Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurement Laboratory Report

Nathaniel Timothy S. Ravelo, Adriel Mikael V. Reyes, Danielle Karol H. Reyes and Karlo Jonathan A. Salem Department of Sports Science College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Santo Tomas Espaa, Manila Philippines Abstract The experiment conducted is about measuring the diameter of an iron ball through the use of foot rule (ruler), a Vernier caliper, and a Micrometer caliper, and measuring the weight of an iron ball in order to get a variety of other data to study about the errors that can arise from the procedures and the uncertainties in the measurements. 1. Introduction All measurements are subjected to uncertainty, because there can be no measurement that can exactly how long, how much weight, etc. an object has; Measurements will always be incomplete. There are two degrees of uncertainty: Accuracy which refers to how closely the measured value of a quantity corresponds to its true value and Precision expresses the degree of reproducibility, or arrangement between repeated measurements. Aside from uncertainties there can be two errors in measurement; a systematic error, which is a component of error that depends in a specific manner on some other quantity, and a random error is associated with the fact that when a measurement is repeated, it will provide a different value. 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 Significant figures are very essential in Science. Each recorded measurement has a certain number of significant digits. Calculations done on these measurements must follow the rules for significant digits. The significance of a digit has to do with whether it represents a true

measurement or not. Any digit that is actually measured or estimated will be considered significant. Place holders, or digits that have not been measured are not considered significant. There are rules in determining the significance of a digit. First, digits from 1-9 are always significant. Second, zeroes between two other significant digits are always significant. Also, one or more additional zeroes to the right of both the decimal place and another significant digit are significant. Lastly, zeroes used solely for spacing the decimal point are not significant. In propagation of errors, when measuring some quantities, it is evident that somehow it is recorded with uncertainties. In calculating the uncertainty, it must propagate to the uncertainty of the value .Assume we measure two values A and B, using some apparatus. We know these values are uncertain. By physical reasoning, testing, repeated measurements, or manufacturers specifications, we estimate the magnitude of their uncertainties. u{A} is the absolute error in A, and u{B} is the absolute error in B. The relative errors are u{A}/A and u{B}/B. Least count of any precision instrument is defined as the least distance travelled by it. For a micrometer it is measured in the following manner. Least count (L.C) of a screw gauge = Pitch/ Number of circular scale division. Pitch and

Number of circular scale divisions are the two factors determining the least count of Micrometer. The Vernier principle is the measurement of a continuous variable, example a length, results in a decimal fraction. Some digits are read off the labeling of the scale, but the last fractional digit must be estimated. The main scale divides the unit interval in ten equal parts, the vernier scale uses a division into nine parts or a multiple thereof. Both scales together will give us a tenfold increase in resolution. An ordinary vernier caliper has jaws you can place around an object, and on the other side jaws made to fit inside an object. These secondary jaws are for measuring the inside diameter of an object. Also, a stiff bar extends from the caliper as you open it that can be used to measure depth. Preparation to take the measurement, loosen the locking screw and move the slider to check if the vernier scale works properly. Before measuring, do make sure the caliper reads 0 when fully closed. If the reading is not 0, adjust the calipers jaws until you get a 0 reading. If you cant adjust the caliper, you will have to remember to add to subtract the correct offset from your final reading. Clean the measuring surfaces of vernier caliper and the object, then you can take the measurement. Close the jaws lightly on the item which you want to measure. If you are

measuring something round, be sure the axis of the part is perpendicular to the caliper. Namely, make sure you are measuring the full diameter. An ordinary caliper has jaws you can place around an object, and on the other side jaws made to fit inside an object. These secondary jaws are for measuring the inside diameter of an object. Also, a stiff bar extends from the caliper as you open it that can be used to measure depth. In reading the measured value, read the centimeter mark on the fixed scale to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale. Then find the millimeter mark on the fixed scale that is just to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale. Look along the ten marks on the vernier scale and the millimeter marks on the adjacent fixed scale, until you find the two that most nearly line up. To get the correct reading, simply add this found digit to your previous reading. 3. Methodology The diameter of the iron ball was measured by using each of the three instruments provided, ten times for each instrument. The mean diameter was then calculated for by averaging the measurements of each instrument respectively. The deviation was then taken by using the mean diameter and each individual measurement. The average deviation was then calculated for as well by summing up all the deviations of the measurements divide

by the number of observations for each instrument respectively. The Average Deviation for the Mean diameter. The iron ball was weighed on an electric gram balance and then the volume was computed and then the density. Average Deviation:

Average Deviation of the Mean: % Error of Diameter

Volume:

Mean Radius:

4. Results and Discussion Tables 1, 2, and 3 show the diameter of a sphere in centimeters using a foot rule, Vernier caliper and Micrometer caliper. Ten trials were made in order to attain precise measurements.
Table 1: Diameter of Sphere using the foot rule

Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Diameter of Sphere (cm) Foot Rule 1.6 cm 0.05 cm 1.6 cm 0.05 cm 1.5 cm 0.05 cm 1.7 cm 0.15 cm 1.5 cm 0.05 cm 1.5 cm 0.05 cm 1.5 cm 0.05 cm

8 9 10 Mean Diameter a.d. A.D. Volume Mass Exp. Den. Acc. Den. % Error

1.6 cm 1.5 cm 1.5 cm

0.05 cm 0.05 cm 0.05 cm 1.55 cm 0.465 cm 0.147 cm 1.9468 cm3 16.28 g 8.362 g/cm3 7.8 g/cm3 7.20 %

a.d. A.D. Volume Mass Exp. Den. Acc. Den. % Error

0.000054 cm 0.000017 cm 2.0786 cm3 16.28 g 7.832 g/ cm3 7.8 g/ cm3 0.41 %

The instruments gave precise measurements but not the exact measurements. The Vernier caliper and the Micrometer gave a lesser percent error than the foot rule. Both of them has the most precise and accurate values in comparison to the accepted value. The % error obtained may be caused by uncalibrated instruments, misreading of an instrument, wrong measurement procedure, the environment, or the person doing the measurement. The Activity 2 requires the measurement of the width of the thumb using the foot rule in inches. Table 4 shows the results.
Table 4: Width of thumb (in) Member 1 2 Width of 0.875 in 0.875 in thumb (in) 3 0.875 in 4 0.75 in

Table 2: Diameter of Sphere using the Vernier caliper

Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mean Diameter a.d. A.D. Volume Mass Exp. Den. Acc. Den. % Error

Diameter of Sphere (cm) Vernier Caliper 1.580 cm 0.004 cm 1.580 cm 0.004 cm 1.590 cm 0.006 cm 1.580 cm 0.004 cm 1.590 cm 0.006 cm 1.590 cm 0.006 cm 1.580 cm 0.004 cm 1.580 cm 0.004 cm 1.580 cm 0.004 cm 1.590 cm 0.006 cm 1.584 cm 0.0048 cm 0.0015 cm 2.0786 cm3 16.28 g 7.832 g/ cm3 7.8 g/ cm3 0.41 %

Table 3: Diameter of Sphere using the Micrometer caliper

Trial 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mean Diameter

Diameter of Sphere (cm) Micrometer Caliper 1.5534 cm 0.00009 cm 1.5534 cm 0.00009 cm 1.5535 cm 0.0001 cm 1.5535 cm 0.0001 cm 1.5536 cm 0.0011 cm 1.5534 cm 0.00009 cm 1.5536 cm 0.0011 cm 1.5535 cm 0.0001 cm 1.5535 cm 0.0001 cm 1.5535 cm 0.0001 cm 1.55349 cm

The table shows that members 1, 2 and 3 have the same width of the thumb but their measurements are not the same since the measurement made by the foot rule is not accurate. And the smallest width of the thumb is member 4.

5. Conclusion Random error is always present in measurements due to the imperfect observation of the handler of the instruments, the limitation of the instrument, and the other aspects of the environment that can possibly affect the measurement like dirt, etc. Using the foot rule, vernier caliper and micrometer caliper, respectively, the researchers got an average deviation of 0.465cm, 0.0048cm, and 0.000054 By comparing the measurements of each instrument, the one with the most accurate in its measurement is the micrometer sa it has the least differences in its measurements. 6. Applications 1) Which among the three measuring devices give you the least % error? Is the accuracy of a measurement affected by the least count of the measuring device? Based on the results of the experiment, the Micrometer gave the least deviation which was 0.000054 cm and the least % for error which was 0.41%. The lesser the value of deviation and % for error the lesser the % it would have for getting an in-accurate and imprecise value of measurements. 2) What do you mean by error? What are the types of errors?

What are the errors you encountered in this experiment? There were both Systematic errors and Random errors encountered during the experiment, Systematic errors were encountered because of the misuse of the formula for the volume which then led to errors in the measurements of the other data to be collected which depended on the value of the volume; and Random errors arose because of the imperfect observations of the handlers of the instruments, and because there are limits of the calibration for the instruments resulting in different measurements. 3) Sketch a) vernier caliper that reads 5.08cm b) a micrometer caliper that reads 2.55mm.

4) A student weigh himself using a bathroom scale calibrated in kilograms. He reported his weight in pounds. What are the percentage errors in his reported weight if he uses this conversion: 1kg 2.2 pounds? The standard kilogram is equal to 2.2046 pounds. Suppose the student weighed 65 kg. With his reported weight using the conversion 1kg=2.2 lbs, he weighed 143 lbs. But with the standard kilogram equal to 2.2046 pounds, his weight would be 143.2990000 lbs. Hence, in calculation of percentage error given the formula,

Hence, the 0.209% is the percent error. 7. References http://wiki.answers.com/ http://www.wikipedia.org/ http://answers.yahoo.com/