Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements

Laboratory Report

Byron Leander Tan, Chelsea Leigh Tan, Kyle Gabriel Tanchuling, Angelica Uy

Department of Chemistry
College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines

Abstract

produced many discoveries, equations, and

This experiment aims to study and

determine the kinds of errors and how they
turn up in an experiment with the use of
instruments such as foot ruler, vernier
caliper and a micrometer caliper. All the
measurements that we made are all merely
approximations of the real value. Since no
measuring device could provide the actual
value

without

any

uncertainty.

The

micrometer caliper produced the most

precise measurements. The vernier caliper
had the least percent error and the foot
ruler showed the most percent error.
I. Introduction
Physics is defined to be a branch of
science which deals with matter and energy.
Over time, this particular science has

theories explaining the phenomena around

us. In order to measure something, it must
be compared to a standard length, mass or
time. Two systems are currently used to
measure matter namely, the SI units and the
English system. Primitive societies needed
basic measures for numerous and heavy
task. Early men needed to get their jobs
done in the most effective way so, they
created tools that can help them measure
since they had to gauge the passing of time
and look for ways to divide up pieces of
land. They developed a system that helped
in tracking the number of animals they
owned, ways to calculate grains so that they
could exchange goods with each other and
compare the accuracy of these measuring
devices. Uncertainty in a measurement
comes about in a variety of ways like
1

instrument variability, different observers,

sample differences, time of day and etc.
Accuracy and precision are two things that
need

to

be

attained

in

scientific

measurements.
In this experiment, students are

Average deviation of the mean: A.D.

a .d .
n
Percent error of diameter: %

error =

A.D.
d

expected to
Study 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
To familiarize the students with the
vernier caliper, micrometer caliper and

Volume (cm ): V
3

Mass (g): M

4
3

= 28 g

Experimental value of density (g/cm3): EV

M
V

Accepted value of density (g/cm3): AV

cm

7.8 g/

measuring devices
To determine the density of an object

Percent error for density: %

II. Theory

ERROR

| AVAVEV x 100|

Legend:
10

Mean diameter: d

foot rule
To compare the accuracy of these

given its mass and dimensions.

r3

Average deviation: a.d.

xi
i=1

d
n

mean diameter

n number of observations
n = 10
a.d. average deviation
A.D. ave. deviation of the mean
d deviation
V - volume

- sum of deviations

 - pi
r mean radius
m mass
EV experimental value
AV accepted value
||
absolute value
III. Methodology
This experiment used a foot rule,
vernier caliper, micrometer caliper, balance,
and a sphere of known composition. The
accuracy of these measuring instruments
was compared by measuring the sphere with
10 independent measurements. The mean
diameter was then calculated, followed by
the deviation, average deviation and the
average deviation of the mean diameter.
After obtaining these calculations, the %
error was calculated with certain formulas.
The volume of the sphere was also
computed and then weighed on a balance.
With the volume and mass of the sphere, the
density was obtained. The obtained density
was then calculated for its % error based on
the accepted value of the density given by
the instructor.
IV. Results and Discussion
Table 1 shows the measurements of
the given ball using the ruler, vernier caliper
and micrometer caliper. It also shows the
differentiating accuracy of each tool, based
on the mean diameter, the a.d. or the
Average Deviation, the percent error of
the diameter, and the percent error of
density.

Table 2 shows the difference of the

group members' thumb length.
Table 1 - Ball

Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean Diameter
Average Deviation (a.d.)
Average Deviation of the
Mean (A.D.)
% Error of Diameter
Volume (cm3)
Mass (g)
Experimental Value of
Density (g/ cm3)
Accepted Value of Density
(g/ cm3)
% Error of Density

Foot Ruler
2.20 cm
2.50 cm
2.30 cm
2.20 cm
2.10 cm
1.70 cm
2.00 cm
1.70 cm
1.90 cm
2.00 cm
2.06
0.2
0.0632

Diamete
Vernier C
1.905
1.905
1.915
2.000
1.905
1.905
1.920
1.905
1.905
1.905
1.91
0.01
0.100

3.06 %
4.577 cm3
28.04 g
6.126 g/ cm3

0.281
3.689
28.0
7.601 g

7.8 g/ cm3

7.8 g/

21.46 %

2.551

Table 2 - Thumb
Group Member
Length of Thumb (in)

1
1.25 in

2
1.125 in

The foot ruler had the highest

percent error, meaning it is the most
inaccurate of the 3 measuring tools used.
3

The micrometer caliper was the second most

accurate based on the percent error that was
computed. Lastly, the vernier caliper was
the most accurate and precise having the
lowest percent error.

