Lab #1

Measurement of length, Mass, Volume and Density

Readings
Before you begin this laboratory read chapter 1 of the textbook.

Objectives
After completing this lab, you will be able to:
1. Make measurements to the nearest 1/10 of a millimeter using a meter stick.
2. Use a vernier caliper to make measurements to the nearest 1/10 of a millimeter.
3. Use a micrometer to make measurements nearest 10-6 meters using a micrometer.
4. Use an electric scale to measure mass to the nearest 1/100 of a gram.
5. Use a pendulum to measure the acceleration due to gravity.

Introduction
Physics is a quantitative experimental science and as such is largely a science of
measurement. Over time, instruments of great accuracy have been devolved to help
scientist make better measurements. One of the most basic measurements in physics is
the measurement of length, which is where we will start this lab.
Another important physical quantity that is often measured is mass, which you
will also be measuring in this lab. With the mass and the dimensions of an object known
then the density can be calculated. Density depends on the mass and volume of an object.
Density is a property of a material that is unique to that object. It can be used to calculate
the mass of things that cannot be measured like bridges, and crowns.
The last physical property to be measured in this lab is the acceleration due to
gravity. This acceleration is rate that an object will fall at when drop near the surface of
the Earth. The acceleration due to gravity is an important physical quantity, which is for
the most part constant near the surface of the Earth, but really depends on how far away
from the center of the Earth you are.
In this lab, the dimensions of various objects will be measured using a meter stick,
vernier caliper, and micrometer. You will also get a chance to compare the British and
metric system of units. With the use of an electric scale, the mass of some objects will be
measured and from this, the density will be calculated.

Theory
Using the proper instrument is extremely important for making accurate
measurements of physical properties. The easiest way to measure length is to use a meter
(or English yard) stick. For normal everyday measurements, a visible comparison
between the object of interest and the scale is all that is needed. To make precise
measurements, the scale must be very accurately made and must be read to a fraction of
its smallest scale division.

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 When an instrument is used to the limit of its precision, certain errors occur that
cannot be eliminated. These errors are called random errors. When you make a series of
measurements of a physical quantity, the individual results usually differ among
themselves because of the random errors involved. The best value of the quantity
measured is then the average of the values obtained.
The precision of measurements can usually be increased by using more accurate
and complex equipment and by being careful to eliminate errors as much as possible. No
matter what type of instrument you are using, you should always try to make
measurements with the greatest accuracy attainable.

Fixed
Jaw
Stem

Movable Vernier
Jaw Scale

The Vernier Caliper

When you make a measurement using a meter stick you have to estimate the
tenths of a millimeter (the millimeter being the smallest division on the meter stick). A
vernier is a device that helps you to read the fractional part of a scale division. It is a
small auxiliary scale that slides along the main scale. The scale of the vernier is different
from those of the main scale, but they are simply related.
The vernier caliper (see figure above) consists of a fixed part and a movable jaw.
The fixed part includes a stem, on which is the main scale (in centimeters and
millimeters) and a fixed jaw attached to the stem. The movable jaw is free to slide on the
fixed scale and has a vernier scale engraved on it. The vernier is divided so that ten
divisions on it cover the same interval as nine divisions on the main scale. Hence, the
length of each vernier division is 109 the length of a main-scale division. When the jaws
are closed, the first line at the left end of the vernier called the zero line coincides with
the zero line on the main scale. However, the first vernier division is 0.1 mm away from
the first main scale division, the second vernier division is 0.2 millimeters away from the
second main scale division, and so on. If the jaws are slightly opened, it is easy to tell

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what fraction of the main-scale division the vernier index has moved by noting which
vernier division coincides with a main-scale division.

A measurement is made with the vernier caliper by closing the jaws on the object
to be measured and then reading the position where the zero line of the vernier falls on
the main scale. To obtain the fractional part of the main-scale division make a note of
which line on the vernier coincides with a line on the main scale. See above for three
examples.
Sometimes a vernier will not read zero when the jaws are closed. In such a case, a
zero correction may be applied to very reading. This correction can be either added or
subtracted. If the errors are in the direction of increasing main scale readings they are
considered positive, then zero corrections are made by subtracting the zero reading from
all measurements.

