The Use of Right Measuring Instruments

Function Instruments Accuracy

Measuring length Ruler One smallest scale
Measuring tape value is equivalent
to 1 mm or 0.1 cm.
Measuring mass Lever balance
Triple beam balance
Measuring time Stopwatch 0.1 s or 0.2 s
Measuring temperature Laboratory thermometer 1 oC
Clinical thermometer 0.1 oC
Measuring electric current Ammeter
Measuring volume of water Measuring cylinder

Using Measuring Instruments with Higher Accuracy

Function Instruments Accuracy

Measuring length Vernier Calipers 0.01 cm or 0.1 mm
Micrometer Screw Gauge 0.001cm or 0.01mm
Measuring mass Digital electronic balance
Measuring time Digital stopwatch 0.01 second
Measuring temperature Digital thermometer 0.1 oC
Measuring electric current Digital ammeter 0.01 A
 How to Minimise Systematic Errors and Random Errors

Errors

Systematic Errors Random Errors

Consistent errors obtained from a The uncertainties in measurement
measuring instrument for every caused by the observer when taking
measurement. measurements.
Examples: Examples:
Zero error Parallax error
Inaccurate measuring Carelessness of observer when
instrument taking the reading
Wrong technique

Ways to overcome: Ways to overcome:

Conduct experiment with
caution
Repeat the experiment using
different measuring instruments
Take a few readings of
measurement and take the
average reading
To reduce the impact of
parallax errors, observers eyes
should be perpendicular to the
scale reading
Estimating Area
Area is the size of a surface. The S.I. unit for area is m 2. For objects with regular shapes, area can be measured by using
formulae. For example, the area of a square is length width. What is the formula of the area of other objects as shown in
Figure 1.19?

Figure 1.19 Objects with regular shapes

For objects with irregular shapes, area can be estimated by using the graph paper method.

Example :
Mark ` on squares that are half and
more than half covered by the leaf. Count
the total number of squares marked `
and record your result.

The area of the shape = 10 cm2

 Figure 1.20 Estimating the area of a leaf

Estimating Mass
What is the mass of a sheet of paper which is light and cannot be measured? If the mass of 100 sheets of paper is 500 g, the
mass of 1 sheet of paper is estimated at 5 g.

Estimating Volume
The volume of an object with a regular shape can be calculated by using formula, whereas the volume of objects with
irregular shapes can be estimated by using the water displacement method.
Figure 1.22 Calculating volume
1.5 Density

Material Density ( g cm-3)

Gold 19.30
Lead 11.30
Copper 8.92
Aluminium 2.70
Ice 0.92
Cork 0.24
Mercury 13.60
Seawater 1.03
Pure water (at 40 oC) 1.00
Petrol 0.80

Table 1.4 Density of various materials

Determining the Density of Objects Using the Water Displacement Method
1.6 Steps in a Scientific Investigation Scientific Method

Control
variables
 Identify a Construct a
problem hypothesis

Conduct the Plan an

Collect data experiment experiment

Make a Write a
Analyse and
conclusion report
interpret data
Experiment 1.1 pendulum
Problem statement :

Hypothesis :

Aim :

Manipulated variable :

Responding variable :

Constant variable :

Materials and apparatus :