Uncertainty in Measurements

Lab

Evan McDowell

Austin Shaffer-Doan
10/26/16
 l. Purpose

The purpose of the lab is to show the uncertainty of the measurements and the inaccuracy of the
equipment which is being used.

II. Procedure

First 10 separate pennies were measured for their mass on an electronic scale. The measurements were
then used to find the average mass of a penny. After that the diameter of the graduated cylinder was
measured and marked down. The graduated cylinder was filled with approximately 50.0mL of water then
the height of the water was recorded. Then a plug of bismuth was placed in the water then the volume of
the water was recorded again. Which was used to find the volume of the bismuth.

III. Materials

1. Bismuth Plug
2. Tap Water

lV. Equipment

1. 10 Pennies
2. Digital Balance (centigram)
3. Centimeter Ruler
4. 100 mL Graduated Cylinder

V. DATA

Items Mass Diameter Volume Height

Bismuth 24.96g

1
 100mL Graduated (2.8-2.9cm)
Cylinder Est.: 2.87cm

100 ml Graduated
(50-51mL) (9.3-9.4cm)
Cylinder + Tap
Est.: 50.8mL Est.: 9.36cm
Water

Bismuth + Tap (53-54mL)

Water Est.: 53.2mL

Pennies 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mass 2.49g 3.09g 2.51g 2.51g 3.10g 2.56g 2.52g 3.15g 2.48g 3.09g

VI. Calculations

1. Average mass of Pennies) Add up all the masses of the pennies then divide by 10 pennies
2.49𝑔+3.09𝑔+2.51𝑔+2.51𝑔+3.10𝑔+2.56𝑔+2.52𝑔+3.15𝑔+2.48𝑔+3.09𝑔
= 2.75g
10
|𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒|
2. Percent Error Mass) *100 =Percent Error
𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
|2.75𝑔− 2.723𝑔|
*100 = .992%
2.723𝑔
3. Absolute Error Mass) Measured Value - Accepted Value = Absolute Error 2.75g - 2.723g=.027g
4. Radius of Graduated Cylinder) D/2= R 2.87cm/2 = 1.44cm
5. Volume of Water in Graduated Cylinder) V = 3.14 x r2 x h 3.14 x (1.44g)2 x 9.36cm =60.9mL
|𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒|
6. Percent Error Volume) *100 =Percent Error
𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

2
 |60.9−50.8|
*100 = 19.9% error
50.8
7. Volume of Bismuth) V = Volume of Tap Water with Bismuth - Tap Water without Bismuth
53.2mL - 50.8mL = 2.4mL

8. Density of Bismuth) D = Mass of Bismuth / Volume of Bismuth 24.96g / 2.4mL = 10.4 g/mL

VII. Questions

1. Accuracy is how close you can get to a target goal, but precision is the ability to get the same
answer consistently.
2. The student was very precise because he got answers that were all really close together. But he
has low accuracy because they were quite far away from the actual density.
3. Percent error can’t be negative while absolute error can be negative. Another difference is the
percent error shows how far away from the correct and accepted value you are.
4. It should be rounded to the least amount of significant figures in the problem. But you can’t use
equalities for the significant figures.
5. The final answer should have the same amount of decimal point from the equation.

VIII. Conclusion

When doing a lab every number has a small amount of uncertainty to it and it is the job of the
student to recognize that and account for it when doing the lab.