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 Screw Main
Anvil End Thimble Knob

Barrel Ratchet
Frame Knob

The Micrometer
The micrometer is an instrument used for accurate measurements of short lengths.
Essentially, it consists of a carefully machined screw mounted in a strong frame. The
object to be measured is placed between the end of the screw and the anvil. The screw is
then advanced until the object is gripped gently between the two jaws of the instrument.
Then the ratchet knob is used to finish tighten the screw. By using the ratchet, it is
possible to tighten up the screw by the same amount of force each time and avoid using
too much force.
The micrometer we will be using in lab consists of a screw with a pitch of 0.5
mm, a longitudinal scale engraved along a barrel containing the screw, and a circular
scale engraved around a thimble that rotates with the screw and moves along the scale on
the barrel. The longitudinal scale is divided into millimeters. The circular scale has 50
divisions. Since the pitch of the screw is 0.5 mm, which is the distance, advanced by the
screw in turning through one revolution; it is clear that rotating the thimble through one
scale division will cause the screw to move a distance of 501 of 0.5 mm, or 0.01 mm.
Hence, readings may be taken directly to hundredth of a millimeter, and by estimating
tenths of a thimble-scale division; they may be taken to one thousandth of a millimeter or
one micrometer.
The micrometer is read by noting the position of the edge of the thimble on the
longitudinal scale and the position of the axial line of the barrel on the circular scale, and
adding the two readings. The reading of the main scale gives the measurement to the
nearest half-main scale division; the fractional part of the main-scale division is read on
the circular scale.

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 The reading above is 7.75 mm.

The micrometer should be checked for a zero error, for it may not read zero when
the jaws are completely closed. In such cases, a zero correction has to be applied to every
reading and may be either positive or negative. The value of the zero reading is obtained
by rotating the screw until it meets the anvil and then noting the reading on the circular
scale. Great care should be taken when doing this to ensure that both the screw and anvil
surfaces are completely clean.

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 Nutritious
Tray
Snack

Zeroing
Button

Reading in grams

The Electric Scale

The electric scale is the easiest piece of equipment you will be using in this lab.
The electric scale can measure the mass of objects to the nearest tenth of a gram. To
measure an objects mass first make sure the scale reads zero. If the scale does not read
zero press the zeroing button. After the scale reads zero, place the object of interest on the
tray, wait a couple seconds and then record the reading. The electric scale does not allow
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the estimating of the nearest 100 of a gram.
In this and all further work in physics, be very careful to distinguish between
mass and weight, which are not the same despite the very common confusion between the
two. Mass is the property of material bodies that makes them hard to accelerate. Even if a
body is taken out into deep space far from the Earth, the Sun and other planets, it will not
become massless---it will still have inertia; that is, a force will still be required to change
its velocity. Weight, on the other hand, is simply the force of gravity with which the
Earth attracts a body. Since this force depends on the distance between the Earth and the
body, the body will indeed become weightless if taken far away (meaning many
thousands of miles).
In this lab the masses of several objects will be determined and their volumes
calculated from the measurements of their dimensions. The density of the material of
which each is made, defined as the material’s mass per unit volume, is then calculated
from

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 m
ρ=
V
where m is the in kilograms, V is the volume in cubic meters, and ρ (the Greek letter rho)
is the density in units of kilogram per cubic meters ( mkg3 ) .
For a cube the volume is
V = LWH

where L is the length, W is the width and H is the height.

