Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements

Laboratory Report

Emmanuel Brian C. Padre, Miguel Austin A. Partin, Lu Andrei S. Pusung, Kim BJ C. Salvador,
Bernice Ann S. Sabayle

Department of Biology
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines

error or human error; but sometimes, it is

Abstract
This experiment makes use of the
most common measuring devices found in a
laboratory. Measuring devices such as a foot
rule, a Vernier caliper and
micrometer caliper. It is divided into two
parts. The result of the first showed that the
accuracy of the measuring devices is affecte
d by their least count, emphasizing that the
utilization of the micrometer caliper gave the
least %error among the three measuring
devices. The second part focused on using
constant standards in measurements as what
society today uses to estimate measurements,
and the result showed that a thumb cannot be
used as a standard for measuring an inch
because a thumbs size varies from person to
person.
1. Introduction
inevitable that some unforeseen factors might
affect measured data.
Measurement is perhaps one of the
most fundamental concepts in science.
Without the ability to measure, it would be
difficult, impossible even, for scientists to
conduct experiments or form theories. Not
only is measurement important in science,
but it is also essential in farming,
manufacturing, commerce, and all the other
branches of the academe. It is important in
showing the magnitude of an object. With
this, it gives the numerical property of the
object being measured. However, there are
limitations in the specificity of the values,
which therefore provide a margin for error in
order for the values to fall within a range. In
this experiment, the objectives must be
achieved are the following:

To study errors and how they

Measurements are subjectable to
propagate in simple experiment
error; be it observational error, systematic
 To determine the average deviation of
a set of experimental values
To determine the mean of a set of
experimental values as well as set of
average deviation of the mean
To familiarize the students with the
Vernier caliper, micrometer caliper
and foot rule
To compare the accuracy of these
measuring devices
To determine the density of an object
given its mass and dimensions
2. Theory
Propagation of errors is a method to
calculate uncertainty for measurements that
are done with instruments.
Having an experiment that requires
multiple attempts will have different results.
To eliminate the deviances from the true
value, the relative error and the absolute error
should be obtained. A person may measure a
certain object with the same measuring
device differently depending on how they
perceive it. In this case, how a person
measures a diameter, volume mass and etc.
may differ because of ones unique sense of
observation and perception which varies
from person to person.
Using the results gathered from the
measurements of the tools as basis, be it a
foot rule or a Vernier caliper, it only shows
that the element of randomness is evident.
The object used for measurement stays
constant or unchanged. This just proves that
each margin of error is subjective because it
is based on ones perspective.
The following formulas are used:
a.) Mean Diameter =
b.) Average Deviation (a.d.)=
..
c.) Average Deviation of the Mean =
..
d.) %Error of Diameter= 100%
4
e.) Volume (cm)= 3
3
f.) Experimental value of density =
g.) %error for density = 100%
LEGEND
EV: Experimental value of density
AV: Accepted value of density
n: number of observations/trials
A.D.: Average deviation
d: Summation of the absolute value of
the differences of all the measured data
with its mean.
 xi: Summation of all the measured data
3. Methodology
The first activity includes the
determination of the diameter of the sphere
provided. In performing the experiment,
three measuring devices were used in this
activity; a foot rule, a Vernier caliper and a
micrometer caliper. The researchers
compared the accuracy of these measuring
devices by obtaining five independent
measurements for the diameter of the sphere
using each of the measuring devices
provided. All the results of the three
measuring devices were recorded on the data
sheet. The mass of the sphere was also
measured using an electronic analytical
balance. Various data were gathered using
the results of the measurements as basis, it is
then analyzed then converted into viable
information using the formulas given in the
theory section. This included the mean
diameter, average deviation, average
deviation of the mean, the volume of the
sphere, %errors of the diameter and density.
The information is then analyzed and
compared with the true and accepted values
to find out which of the measuring devices is
truly the most accurate of the three.
Figure 1.1 Illustrations of a Foot rule,
Micrometer caliper and Vernier caliper.
For the last activity, each member of
the group measured the width of their thumb
using a foot rule in the unit of inches. The
results were then compared to the standard
measurement of exactly 1 inch; this is done
in order to find out if the width of a thumb is
a good basis for the estimation of an inch.
4. Results and Discussion
The diameter of the given sphere was
measured by the researchers with the use of
the three measuring devices; namely the Foot
rule, Vernier Caliper, and the Micrometer
Caliper. Table 1.1 shows the tabulated
experimental values obtained from the 5
trials measuring the sphere. Table 1.2 shows
the values obtained through computation.
 Activity 1 tal Value g/cm^ g/cm^3 g/cm^3
of Density 3
Table Diameter of sphere
(g/cm^3)
1.1
Accepted 7.8 7.8 7.8

