LABORATORY EXPERIMENT

NO. 1: UNCERTAINTY OF
MEASUREMENTS AND
CALIPERS
Prepared by: Engr. Rhowie L. Garcia
Physics for Engineers
Thursday / 07:00 am – 10:00 am
Definition of Terms
• Uncertainty
• Precision
• Accuracy
• Positive Error
• Negative Error
Two Classes of Errors
Systematic Errors
• Instrument Error
• Personal Error
• External Error
Random Errors - are statistical fluctuations wherein positive and negative errors are
equally probable. In addition, random errors occur as variations in measurement, or
a large number of factors that contributes to the total error.
Laws of Statistics
•  arithmetic mean (

Where = sum of the measurement readings ; n = number of trials made

• deviation (d)

• average deviation (a.d.)

Laws of Statistics
•  standard deviation ( σ )

x 100
However, if there is no available standard value,
x 100
 Example:   ∑ 𝑥 1.8+1.9+2.0
Trials Vernier Caliper 𝒙
´= = =1.9
𝑛 3
(Diameter – cm)   ∑ 𝑑 = 0.1+0+ 0.1 =0.07
1 1.8 𝒅
  𝒏 =|´𝒙 − 𝑥| 𝒂 . 𝒅 .=
𝑛 3
2 1.9
𝒅  𝟏=|1.9 −1.8|=0.1
𝒅  𝟐=|1.9 −1. 9|=0
𝑎 . 𝑑 . 0. 07
𝛔  = = =0.02
3 2.0
𝒅  3 =|1.9 −2.0|=0.1 𝑛 3

Volume of the sphere 1.8+1.9+ 2.0

3
𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕
  𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆=´𝒙 ±𝛔  
𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕
 
𝑩𝒆𝒔𝒕
 
𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆=1.9+0.02=1.92
𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆=1.9 −0.02=1.88
4
3
4
𝑉 = 𝜋 𝑟3 = 𝜋
3 (
3
2 ) =3.59 𝑐 𝑚 3

Experimental Value of the density

  𝑚 25.51 3
ρ= = =7.11 g / cm
𝑉 3.59
   x 100

  x 100
The Vernier Caliper
How to use a Vernier Caliper?
 1. Determine first the Least Count (LC). Least count is
applied to the smallest value that can be read directly
from the Vernier Caliper.

Wherein S = Length of the smallest division in the main scale

N = No. of divisions in the Vernier scale
From our sample in Figure 2,
S = 1 mm
N = 10
 
So, the least count is 1mm/10 = 0.01mm

2. Get the Main Scale Reading (MSR). MSR is the reading in the main scale before the zero mark of the Vernier
scale. In Figure, the zero from the Vernier scale is aligned at the 0.3cm mark of the Main Scale as indicated by the
1st red arrow. Therefore, the MSR is 0.3cm or 3mm
How to use a Vernier Caliper?
  Get the Vernier Scale Reading (VSR). VSR is the reading
3.
between MSR and the zero mark of the Vernier scale. You may
look closely for an alignment of scale lines of the main scale
and the Vernier scale. From the figure, the Vernier scale aligned
with a main scale mark at its 6th scale line, and is marked by the
circle. This 6th scale line is the coinciding mark (CM) or the nth
division in the Vernier scale that coincides with the main scale.
Therefore, CM =6
 
VSR is given by:
 
So from Figure, VSR = 0.01mm x 6 = 0.06mm
 4. To get the Vernier Caliper Reading,

And from Figure,

= 3mm + 0.06mm = 3.06mm
Data and Results
Ruler Vernier Caliper
Trials
Diameter (cm) Diameter (cm)
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
   
a.d.    
   
Best Estimated Value +    
-    
Volume, V (cm3)    
Mass, m (g)    
Density Experimental Value (g/cm3)    
Density Standard Value (g/cm3)    
% Error    
Email: coordinator.physicslab@adamson.edu.ph
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