Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements

Laboratory Report
Kathrina A. Salazar, Maria Ysabelle V. Santos, Rosa Katrina G. Santos
Occupational Therapy
College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Santos Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines
Abstract

2. Theory

In this experiment, different types of

measuring materials were used to get the
measurement of a sphere to study errors and
uncertainties
in
measurements.
Measurements were gotten several times
giving the students different but precise
results. Through the results other
computations were done.

One of the theories used in this

experiment is the basic theory of
measurement and errors. It explains that to
improve the quality of the measured value,
we should minimize the possible errors
involved. Also, the estimated measurement
uncertainty implies the knowledge about
errors that occur in measuring. These errors
should be taken into consideration because it
enhances the quality of the measurement. It
also explains that objects are measured with
the consideration of standard values, It is
also known as the propagation of errors. It is
the recording measurements without the
neglectance of the uncertainties

1. Introduction
The accuracy and precision of
measurements are key factors that affect the
outcome of a particular goal. A practical
example would be the act of buying clothes.
After buying, the buyer finds out that they
do not fit well or the measurements are too
small or too large, he or she will either have
them repaired, returned, or disposed. The
objectives of this experiment is to study the
errors and how they propagate in simple
experiment, determine the average deviation
of a set of experimental values, determine
the mean of a set of experimental values as
well as set of average deviation of the mean,
familiarize the use of vernier caliper,
micrometer caliper, and foot rule, compare
the accuracy of these measuring devices,
and determine the density of an object given
its mass and dimensions.

Significant digits or the rule in

significant figures play an important rule in
measurement because it is a basis of whether
the obtained result is true or high quality. It
has rules like zeroes in front of a non-zero
used to move the decimal place is not
significant or a zero in between non-zero
digits are significant, these rules are
followed to know whether up until what
placeholders should be considered in taking
note of the measurement.
Least count is the smallest
measurement a precision device could reach.
The significance of knowing first the least
count of an instrument affects the deviation

of errors the instrument and the holder is

expected to do. And each instrument has its
own least count, 1mm and 0.5 mm for ruler,
vernier calliper and micrometer caliper
respectively.

Volume of sphere
V=

4 3
r
3

The following equations were used:

-The volume of sphere is four-thirds

multiplied to and the cube of the (r)

Mean Diameter (n)

radius.

Trial 1 measurement + trial 2 + trial 3...trial

10 = n

% error of density
%

Average deviation (a.d.)

a.d. =
-The

|experimental valueaccepted value|

accepted value

d
n

=
x

100

average

deviation

is

the

summation of all the (d) deviations divided

by (n) number of trials.
Average deviation of the mean diameter
(A.D.)
A.D. =

error

-The % error of the density is the result of

the measured value, is the values taken
during the experiment subracted by the
accepted value, which is the standard value
of the object measured taken in absolute
value divided by the accepted value
multiplied to 100 to convert to percentage.

a .d .
n
3. Methodology

-The average deviation of the mean diameter

is the (a.d) average deviation divided by the
( n square root of the number of trials.
% error of diameter
% error =

A.D.
mean x 100

-The percent error of diameter is (A.D)

average deviation of the mean diameter
considered as the error divided by the mean
diameter as the standard value and multiply
(100) hundred to convert it to percentage.

In this experiment, a small sphere

was measured. Different types of apparatus
were used to measure this such as a 6-inch
ruler, a vernier caliper, a micrometer caliper
and an electronic gram balance. First
apparatus used was the ruler. The three
students placed the sphere on top of the table
counter and used the ruler to measure the
diameter of this one at a time for 10 times.
Using a vernier caliper, they put the sphere
in between the jaws of the caliper and
screwed it on and read the measurement.
They also did this for 10 times. The last

apparatus used was the micrometer caliper.

They put the sphere in between the anvil and
the spindle and got the measurement for 10
times. They recorded all of these
measurements and calculated for the mean
diameter, deviation, average deviation, %
error for the diameter, the volume, density
and the % error of the density of the sphere.
The equations and set up are shown below.
For the density they needed the weight of
the sphere so they used an electronic gram
balance to get it.
SET UP
Vernier caliper

6-inch ruler
Micrometer caliper
4. Results and Discussion
Table 1 shows the number of trials
and the measurements obtained in
determining the diameter of the sphere using
the foot rule, vernier caliper, and micrometer
caliper.
Trial

Diameter of Sphere (cm)

Foot
Vernier Micromet
Rule
Caliper er Caliper

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean
Diamete
r
Average
Deviatio
n (a.d.)
Average
Deviatio
n of the
Mean
(A.D.)
% Error
of
Diamete
r
Volume
(cm3)
Mass
(g)
Experim
ental
Value of

