Objectives:

To learn to use a ruler, a vernier caliper and micrometer to measure dimensions.

Introduction:

While using a measuring device, make the measurement with an instrument that has the
highest level of precision. The smaller the unit, or fraction of a unit, on the measuring device,
the more precisely the device can measure. The precision of a measuring instrument is
determined by the smallest unit to which it can measure. Besides that, the correct techniques
must be applied when using the measuring instrument and reading the value measured.
Parallax errors must be avoided by always taking readings by looking straight down or ahead
at the measuring device. Looking at the measuring device from a left or right angle will give
an incorrect value. The same measurement is repeated several times to get a good average
value. The measurement must be taken under controlled conditions. If the object that is being
measured could change size depending upon climatic conditions, for example swelling or
shrinking, be sure to measure it under the same conditions each time.

Procedures:

1. Using a ruler

i. A ruler is used to measure the length, width and thickness of the rectangular box. The
precision is observed. The precision of a measuring instrument is determined by the
smallest unit to which it can measure.
ii. The parallax error is avoided by always taking readings by looking straight down or
ahead at the measuring device. Looking at the measuring device from a little left or
right will give an incorrect value.
iii. Several readings are taken for each measurement at different positions on the object to
give a better average.
iv. The results are recorded in the appropriate table.

2. Using the vernier caliper

i. The reading is noted when the jaws are closed.

ii. Zero error of the vernier caliper is checked for before taking each reading.
iii. Several readings are taken for each measurement at different positions on the object to
give a better average.
 iv. The results are recorded in the appropriate table.

3. Using the micrometer

i. Zero error of the micrometer is checked for before taking each reading.
ii. Several readings are taken for each measurement at different positions on the object to
give a better average.
iii. The results are recorded in the appropriate table.

4. Similarly, the measuring apparatus is used to measure the dimensions of the cylindrical
bar, disc and hollow cylinder.

5. The results are tabulated in the tables provided.

6. The average and standard deviation of each measurement is calculated.

7. Suitable graphs are drawn for all measurement sets to visualize findings.
 Results:
Rectangular box
Rectangular Length Width Thickness
box Ruler Vernie Micrometer Ruler Vernier Micrometer Ruler Vernier Micrometer
(mm) r (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
(mm)
21.0 20.60 20.61 21.0 20.70 20.61 6.0 6.20 6.16
21.0 20.70 20.66 21.0 20.60 20.63 6.0 6.20 6.16
21.0 20.60 20.64 21.0 20.70 20.64 6.0 6.20 6.17
21.0 20.60 20.61 21.0 20.60 20.66 6.0 6.20 6.16
21.0 20.70 20.63 21.0 20.60 20.66 6.0 6.20 6.17
Average 21.0 20.64 20.63 21.0 20.64 20.64 6.0 6.20 6.16
Standard 0.0 0.05 0.02 0.0 0.05 0.02 0.0 0.00 0.005
Deviation
Standard 0.0 0.022 0.009 0.0 0.022 0.009 0.0 0.00 0.002
Error

Average for length of rectangular box measured by vernier caliper, ~

x
20.60+20.70+20.60+20.60+20.70
¿
5
¿ 20.64mm

∑ ( x −~x)2
Standard deviation for length of rectangular box measured by vernier caliper, s=
√ n−1
2 2 2
(20.60−20.64 )2+ ( 20.70−20.64 ) + ( 20.60−20.64 ) + ( 20.60−20.64 ) +(20.70−20.64)2
¿
√ 5−1
¿ 0.05
s
Standard error for length of rectangular box measured by vernier caliper, s~x =
√n
0.05
¿
√5
0.022
 Graph of Lengths
21.1

21
Measurement Value (mm)

20.9

20.8 Ruler
Vernier
20.7 Micrometer

20.6

20.5

20.4
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition

Graph of Widths
21.1

21
Measurement Value (mm)

20.9

20.8 Ruler
Vernier
20.7 Micrometer

20.6

20.5

20.4
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition

Graph of Thicknesses
6.25
Measurement Value (mm)

