Experiment 1

Measurements and
Experimental Uncertainty
Dennis Kager
Contributor(s): Luke Hamill
Phys-150-02x
Dr. Nader Copty
25th January, 2017

Objective: The objective is to investigate experimental uncertainty in

measurements, express the results using significant figures, and compare the
measured results to the accepted values by calculating percentage errors.
Theory:
Types of Error: Generally there are two types of experimental errors. Statistical
errors are random and not predictable, and systematic errors result from the
instruments and techniques used.
Accuracy: This is how close a measurement is to its true value.
Precision: This is the agreement among measurements taken repeatedly.
Least Count: This is the smallest subdivision on the instrument scale.
For example, on a meter stick the smallest subdivision is millimeters. This
means that the least count is 0.1cm.
Estimated Number: This is the estimated last digit of a measurement. It is a
fraction of the least count that is estimated when measuring. The only time where
one does not take the estimated number is when the measuring equipment is
digital.
Significant Figures: With measured values, the number of significant figures
includes all numbers measured directly from the instrument plus one estimated
number, which is a fraction of the least count. Anytime calculations are
performed, the results must be rounded using significant figures.
Rules of Significant Figures: A significant figure is a digit known with certainty.
All non-zero numbers are significant. Zero is significant when:
Zero is between two significant digits.
Zero follows a decimal point and another significant figure.
Zero is tagged with a bar.
Rules of Rounding:
If the first digit to be dropped is 0-4, then leave the preceding digit as is.
If the first digit to be dropped is 5-9, then increment the preceding digit by one.
Rules for Calculations and Combining Measurements with Significant Figures:

 When multiplying or dividing more than one quantity, round the result to the
quantity with the least amount of significant figures.
When adding and subtracting more than one quantity, round the result to the
same number of decimal places as the quantity with the least amount of
decimal places.
Percentage Error is used to compare the measured value to the accepted value:

AE x 100
A
Percentage Error=

Where A is the accepted value and E is the experimental value

Percentage Difference is used to compare two experimental values:

x 100
Average

Percentage Difference=
Where E1 and E2 are experimental values
E1E 2

1ml = 1 cm 3
Other Equations Used:
Circumference of 2 R=D
D2 L
4

Volume of Cylinder=

Volume of Sphere=

Volume of Irregular Object=V f V i

D3
6
Volume of Rectangle=L x W x T
Mass
M
=
Volume V
x + x + x n
Average = 1 2
n
Density=

Equipment and Materials:

Measuring Instruments
Meter stick
Measuring tape
Vernier caliper
Micrometer
Mass balance
Graduated cylinder

Various Objects
Cylinders
Wire
Rod
Sphere
Rectangle
Irregular shape

Data:
Part A Least Count of Instruments:
Instrument
Least Count
Meter Stick
0.1cm
Vernier Caliper (Digital)
0.01mm
Micrometer (Digital)
0.001mm
Mass Balance (Digital)
0.1g
Graduated Cylinder
1ml
Part B Discover :
Disk #
1
2
3
4

Circumference (cm)
31.25
27.79
20.00
16.15

Estimated Number
0.01cm
---0.1ml
Diameter (cm)
9.938
8.830
6.341
5.151

Part C Measurements to Find Volume and Density:

Wire:
Trial
1
2
3
4

Diameter (cm)
0 .436
0 .424
0 .427
0 .423

Length (cm)
9.494
9.516
9.524
9.528

Trial
1
2
3
4

Diameter (cm)
1.280
1.284
1.254
1.291

Length (cm)
5.090
5.126
5.119
5.091

Trial
1
2
3
4

Diameter (cm)
1.906
1.906
1.919
1.904

Rod:

Sphere:

Rectangle:
Trial
1
2
3
4

Length (cm)
5.028
5.037
5.054
5.028

Width (cm)
2.542
2.571
2.543
2.545

Thickness (cm)
1.273
1.283
1.276
1.274

Mass:
Object
Wire (Iron)
Rod (Alum)
Sphere (Iron)
Rectangle (Alum)
Irregular (Lead)

