.23
5
= 14.304g

Average Deviation
14.34
0.036
14.32
0.016
14.33
0.026
14.30
0.004
14.23
0.074
a.d. = 0.0312cm
A.D. = 0.0140cm
Without the fifth trial (14.23g):
Mean = 14.3225g
a.d. = 0.0205cm
A.D. = 0.01025cm
Both calculations are good. Although the second
calculation is closer to the accepted value, the
first calculation is still ideal because it has more
trials
6. Give other parts of the body that are being
used for measurement even today. What are
some properties to be a standard of
measurement?
The thumb is used to measure an inch and the
measure of the fingertip to to elbow is used to
measure a cubit. Although this method of using
body parts is not precise, it may be used in
estimating measurements.

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