Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements

Laboratory Report

Abstract
The report aims to present errors,
uncertainties and the measurement of each
apparatus. the report also presents where
the different errors came from. Errors are
mostly random and ranges from 4.008%15.68% depending on the precision and
accuracy of the person reading the
measurements.
Introduction
Measurement, being one of the most
important requirements of everyday life
means precision and accuracy is very
important and necessary. The history of
measurement started with the use of simple
measuring tools which resulted to high
percentage errors. Therefore, as man find
ways to eliminate errors, better tools and
techniques were discovered and practiced.
An experiment was done to find errors
and uncertainties in determining the
diameter of a spherical metal ball and the
width of every group members thumb. A
vernier caliper, a micrometer caliper, and a
foot rule were used in the experiment. The
experiment aimed to achieve the most
precise and accurate data using the tools that
were provided. It also aims to present
different types of errors and how they
propagate on a certain data.
The limitation of the experiment was
achieving a data that will give high precision
and high accuracy.
Theory

Observations are responsible for the

knowledge of the physical world and from
extensions to those observations; it is
possible to predict physical behavior. These
extensions can otherwise be called a theory
and theories must be testable by
measurements of physical behavior. This
process is a cycle, it will all begin from a
measurement, then it will form a theory,
which will lead to prediction and will then
go back to measurement. Each cycle
improves the theory and will also lead to
new predictions and tests. Crucial to this
process is the understanding that no
measurement is exact: there is always some
uncertainty in a measurement, and a
statement of the result of a measurement is
incomplete without a statement if its
uncertainty.
The theory of errors, measurement
and uncertainty outlined forms the
mathematical foundation of the results. It is
based on Gaussian distribution.
was used
to get the mean diameter of the sphere.
Mean is the central value of the data
recorded. This means that most of the values
are close to it. n=10 which is the number of
trials or observations made. After the mean
diameter was obtained, each value of the
trial was subtracted from it to get the
deviation (d). a.d =

d
n

was used to get

the average deviation. The a.d is the sum of

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all the deviations (d) divided by the number

of trials (n) which is 10. After computing for
the a.d, the formula A.D. =

a .d
n

was

used to get the average deviation of the

mean diameter. The volume of the sphere
4
3
was computed using V= 3
r , r being the
radius of the sphere (diameter divided by 2).
To compute for thedensity of the sphere the
formula density=

V
g

mean (A. D) and volume was also computed

using the data being recorded.
The mass of the sphere was noted
using the electronic balance. And further
computations were made like the
experimental value of the density.
The %error for the density was
computed after the instructor gave the
accepted value for the density of the sphere.
For the second activity, the
measurement of the width of the thumb was
recorded using the foot rule.

was used. In order

to get the % Error for the density, the

formula
accepted value
( experimental value accepted value)

x 100%. The %error for the density shows

how accurate the apparatus is in measuring a
certain object.

Figure1. Measuring the diameter of the sphere

using ruler

Methodology
The experiment conducted used Foot
rule, Vernier Caliper and Micrometer
Caliper to measure the diameter of the given
sphere. An electronic balance was used to
know the mass of the given sphere.
The calipers were first checked if
they were properly calibrated. Necessary
operation should be done if the apparatus
isnt properly calibrated. Least count of Foot
rule, Vernier caliper and Micrometer was
made. 10 independent measurements of the
diameter of the sphere were taken and
recorded. The mean diameter, average
deviation(a.d) and Average Deviation of the

Figu
re 2.Measuring the diameter of the sphere using
Vernier Caliper

Figure 5 measuring width of thumb using

Results
foot rule and Discussion

Table 1. Measurement of spere using ruler and

vernier caliper
Figure 3.Measuring the sphere using
Micrometer Caliper

Diameter of Spere(cm)
Trial

Foot rule
x

Figure 4. Vernier Caliper, Micrometer

caliper, foot rule and sphere

Vernier Caliper
x

1.5

0.0
1.585 0.002
3
2
1.5
0.0
1.585 0.002
Diameter of
Sphere
(cm)
3
Trial
Micrometer
Caliper
3
1.6
0.0
1.580 0.003
x
d
7
1
1.5833
0.00008
4
1.5
0.0
1.585 0.002
2
1.5833
0.00008
3
3 5
1.5832
0.000020.003
1.6
0.0
1.580
4
1.5832 7
0.00002
5
1.5832
0.00002
Table
using0.002
6 2. Measurement
1.5
0.0 of sphere
1.585
Micrometer
caliper
6
1.5831 3
0.00012
7 7
1.5833
0.000080.003
1.5
0.0
1.580
8
1.5833 3
0.00008
9 8
1.5832
0.000020.002
1.6
0.0
1.585
10
1.5831 7
0.00012
9
1.5
0.0
1.580 0.003
3
10
1.5
0.0
1.585 0.002
3

Table 3: Computed values for the three apparatus

Mean
Diameter
a.d
A.D
Volume
Mass
Exptl
value of
density
Accepted
value of
density
%error
of
density

