PHYSIC LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 1
MEASUREMENT OF BASIC
CONSTANT:LENGTH AND WEIGHT

SAFWAN FATHI AB LATIF

B10A218
SBG 1
Introduction

Vernier Caliper

Vernier caliper, instrument for making very accurate linear measurements introduced in 1631 by
Pierre Vernier of France. It utilizes two graduated scales: a main scale similar to that on a ruler
and an especially graduated auxiliary scale, the vernier, that slides parallel to the main scale and
enables readings to be made to a fraction of a division on the main scale. Vernier calipers are
widely used in scientific laboratories and in manufacturing for quality control measurements.

The vernier, dial, and digital calipers give a direct reading of the distance measured to high
accuracy. They are functionally identical, with different ways of reading the result. These
calipers comprise a calibrated scale with a fixed jaw, and another jaw, with a pointer, that slides
along the scale. The distance between the jaws is then read in different ways for the three types.

The vernier scales may include metric measurements on the lower part of the scale and inch
measurements on the upper, or vice versa, in countries that use inches. Vernier calipers
commonly used in industry provide a precision to a hundredth of a millimetre (10 micrometres),
or one thousandth of an inch. They are available in sizes that can measure up to 72 in (1,800
mm).[6]
MICROMETER
Micrometers use the principle of a screw to amplify small distances that are too small to measure
directly into large rotations of the screw that are big enough to read from a scale. The accuracy
of a micrometer derives from the accuracy of the thread form that is at its heart. The basic
operating principles of a micrometer are as follows:

1. The amount of rotation of an accurately made screw can be directly and precisely
correlated to a certain amount of axial movement (and vice versa), through the constant
known as the screw's lead (/ˈliːd/). A screw's lead is the distance it moves forward axially
with one complete turn (360°). (In most threads [that is, in all single-start threads], lead
and pitch refer to essentially the same concept.)
2. With an appropriate lead and major diameter of the screw, a given amount of axial
movement will be amplified in the resulting circumferential movement.

For example, if the lead of a screw is 1 mm, but the major diameter (here, outer diameter) is
10 mm, then the circumference of the screw is 10π, or about 31.4 mm. Therefore, an axial
movement of 1 mm is amplified (magnified) to a circumferential movement of 31.4 mm. This
amplification allows a small difference in the sizes of two similar measured objects to correlate
to a larger difference in the position of a micrometer's thimble.

The spindle of an ordinary metric micrometer has 2 threads per millimetre, and thus one
complete revolution moves the spindle through a distance of 0.5 millimetre. The longitudinal line
on the frame is graduated with 1 millimetre divisions and 0.5 millimetre subdivisions. The
thimble has 50 graduations, each being 0.01 millimetre (one-hundredth of a millimetre). Thus,
the reading is given by the number of millimetre divisions visible on the scale of the sleeve plus
the particular division on the thimble which coincides with the axial line on the sleeve.

Suppose that the thimble were screwed out so that graduation 5, and one additional 0.5
subdivision were visible (as shown in the image), and that graduation 28 on the thimble
coincided with the axial line on the sleeve. The reading then would be 5.00 + 0.5 + 0.28 =
5.78 mm.
Material
1. Vernier caliper

2. Micrometers

3. Mechanical balance

Method
1. Volume of ball 1 was determined by using vernier caliper and micrometer.

2. Volume of ball 2 was determined by using vernier caliper and micrometer.

3. The following formula was used to determined v and its standard deviation.

4 (X 1− X́ )2 +(X 2− X́ )2 +(X 3− X́ )2
V= 3 π r
3
standard deviation =
√ n−1

4. Volume of rectangular box was determined with ruler and vernier caliper

5. Formula below was used to determined value of v and its standard deviation

2 2 2
V = l×b×h standard deviation =
√ ( X 1− X́ ) + ( X 2− X́ ) + ( X 3− X́ )
n−1

6. Weight of different articles with highest possible accuracy was determined with manual
precision balance.

7. All the data 1 and 2 was used to find density of each item(box and ball)

Mass
Density =
Volume
Result
Ball 1

Vernier Caliper Micrometer

st
Diameter 1 (mm) 22.60 24.33
Diameter 2nd(mm) 22.73 24.30
Diameter 3rd(mm) 22.65 24.30
Mean 22.66 24.31
Standard deviation 0.0656 0.0173