1.
8
2.
3
1.
6
2.
2
2.
0
1.
8
1.
9
1.
8
1.
8
2.
0
1.
92

0.
12
0.
38
0.
32
0.
28
0.
08
0.
12
0.
02
0.
12
0.
12
0.
08
0.
16

1.
8
1.
87
1.
8
1.
8
1.
8
1.
8
1.
87
1.
8
1.
87
1.
8
1.
82

0.0
2
0.0
5
0.0
2
0.0
2
0.0
2
0.0
2
0.0
5
0.0
2
0.0
5
0.0
22
0.0
3

1.8
96
1.8
98
1.8
96
1.8
96
1.8
94
1.8
98
1.8
97
1.8
97
1.8
99
1.8
96
1.8
97

0.00
1
0.00
1
0.00
1
0.00
1
0.00
3
0.00
1
0
0
0.00
2
0.00
1
0.00
11

0.16

0.03

0.0011

0.051

0.00949

0.000316

0.026

0.00094
9

0.000183

3.706

3.157

3.574

27.86

27.86

27.86

7.518

8.825

7.794

density
(g/cm3)
Accepte
d Value
of
Density
(g/cm3)
% Error
of
Density

7.874

7.874

7.874

4.521

12.078

1.016

Table 2 shows the measurements of

the width of thumb of the group members.
Group Member
Width of Thumb (in)

1
0.6

2
0.65

3
0.65

The uncertainty of measurement is

dependent on the person who did the
experiment and the measuring device used
in the experiment. The percentage error of
the diameter of the sphere using the three
measuring apparatus is almost zero or
insignificant, however, the percentage error
of the density of the sphere showed 4.521%
with the use of the foot rule, 12.078% using
the vernier caliper, and 1.016% using the
micrometer caliper. The possible sources of
errors of these measurements may be the
careless attempt to line up the sphere with
the zero of the foot rule and vernier caliper
and the inaccurate reading of the
measurement at the other end of the foot
rule, the incorrect calibration of the gram
balance and micrometer caliper, and the
spacing of the tick marks on the foot rule,
vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper. The
percentage error of the density of the sphere
is largest with the use of the vernier caliper
because of the improper position of the

sphere in between the jaws of the vernier

caliper. It is suggested to have repeated
measurements or trials to avoid random
errors, and to properly calibrate the
measuring devices to avoid systematic
errors.
The width of thumb of the two group
members share the same numerical
measurement, however, in reality, the two
thumbs are not exactly the same size. This
happened because of errors that occurred in
the course of getting the measure of the
width of thumb using a foot rule.

5. Conclusion
The activity was about errors,
uncertainties and measurements and as the
title goes, the students were given four
measuring
devices
(vernier
caliper,
micrometer caliper, ruler and gram balance)
and an object to measure 10 times. Along
the way, the group had to answer a table that
asked to solve the mean diameter, average
deviation, % error in diameter and density,
volume of a sphere and the density. With the
following questions to be answered, the
group was able to obtain the accuracy of the
following measuring devices except the
gram balance through the % error. In
obtaining the following measurements, the
group was able to familiarize the use and
parts of the three measuring devices. Also,
determine all equations to be solved. The
following values are the % error taken from
the experiment (a) foot rule 4.52% & (b)
vernier caliper 12.078% (c) micrometer
caliper 1.016 %.

In the second activity the group was

tasked to measure the width of their thumb
using a ruler and see if this can be used as a
standard fo comparison, because it is well
known tha measurement before used only a
comparison with standards which is the
body parts.
6. Applications
1) 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
- Out of the three measuring devices that the
group had used, the least % error is the
micrometer caliper. Based on the results
obtained between a 1 mm to 0.5 mm least
count, the one with the smaller least count
obtained the smallest % error.
2) What do you mean by error?
What are the types of error? What
are the errors you encountered in
this experiment?
- Error is something that in incorrect, or the
disagreement between the measurement and
the accepted value. There are 2 types of
error (a) Random error and (b) Systematic
error. The group encountered random errors
because the least count of the measuring
devices is 1 mm and 0.5 mm and there were
cases that the measurement hit between 2
divisions. On the other hand, the systematic
errors arose because of the calibration error
prior to the use of the vernier calliper, lastly,
because of the doubts with regards to the
proper use of the measuring devices.

3) Sketch a) a vernier caliper that

reads 5.08 cm b) a micrometer
caliper that reads 2.55 mm

4) A student weighed 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
use this conversion 1kg=2.2lbs?
The standard kilogram is equal to
2.2046 pounds.
- The percentage error in his reported weight
is 0.2086546312%.
)

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, 14.23g.

Find the mean a.d and A.D.
Suppoese that your group is
required to make only four
determination 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 result
will you prefer?
- First calculation: a.d = 14.304 and A.D = 6.
39694327. As the group leader, I would omit
the 14.23 g. The second calculation: a.d =
14. 3225 and A.D = 6.405216722. I prefer
the second calculation over the first
calculation.
7. References
Pfanzagl, J., Baumann, V., & Huber, H.
(1968). Theory of measurement. Wuerzburg.
FHSST Physics/Units/Scientific Notation,
Significant Figures, and Rounding. (2014,
February
17). Retrieved
January
23,
2016,
from
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FHSST_Phy
sics/Units/Scientific_Notation,_Significant
_Figures,_and_Rounding