Trial Foot Vernier Micrometer Value of g/cm^ g/cm^3 g/cm^3

rule Caliper Caliper Density 3

1 1.5cm 1.545cm 1.526cm (g/cm^3)

2 1.4cm 1.540cm 1.536cm %Error of 17.95 5.13 11.53

3 1.5cm 1.538cm 1.541cm Density % % %

4 1.5cm 1.540cm 1.511cm

5 1.4cm 1.640cm 1.529cm As presented from Table 1.2, the foot
rule, Vernier caliper, and the micrometer
yielded percentage errors of diameter: 1.2 %,
Table 1.2 Foot Vernier Micromet .9167%, and .2340%, respectively. With the
rule Caliper er
Caliper presented data values, it can be inferred that
Mean 1.5cm 1.561c 1.529cm the micrometer caliper gave the most
Diameter m accurate measurement among the three. On
Average 0.04c 0.032c 0.008cm the other hand, the computed percentage
Deviation m m errors for density yielded slightly varying
Average 0.018 0.0143 0.003578 measurements; the foot rule, Vernier caliper
Deviation cm 1 cm and the micrometer caliper produced values
of the cm of 17.95%. 5.13% and 11.53% respectively,
Mean both exceeding the standard experimental
%Error of 1.2 0.9167 0.2340 percentage error of 5%. This may have been
Diameter % % % an error on the part of the researchers on how
Volume 1.77 1.991 1.87 they gathered and collected the data and these
(cm^3) cm^3 cm^3 cm^3 are as follows:
Mass (g) 16.23 16.23g 16.23g The foot rule which is commonly
g mass produced has uneven and inaccurate

Experimen 9.2 8.2 8.7 grid lines that can be precursors to

discrepancies and errors, henceforth, it is the
least accurate device. And also, human errors
can be caused by wrong viewing perspective
and the limitations of the human eye the
most common mistake can be due to
improper alignment to the reading line.
Activity 2
Table 2.1
The table below shows the measurement of
the thumb lengths of the group numbers.
Group 1 2 3 4 5 foot rule however, having a %error of 1.2%
Member
Width of 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.8 0.9
Thumb
The mean of the measurements
gathered was computed, and yielded the
value 1.3 inches. This has the difference of
+0.3 inches from the actual value of an inch
which is 1.00 inch. And also has the
percentage error 30%, which is a huge
percentage error. Even though the deviations
between the lengths of the thumbs are small,
it can still be implied that the rule of thumb
varies on different persons, suggests the rule
as inconsistent and unreliable.
5. Conclusion
According to the tabulated data
presented in Tables 1.1 and 1.2; errors were
observed using the three measuring tools, the
measurement trials on Table 1.1 proved that
measurements are easily subjected to all
kinds of error, thus to find out which
measurement tools were the most and least
accurate, the data gathered by the researchers
were analyzed and computed. The
information computed by the researchers
stated on Table 1.2 proved that the most
accurate measuring device is the micrometer
caliper, obtaining a %error of 0.2340%. The
proved to be the least accurate of the three.
The accuracy and precision of a
measuring device is related to its least count.
The least count of a micrometer caliper is
0.01mm, the smallest out of all the measuring
devices tested. It is then therefore concluded
that The micrometer caliper is the most
accurate and precise out of all the measuring
devices tested, However the foot rule and
Vernier caliper have least counts that are
equivalent to 1mm and 0.05mm respectively.
Since the foot rule has the largest least count
out of all the three measuring devices, it is
therefore the least accurate and precise out of
all the three.
In the second activity, the researchers
measured the width of their thumbs and
determined if the width of a thumb is roughly
equivalent to an inch is accurate. On each
member, it has varying measured values
which implies that a thumb as a measuring
device is inconsistent and unreliable. Since it
varies from person to person, it yields a rather
large percentage error.
6. Applications
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?
Among the three measuring devices, the
micrometer caliper has the least % error. This
proves that the least count of the measuring
device affects the accuracy of the
measurement. Out of the three devices, the
micrometer only has a least count of 0.01 mm
making it the smallest among the three.
which is due to the defect of the measuring
device. On the other hand, random error
refers to the type of error which happened due
to the unknown and unexpected changes in
the experimental condition.
The group encountered both types of error
during the experiment especially random
error because each member had different
ways on handling the sample and the
measuring device thus making the possibility
of encountering an error unavoidable.
Sketch: a) a vernier caliper that reads
3.48 cm b) a micrometer caliper that
reads 7.05mm