6.2

6.15

6.1 Ruler
Vernier
6.05 Micrometer

5.95

5.9
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition
Solid cylindrical bar
Cylindrical bar Length External Diameter
Ruler Vernier Micrometer Ruler Vernier Micrometer
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
20.0 20.24 20.23 25.0 25.00 25.50
20.0 20.24 20.24 25.0 25.40 25.40
20.0 20.24 20.24 25.0 25.20 25.40
20.0 20.20 20.24 25.0 25.40 25.50
20.0 20.24 20.23 25.0 25.00 25.60
Average 20.0 20.23 20.24 25.0 25.20 25.48
Standard 0.0 0.02 0.005 0.0 0.18 0.07
Deviation
Standard Error 0.0 0.009 0.002 0.0 0.08 0.031

Average for length of cylindrical bar measured by vernier caliper, ~

x
20.24+20.24+ 20.24+20.20+20.24
¿
5
¿ 20.23mm

∑ ( x −~x)2
Standard deviation for length of cylindrical bar measured by vernier caliper, s=
√ n−1
2 2 2
(20.24−20.23)2 + ( 20.24−20.23 ) + ( 20.24−20.23 ) + ( 20.20−20.23 ) +(20.24−20.23)2
¿
√ 5−1
=0.02

s
Standard error for length of cylindrical bar measured by vernier caliper, s~x =
√n
0.02
¿
√5
0.009
 Graph of Lengths
20.3

20.25
M easurement Value (mm)

20.2

20.15

20.1 Ruler
Vernier
20.05 Micrometer
20

19.95

19.9

19.85
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition

Graph of External Diameters

25.8
Measurement Value (mm)

25.6

25.4

Ruler
25.2 Vernier
Micrometer
25

24.8

24.6
1 2 3 4 5

No of Repetition
Disc
Disc Thickness External Diameter
Ruler Vernier Micrometer Ruler Vernier Micrometer
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
10.0 10.00 10.11 50.0 50.20 -
10.0 10.20 10.11 50.0 50.20 -
10.0 10.30 10.17 50.0 50.20 -
10.0 10.10 10.14 50.0 50.20 -
10.0 10.30 10.16 50.0 50.10 -
Average 10.0 10.18 10.14 50.0 50.18 -
Standard 0.0 0.12 0.02 0.0 0.04 -
Deviation
Standard Error 0.0 0.054 0.009 0.0 0.018 -

Average for thickness of disc measured by vernier caliper, ~

x
10.00+ 10.20+10.30+10.10+10.30
¿
5
¿ 10.18mm

∑ (x −~x)2
Standard deviation for thickness of disc measured by vernier caliper, s=
√ n−1
2 2 2
(10.00−10.18)2 + ( 10.20−10.18 ) + ( 10.30−10.18 ) + ( 10.10−10.18 ) +(10.30−10.18)2
¿
√ 5−1
¿ 0.12
s
Standard error for thickness of disc measured by vernier caliper, s~x =
√n
0.12
¿
√5
0. 054
 Graph of Thicknesses
10.4

10.3
Measurement Value (mm)

10.2
Ruler
10.1 Vernier
Micrometer
10

9.9

9.8
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition

Graph of External Diameters

50.25
50.2
Measurement Value (mm)

50.15
50.1
50.05 Ruler
50 Vernier

49.95
49.9
49.85
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition
Hollow External Diameter Internal Diameter Depth
cylinder Ruler Verni Micrometer Ruler Vernier Micrometer Ruler Vernier Micrometer
(mm) er (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
(mm)
26.0 25.06 25.01 14.0 12.70 - - 9.30 -
26.0 25.04 25.02 14.0 12.82 - - 9.28 -
25.0 25.06 25.02 14.0 12.70 - - 9.30 -
26.0 25.06 25.02 14.0 12.64 - - 9.30 -
26.0 25.06 25.02 14.0 12.70 - - 9.30 -
Average 25.8 25.06 25.02 14.0 12.71 - - 9.30 -
Standard 0.4 0.008 0.004 0.0 0.06 - - 0.008 -
Deviation
Standard 0.179 0.004 0.002 0.0 0.027 - - 0.004 -
Error
Hollow cylinder bar

Average for external diameter of hollow cylinder measured by vernier caliper, ~

x
25.06+25.04+25.06+ 25.06+25.06
¿
5
¿ 25.06mm
Standard deviation for external diameter of hollow cylinder measured by vernier caliper,