Useful formulas:
Actual − Experimental
%Difference=
Actual

xi = Data Value
N = Number of Data Values
x = Average
Dev = Deviation
σ = Standard Deviation

1 N
x= ∑ xi
N i =1

Devi = ( xi − x )

N
1
∑ ( Dev )
2
σ= i
N i =1

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Apparatus:
1. Electric balance 2. Micrometer

3. English ruler 4. Two metal cubes

5. Metric ruler (meter stick) 6. Vernier caliper

7. Length of copper wire

Procedure:
1. Measure the length of the piece of copper wire with the metric ruler. Read the
position of both ends of the wire, estimating to the nearest tenth of a millimeter.
Record both readings in centimeters and read to 0.01 cm. Make four independent
measurements—that is, use a different part of the ruler for each measurement—and
record all the readings.
2. Measure the length of the wire with the English ruler. Read the position of both ends
of the wire, estimating to the nearest tenth of the smallest scale division. Record both
readings, expressed in inches, to the nearest 0.01 in. Make four independent
measurements—that is, use a different part of the ruler for each measurement—and
record all the readings.
3. Determine the zero reading of the vernier caliper. This is the reading when the jaws of
the instrument are in contact with each other. Be sure that the jaws are clean so no grit
or other foreign matter gets between them and prevents true contact. Record the zero
reading to 0.001 cm make four independent determinations of the reading—that is,
open and close the jaws before each setting—and record your results.
4. You should also measure the length, width and height of the two cubes. These
measurements are made by closing the jaws of the caliper on the length or diameter of
the object being measured and reading the position where the zero line of the vernier
falls on the main scale. The fractional part of a main-scale division is obtained by
noting which line on the vernier coincides with a line of the main scale. Record the
reading in centimeters and read to 0.01 cm. Make four independent measurements—
that is, open and close the jaws before each setting. This is most conveniently done by
making all measurements for an object and then starting over again. Record all the
readings.
5. Determine the zero reading of the micrometer caliper, that is, the reading when the
surfaces of the anvil and the screw end are in contact. Be sure these surfaces are very
clean, since even a small speck of dust can give a false reading. The screw end may
be brought almost into contact with the anvil by turning the thimble directly, but
actual contact must always be made by turning the ratchet slowly until it clicks
several times. Record the value of this reading in centimeters and read to 0.0001 cm,
estimating to one tenth of the smallest scale division. Make four independent
determinations of the zero reading—that is, open and close the instrument before each

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 setting—and record the readings. Average the four readings and use them to make
your corrections in the next part.
6. Measure the diameter of the copper wire with the micrometer caliper. The
measurement is made by placing the wire between the screw end and the anvil and
advancing the screw until the wire is gripped between the anvil and screw-end
surfaces. Again, the ratchet should be taken not to force the screw. Record the reading
in millimeters and read to 0.001 mm, estimating to one tenth of the smallest scale
division. Make six independent measurements of the diameter of the wire—that is
open and close the caliper before each setting, and make the measurement at different
points along the wire’s length. Also, spin the wire between measurements so that
different diameters are measured each time. Record the six readings so obtained. To
get the diameter of the wire add or subtract your average zero reading from the six
measurements you took.
7. Determine the mass of each cube, cylinder, and copper wire using the electric
balance.

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Data:
Measurement of Wire Using Metric Ruler
Ruler Readings Deviations
Lengths Deviations
Left End Right End Squared

Average Values
Value of σ=

Measurement of Wire Using English Ruler

Ruler Readings Deviations
Lengths Deviations
Left End Right End Squared

Average Values
Value of σ =

Number of centimeters in 1 inch

Difference between
Calculated Value
calculated and accepted values

Accepted Value Percent Error

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 Length and Diameter of Metal Cylinders and Cubes using a Vernier Caliper
Vernier Caliper Readings
Average
1 2 3 4
Zero Reading

Length, Cube 1

Height, Cube 1

Width, Cube 1

Length, Cube 2

Height, Cube 2

Width, Cube 2

Diameter of Copper Wire Using a Micrometer Caliper

Micrometer Readings
Average
1 2 3 4 5 6
Zero Reading

Reading with wire

Diameter of wire

Determination of Density
Density Density
Mass in Length Height Width Volume Percent
Object Computed Actual
(kg) (m) (m) (m) (m3) Error
(kg/m3) (kg/m3)
Cube 1
Cube 2
Diameter (m)

Copper Wire

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