What do you mean by error? What are

the types of error? What are the errors you
encountered in this experiment?

An error is defined as the difference

between the observed or approximately
determined value and the true value of a
quantity. In the case of two people using the
same measuring device and ended up not
getting the same measurement, the difference
between these results is also described as an
error.

There are two different types of error

namely systematic and random: systematic
error being referred to as the type of error
 A student weight himself using a outlier therefore including it in the
bathroom scale calibrated in kilograms. calculation can result to a less accurate and
He reported his weight in pounds. What
is the percentage error in his reported precise data.
weight if he uses this conversion: 1kg=
2.2 pounds? The standard kilogram is
equal to 2.2046 pounds. Give other parts of the body that are
being used for measurement even today?
What are some properties to be a
% standard of measurement?

= 100 A cubit which is a measurement based on

the forearm from the elbow up to the fingertip
2.2046 2.2
% = 100 can be considered as a measuring device. Its
2.2046
length can vary from 18 22 inches
% = 0. 21% depending on whose arms are being used.
In an experiment on determination of Also, the thumb is also considered as a
mass of a sample, your group consists of
measuring device wherein the rule of the
5 students obtained the following results:
14.34g, 14.32g, 14.30g, 14.33g and thumb used by carpenters to take rough
14.23g. Find the mean, a.d. and A.D.
measurements is derived. Some properties
Suppose that your group is required to
make only four determinations for the that are considered to be a standard of
mass of the sample. If you are the leader
measurement include Reliability, Validity
of the group, which data will you omit?
Recalculate the mean, a.d. and A.D. and Minimal Clinically significant
without this data. Which results will you
difference.
prefer?

7. References
Mean a.d. A.D. Emery, R. (2015). Measurement. Retrieved
14.34g, August 22, 2017 from
14.32g,
14.30g. 14.30g 0.032 0.014 http://webs.mn.catholic.edu.au/physi
14. 33g, cs/emery/measurement.htm
14.23g
14.34g, Maddox, M. (n.d.). Body Parts as Tools for
14.32g, Measurement. Retrieved August 22,
14.32g 0.013 0.006 2017 from
14.30g,
14.33g https://www.dailywritingtips.com/bo
dy-parts-as-tools-of-measurement/
The second setup has the more preferable
Measurements and Error Analysis. (2011).
results because 14.23g is considered as an Retrieved August 29, 2016, from
 http://www.webassign.net/question_
assets/unccolphysmechl1/measureme
nts/manual.html
Measurement Properties. (2009, November
04). Retrieved August 23, 2017, from
http://qol.thoracic.org/sections/meas
urement-properties/reliability.html

PHYSICS - Error Analysis. (n.d.). Retrieved

August 29, 2016, from
http://felix.physics.sunysb.edu/~allen
/252/PHY_error_analysis.html