Mass (g)
9.8
18.2
27.9
45.1
11.5

Calculations:
Part B Discover :
Disk #

Circumference(cm)
Diameter (cm)
31.25
9.938

Result
3.144

27.79
8.830

3.142

20.00
6.341

3.154

16.15
5.151

3.137

Accepted = 3.14
Experimental (average) =
% Error

AE x 100
A

Result 1 + Result 2 + Result 3+ Result 4

4

= 3.144

= 0.127%

Part C Calculating Volume and Density

Average =

x 1+ x2 + x n
n

Wire:
Average Diameter (cm)
0 .428

Average Length (cm)

9.516

Average Diameter (cm)

1.277

Average Length (cm)

5.107

Rod:

Sphere:
Average Diameter (cm)
1.909
Rectangle:
Average Length (cm)
5.037

Average Width (cm)

2.550

Average Height (cm)

1.277

Object

Volume ( cm 3 )

Density =

g
(
cm3

M
V

)
Wire (Iron)

Rod (Alum)

D L
4
V =1.37

V=

V=

D2 L
4

V =6.540

Sphere (Iron)

D
6
V =3.641
V=

D=

9.8
1.37

Acc.
Density (
g

cm3

% Error

AE x 100
A

7.86

8.4

2.70

2.96

7.86

2.54

2.70

1.85

11.3

3.14

D = 7.2
D=

18.2
6.540

D = 2.78
D=

27.9
3.641

D = 7.66
Rectangle
(Alum)

V =L x W x T
V =16.40

D=

45.1
16.40

D = 2.75
Irregular
(Lead)

V =V f V i

D=

V =1.0

11.5
1.0

D = 11.5
Conclusions:
Part B Results:
Disk #
1
2
3
4

Calculated
3.144
3.142
3.154
1.137

The purpose of Part B to this lab was to discover pi. Theoretically, one can
find pi by dividing the circumference of a circle by its diameter. After conducting
this test on four disks of different sizes, the experimental value of pi was found
7

which happens to be very close to the accepted value of pi. I agree that the idea of
dividing a circles circumference by its diameter to get pi is accurate because the
experimental results in the above table yielded values very close to the accepted
value of pi.
Part C Results:
Object

Volume ( cm 3 )

Calculated

g
Density (
cm3

% Error
)

Wire (Iron)

1.37

7.2

8.4

Rod (Alum)

6.540

2.78

2.96

Sphere (Iron)

3.641

7.66

2.54

Rectangle (Alum)

16.40

2.75

1.85

Irregular (Lead)

1.0

11.5

3.14

The purpose of Part C to this lab is to calculate the volume and density of
various objects by measuring their dimensions. After getting the calculated density,
it had to be compared to the actual density to find the percentage of error in the
calculations. I agree with the calculated results because the percentage of error is
low for all of them which show that it is possible to find an objects density by
acquiring its mass and volume.
Overall, I learned a lot in this lab. In Part A I learned how to correctly take
measurements with various instruments, which is an essential skill when
conducting experiments. I also learned how to find the percentage of error when
taking calculations to compare the accuracy of my results. Additionally, I learned
how to properly report my results using significant figures.
Sources of Error:
1. When calculating the volume of the irregular object, it had to be dipped into
the graduated cylinder. Each time the object was pulled out a little bit of
water came with it. This change of volume in the graduated cylinder was not
factored into the calculations.

2. It is possible that some of the lab equipment was slightly off with its
calibration, providing slightly inaccurate readings.
3. There could also be error in the process in which the results were calculated
which include failing to follow the order of operations or inadvertently using
a wrong number.
References:
Fundamentals of Physics Extended, 10th Edition, by David Halliday, Robert
Resnick, and Jearl Walker
Lab handout by Dr. Nader Copty
Meter stick picture:
http://khmtb4.com/img/g2/glossary/G2V2_GLO_M04.png