V. Conclusion
On the first activity, the members were
asked to measure the sphere's diameter ten
times using the foot ruler, vernier caliper
and micrometer caliper. Computation on the
sphere's mean diameter, deviation of each
measurement,

average

deviation

(a.d.),

average deviation of the mean diameter

(A.D.), percentage error for the diameter,
volume and the density of the sphere were
made. On the second activity, the member's
thumbs were measured to know if the thumb
could

be

considered

as

standard

for

measurement. The most accurate device was

the vernier caliper since it had the least error

The vernier caliper gave us the least

% error out of the three measuring
devices. However, there was a big
error made for the device that gives
the least % error should be the
micrometer caliper because the least
count of these devices greatly affects
its accuracy.

2. What do you mean by error? What are

the types of errors? What are the errors
you encountered in this experiment?
-

It means being inaccurate, or having

a miscalculation. Errors are normally
classified in three categories:
systematic errors, random errors, and
blunders. One error encountered in
this experiment is the inconsistency
in measuring the ball sample in the
micrometer caliper. Some other time,
the ball is gently pressed while on
other trials it is tightly pressed,
which then generates a big difference
in the reading of its diameter.

based on the computations made. The goals

of familiarizing and comparing the accuracy
of the given measuring devices as well as

3. Sketch a)a vernier caliper that reads

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

the determination of an object's density were

achieved.
VI. Application
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?

Figure 1: vernier caliper that reads 5.08cm

Mean: (14.34g + 14.32g + 14.33g + 14.30g

+ 14.23g)/5 = 14.304 g

Average Deviation (a.d.):

14.34g 0.036
Figure 2: micrometer caliper that reads 2.55mm

4. A student weigh 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 used this conversion: 1kg =
2.2 pounds? The standard kilogram is
equal to 2.2046 pounds.
-

Suppose students weight in kg is 45.

Using 2.2 pounds as the conversion
factor, the students weight would be
99 lbs. Conversely, using 2.2046 lbs
as the conversion factor, the weight
would then be 99.207 lbs. Following
the formula for percent error, a 0.209
% of error was computed.

5. 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
and 14.23g. Find the mean, a.d. and A.D.
Suppose that your group is required to
make only four determinations 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 results will you
prefer?

14.32g 0.016
14.33g 0.026
14.30g 0.004
14.23g 0.074
(0.036 + 0.016 + 0.026 + 0.004 +0.074)/5 =
0.0314

Average Deviation of the Mean (A.D.):

A . D .=

a.d .
5

0.0314
5

0 . 0140

When the value 14.23g is removed

Mean: (14.34g + 14.32g + 14.33g +
14.30g)/4 = 14.3225 g

Average Deviation (a.d.):

14.34g 0.0175
14.32g 0.0025
5

14.33g 0.0075
14.30g 0.0225
(0.0175 + 0.0025 + 0.0075 + 0.0225)/4 =
0.0125

Average Deviation of the Mean (A.D.):

A . D .=

a.d .
5

0.0125

4
0 . 00625

error =

a .d . A . D .
x 100
a. d .

% error for 1st result = 55.41%

% error for 2nd result = 50%

Therefore, the second result which

contains 4 data is preferable because it
presents less % error.
VII. References
[1] Fact Monster from Information Please.
(n.d.). Retrieved September 1, 2016,
from The Branches of Science:
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0
881984.html
[2] KSHITIJ Education India. (n.d.).
Retrieved from Standards of length
mass and time: http://www.kshitijiitjee.com/Standards-Length-MassTime
[3] Moore, J. T. (n.d.). Dummies. Retrieved
from How Scientists Measure
Matter:
http://www.dummies.com/education/
science/chemistry/how-scientistsmeasure-matter/
[4] Young, H. D., & Freedman, R. A. (n.d.).
University Physics with Modern
Physics, 14th ed. Pearson Education,
Inc. United States of America, 2016.