∑ (x −~x)2
s=
√ n−1
2 2 2
(25.06−25.06)2 + ( 25.04−25.06 ) + ( 25.06−25.06 ) + ( 25.06−25.06 ) +(25.06−25.06)2
¿
√ 5−1
¿ 0.008
s
Standard error for external diameter of hollow cylinder measured by vernier caliper, s~x =
√n
0.008
¿
√5
0.0 04
 Graph of External Diameters
26.2
26
Measurement Value (mm)

25.8
25.6
25.4 Ruler
Vernier
25.2
Micrometer
25
24.8
24.6
24.4
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition

Graph of Internal Diameters

14.5

14
Measurement Value (mm)

13.5

13 Ruler
Vernier
12.5

12

11.5
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition

Graph of Depths
9.31
9.3
Measurement Value (mm)

9.3
9.29
9.29 Vernier
9.28
9.28
9.27
9.27
1 2 3 4 5
No of Repetition
Discussions:
Resolution is defined as the smallest increment a tool can detect and display (“Definition of
accuracy, precision, resolution, range, n.d.). The resolution of a ruler is 1mm. Besides that,
the resolution of a vernier calipers is 0.02mm. Last but not least, the resolution of a
micrometer is 0.01mm.

Accuracy refers to an instrument’s degree of veracity. Basically, accuracy can be defined as

how close its measurements comes to the actual or reference value of the signal being
measured (“Definition of accuracy, precision, resolution, range, n.d.). Besides that, accuracy
requires a comparison to an accepted industry standard to be able to indicate how close the
measurement made is to the actual value. For example, a weight measurement of 3.2 kg for a
given substance is obtained in lab, but the actual known weight of the substance is 10 kg.
Thus, the measurement made is not accurate.

Precision refers to how close the agreement is between repeated measurements which are
repeated under the same conditions (Accuracy, precision and significant figures, n.d.).
Precision is also a measure of variability. It is a measure of how consistent the measurements
made are. For example, if a given substance is weighed five times, and a value of 3.2 kg is
obtained each time, then the measurement made is very precise. However, precision is
independent of accuracy. One can be precise but inaccurate at the same time. On the other
hand, one can be accurate but not precise or even both. For example, a basketball player that
shoots with good accuracy will always have his ball shot close to or into the basket.
Meanwhile, for a basketball player that shoots with precision, his aim will always take the
ball to the same location which may or may not be close to the basket. A good basketball
player will have both accuracy and precision by shooting the ball to the same location every
time and each time making it in the basket.

A ruler can be used to measure longer or larger objects, while a vernier calipers can only
measure small objects, but with more accuracy and precision than a ruler. For a micrometer,
it can measure even smaller objects with much more accuracy and precision than a vernier
calipers. Each and every measuring instruments have its specific purposes and advantages. If
a ruler and Vernier calipers is compared when measuring a small object, the wise choice
would be to use a Vernier calipers instead of a ruler due to its higher accuracy and resolution
of 0.02mm. Although a ruler is also used to measure the length of an object, the accuracy is
not as good as the Vernier calipers due to its lower accuracy and resolution of 1mm. Besides
that, Vernier calipers can also be used to measure the internal and external diameter of an
object with its jaws. It is also possible to measure the depth of an object with its tail, thus
making it a better instrument to be used to measure small objects when compared to a ruler.
However, when measuring a long object for example table with a length of 50cm, a ruler is
always the better choice. When measuring smaller objects, either a Vernier calipers or a
micrometer would be used. In terms of accuracy, the micrometer screw gauge would be better
than the Vernier calipers. This is because the resolution of a Vernier calipers is 0.02mm while
the micrometer has a resolution of 0.01mm. However, a micrometer is usually used to take
the external measurements for example the thickness of extremely small object as it does not
have the appropriate structure for taking inner measurements of an object. In terms of
precision, the micrometer is more precise and accurate than the Vernier calipers as it can
measure extremely small objects with high accuracy.

Conclusion:

The ruler, vernier calipers and micrometer can all be used to measure lengths and thicknesses
of objects with different sizes. Ruler is more suitable for measuring longer objects while
vernier calipers and micrometer are used for measuring smaller objects. In terms of accuracy
and precision, micrometer is the highest, followed by vernier calipers and ruler.

References:

1. Accuracy, precision and significant figures. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/1-3-accuracy-precision-
and-significant-figures/
2. Definition of accuracy, precision, resolution, range. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://instrumentationtools.com/accuracy-resolution-range/