EXPERIMENT NO.

1
SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENTS

A scientific study includes gathering experimental data which are often obtained with the use of
measuring devices. Measuring anything involves comparing something with a standard to determine how
many times as big or as small it is. The standard to which things are compared is known as a unit.

Mass, volume, density are properties of a material. Mass is the amount of matter in an object and
it is a basic quantity whose unit is a fundamental SI measurement. Volume is the space occupied by an
object whose unit is not a fundamental SI measurement which can be obtained by measuring the lengths
and by displacement methods. The density of water is exactly 1.0000 g/cm3 at 4˚C and slightly less than
this at room temperature. A substance that has lower density than water will float on it, while one which
is denser than water will sink in it.
Density is an intensive property of a substance. It is defined as the mass per unit volume; in equation
form

Density = mass/volume

This experiment aims to introduce students to different units of measurement and to different measuring
devices and to develop their skill in recording measurements accurately and properly.

APPARATUS: 500 beaker, 250 mL beaker and 150 beaker, graduated cylinder 100 mL, graduated
cylinder 10 ml, graduated cylinder 50 ml, ruler and

REAGENTS: water, a stick of daricreme buttermilk, rock or stone, mineral oil

PROCEDURE:

PART I. Measurement of Volume

A. Measuring the Volume of a Liquid

1. Obtain a 500 beaker, 250 mL beaker and 150mL beaker.
2. Place 100 mL of water in the 500 mL beaker using the markings on the beaker as your guide.
Pour the water into a 100 mL graduated cylinder (if the water appears to be more than 100 mL,
stop at 100 mL, pour out the water and determine the remaining amount of water with the
graduated cylinder. Add additional volume to 100 mL to obtain total volume). Record the
volume. Repeat this with the 250 mL and 150 mL beakers.
3. Calculate the percent error for each of the beakers.

B. Measuring the Volume of a Regular Solid

Using a ruler, measure the dimensions of a stick of a daricreme buttermilk and calculate its
volume.

C. Volume of an Irregular Solid

1. Place 30 mL of water in a 50 ml graduated cylinder.
2. Drop a piece of stone inside the cylinder and record the water level in the cylinder after the
stone was immersed.
3. Compute for the volume of the stone.
PART II: Measurement of Density

A. Density of a Solid
1. The mass of the piece of stone is 17.6 g.
2. Place the piece of stone inside a 100 mL graduated cylinder with a 30mL water. Record the
volume.
3. Compute for the density of the stone.

B. Density of a liquid
1. Weigh a 50 mL graduated cylinder.
2. Fill with mineral oil up to 10.0 mL mark.
3. Weight the graduated cylinder with 10 ml mineral oil.
4. Compute for the density of the mineral oil.
 EXPERIMENT NO. 1
SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENTS

I. AIM: The aim of the experiment is to test the applied knowledge of the students on measuring. In
addition, it wanted to teach students how to properly measure what is needed to be measure and the
appropriate measuring devices and instrument to use. This will also test the student’s knowledge on using
different formulas if the measuring process needs so.

II. DATA and RESULTS:

PART I. Measurement of Volume

A. Measuring the Volume of a Liquid

a. How far do the markings on each instrument go:

500 mL 100mL 250 mL 100mL 150 mL 100mL
b. The actual volume of 100 mL of water in:
500 mL 93mL 250 mL 95mL 150 mL 98mL
c. Percent error for each beaker:
500 mL 7% 250 mL 5% 150 mL 2%

B. Measuring the Volume of a Regular Solid

Length 10.4cm

Width 3.2cm

Height 3.2cm

Volume of a stick of margarine/butter 106.50cm 3

C. Volume of an Irregular Solid

Volume of water 30mL

Volume of water with stone 38mL

Volume of the stone 8mL

PART II: Measurement of Density

A. Density of a Solid

Mass of the stone = 17.6 g

Volume of the stone + water 38mL

Volume of the stone 8mL

Density of the stone 2.2g/mL

B. Density of a liquid

Weight of graduated cylinder + canola oil 70g

Weight of graduated cylinder 60g

Weight of the canola oil 10g

Volume of the canola oil 10ml

Density of the canola oil 1g/mL

QUESTIONS:
1. Why is it necessary that measurement is a must knowledge to everyone?
Measurement is a necessary knowledge to everyone because, it plays a huge role on lives
of different people. On a narrower idea, measurement is used in various professions and also in
the household. Measurement is highly used in the scientific field especially in conducting
experiments as it requires an accurate and precise data and results. Aside from that, other
professions like being an athlete requires great precision to obtain a goal or point from the enemy
team. In terms of household chores measurement is vital in making food specifically in baking
because, if ingredients are not measured properly, even if you follow the exact procedures, you
will not be able to get the desired outcome. Hence, measurement is undeniably a necessary
knowledge to everyone.

2. How does a percent error affect the measurement?

¿
Percent error = ¿ accepted value−experimental∨ ¿
accepted value x 100
A percent error affects the measurement in a way that, as the percent error increases in value, the
accuracy of the measurement is highly jeopardized. If the percent error value is low or closer to 0, then
the measurement is leaning toward high accuracy. Though error can be avoided, sometimes different
errors occur due to instrument errors causing the increase in the percent error.

3. What are the factors that affects volume measurement of a liquid?

Some common factors that can affect the volume measurement of a liquid are the following:
 Instrument error
 Operator’s error
 Measurement location error
 The instrument error is the error that comes from the instrument used in measuring. This
can be a result of poorly calibrated instruments intended for measuring. Examples of this are
faulty marking on measuring tools. The operator’s error is an error committed by the individual
measuring something that is needed to be measured. This could be due to lack of enough
experience, knowledge and training on measuring things properly, like what instrument to use
and not to use, where to start measuring, or knowing the appropriate place and setup to
measure. For example, a student measuring a volume of a particular liquid in a glass cylinder
placed on a semi slanted surface, does not know how to read the meniscus will result to
inaccurate and not precise measurement. Thus, will give you an unreliable data. The
measurement location error is an error that occurs when a measuring device or instrument is
used in a setup where it should not be. This could placing the graduated cylinder on inclined
surface rather than in a flat surface. Definitely, this will give you unwanted and inaccurate
results.