4 3
Volume for ball 1= 3 π (11.4) = 6092.26 mm3

From mean

Ball 2

Vernier Caliper Micrometer

st
Diameter 1 (mm) 10.45 12.06
Diameter 2nd(mm) 10.47 12.43
Diameter 3rd(mm) 10.44 12.46
Mean 10.45 12.32
Standard deviation 0.0153 0.0603

4 3
Volume for ball 2= 3 π (5.25) = 597.51mm3

From mean
Rectangular box

Length, L Breadth, b Height, h

st
Diameter 1 (mm) 160.00 83.00 250
Diameter 2nd(mm) 161.00 83.00 250
Diameter 3rd(mm) 161.00 83.00 240
Mean 161.00 83.00 246.67
Standard deviation 0.7071 0 5.7735

Volume of rectangular box = 161.00× 83.00× 246.67

= 329.63×10 4 mm3

Weight of box and ball-bearing

Box, m Ball-bearing,m
Ball 1 Ball 2
Reading 1st(kg) 75.65 66.54 29.93
Reading 2nd(kg) 75.56 66.62 29.94
Reading 3rd(kg) 75.55 66.52 29.93
Mean 75.59 66.56 29.93
Standard deviation 0.039 0.037 0.7071
Density
0.06656
Density of ball 1= 6092.26 =1.092× 10−5 kgmm−3

0.02993
Density of ball 2= 597.51 =5.009 ×10−5 kgmm−3

0.07559
Density of box= 329.63× 104 =2.293 ×10−8 kgmm−3

Discussion
There are two scale in vernier scale which will give more accurate reading of
diameter of the ball-bearing. They are main scale and vernier scale. 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 caliper’s jaws until you get a 0
reading. If you can’t adjust the caliper, you will have to remember to add to
subtract the correct offset from your final reading. Close the jaws lightly on the
ball-bearing and be sure the axis of the part is perpendicular to the caliper. Make
sure the ball was measured on the full diameter. An ordinary caliper has jaws
where we can place around an object, and on the other side jaws made to fit inside
an object. For ball-bearing 1, we take about 3 times of reading and obtain the mean
so that we can calculate standard deviation based on equation give. Firstly read the
centimeter mark on the fixed scale to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale
(20mm on the fixed caliper). Secondly, find the millimeter mark on the fixed scale
that is just to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale (2mm on the fixed caliper).
Later on, look along the ten marks on the vernier scale and the millimeter marks on
the adjacent fixed scale, until find the two that most nearly line up (0.00mm on the
vernier scale). To get the correct reading, simply add this found digit to the
previous reading. (20mm + 2mm + 0.00mm= 22.00 mm). Same goes for getting
the reading of ball-bearing 2.

Micrometers sometimes known as a micrometer screw gauge which are

intended for measuring outside, inside, and depth, with the range of measurement
from 0 to 300 mm. All micrometers operate based on the principle that an
accurately made screw will advance a specified distance with each complete turn.
To measure small objects with an outside micrometer, open the jaws of the tool
and slip the object between the spindle and the anvil. While holding the object
against the anvil turn the thimble using our thumb and forefinger until the spindle
contacts the object. Use only while continuing to slip the micrometer over the
object until feel a very slight resistance. The reading line on the sleeve is graduated
above the line in millimeters (1.0mm) with every fifth millimeter being numbered
from 0 to 25. Each millimeter is also divided in half (0.5mm) below the reading
line. It requires two revolutions of the thimble to advance the spindle 1.0mm. The
beveled edge of the thimble is divided into fifty equal parts, with each line
representing 0.01mm and every fifth line being numbered from 0 to 50. To read
the micrometer, add the number of millimeters and half-millimeters visible on the
sleeve to the number of hundredths of a millimeter indicated by the thimble
graduation which coincides with the reading line on the sleeve. For example,
reading of ball-bearing was done and repeated about 3 times where we get the
mean reading about 24.33mm.

Conclusion

After conductsed the experiment,the student then was able to use the vernier
caliper and micrometer screw gauge wisely and knew how it worked and what its
accuracy.

References :
1. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/626328/vernier-caliper
2. http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/Micrometer/Micrometer.htmlorg/wiki/Caliper
#3.
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micrometer
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliper#Use5.
5. http://www.tresnainstrument.com/education.html