Foot
rule

Vernier
Caliper

0.042

1.583

Micrometer
Caliper
1.58322

0.01328
2
0.01328
2
1.8753

0.0024

0.000064

7.58947
x10-4
2.077021

2.02386
X10-5
2.07789

16.27g
8.6759

16.27g
7.8333

16.27g
7.83006

7.5

7.5

7.5

15.68%

4.44%

4.008%

Table 4. measurement of the width of the

thumb using foot rule

Group
member
Width of
thumb

0.9

0.7

0.7

0.7

The following data shows the result

of the experiment done after measuring the
diameter of the same sphere using different
apparatus.
The average deviation of the foot
rule is 0.042 and its average deviation of the
mean is 0.013282. The computed density for
the foot rule is 8.6759, which is far from the
accepted value of density.
The average deviation of the mean
for the micrometer caliper is 0.000064 and

The average deviation for the Vernier

caliper is 0.0024 and its average deviation of
the mean is 7.5897x10-4. The computed
density for the Vernier caliper is 7.83333
which is near the accepted value of density.

the average deviation of the mean is

2.02386x10-5. The computed density for the
Micrometer caliper is 7.83006 which is
nearer the accepted value of density.
Measurements may vary depending
on the apparatus used. The ruler is the least
accurate apparatus used. However the foot
rule shows high precision. On the other
hand, the Vernier caliper shows good
accuracy and good precision. The vernier
caliper can measure up to 4 significant
figures which may indicate good results at
the end. Lastly, the Micrometer Caliper is
the most accurate apparatus to be used. It
may measure up to 5 significant figures
which lessen the chance of having errors. It
shows high accuracy and at the same time
high precision
Moreover, the Micrometer Caliper
has the least %error in computing the
density of the sphere (4.008%) unlike the
foot rule which has 15.68% error and the
Vernier caliper with 4.44% error.
One may lessen of having errors by
making sure that each apparatus is properly
calibrated. Also, one must be careful in
computing and measuring each values to
prevent human errors from arising.
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Conclusion

3. Sketch

The group was able to determine the

errors and how they propagate, the average
deviation and average deviation of the mean,
and density. Being familiarized with the foot
rule, Vernier caliper and Micrometer caliper
were also achieved. Therefore, the
experiment was a success because the
objectives were met.

a. Vernier caliper that reads 3.48cm

Applications
1.Which among the three measuring devices
the least % error? Is the accuracy of a
measurement affected by the least count of
the measuring device?
The Micrometer Caliper has an error
of 4.008% compared to the foot rule
(15.68%) and vernier caliper (4.44%). Yes,
the accuracy of a measurement is affected.
The more significant figures a measuring the
device can measure, the less error may
occur.
2. What do you mean by error? What are the
types of errors? What are the errors you
encountered in this experiment?
An error is the inevitable uncertainty
inherent in measurements. There are two
types of error: Systematic and random error.
Systematic error usually comes from the
measuring instruments and occur because of
physical and human limitations while
random error are caused by unknown and
unpredictable changes in the experiment and
random error is always present, it cannot be
avoided. Random error

b. a micrometer caliper that reads 7.055mm

-See attachment at the back.
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 uses this
conversion: 1 kg=2.2 pounds? The standard
kilogram is equal to 2.2046.
TV EV
TV

x 100%

2.20462.2
2.2046

x 100%

=0.2%
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?
Given: 14.34g, 14.32g, 14.33g, 14.30g,
14.23g
Mean= 14.304g , a.d.= 0.0312, A.D.= 0.014

Given (with only four determinations for the

mass of the sample): 14.34g, 14.32g, 14.33g,
14.30g
Mean= 14.3225g, a.d.= 0.0125, A.D.=
0.00625

http://ipl.physics.harvard.edu/wpuploads/2013/08/ps2_fa12_1.pdf
Measurement and Uncertainty. (n.d.).
Retrieved August 21, 2015, from
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/users/mickey/AS
TR110L_S05/measurement.html

The second result is more preferable because

it showed more precision on the given set of
data that resulted to low a.d. and A.D.

6. Give other parts of the body that are being

used for measurement even today. What are
the some properties to be a standard of
measurement?
Body parts like thumb for an inch,
the tip of thumb to tip of the middle finger
for a span, nose to the base of the when arm
is outstretched for yard, digit for counting
numbers are use in measuring.
An
effective
standard
of
measurement should be consistent and
reliable.

References:
Random vs Systematic Error. (n.d.).
Retrieved August 21, 2015, from
http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys27
6/Hill/Information/Notes/ErrorAnalysis.html
John, T., Phillip, R., B., & D.C., B. (n.d.).
Definitions of Measurement Error Terms.
Retrieved August 21, 2015, from
http://user.physics.unc.edu/~deardorf/uncert
ainty/definitions.html
Lab 1: Measurement and Uncertainty. (n.d.).
Retrieved August 21, 2015, from
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