Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements

Laboratory Report
Miguel Jethro Milagroso, Chrismane Lou Miranda, Ma. Jhoanna Ortega,
Vince Rian Padios, Allysa Maxine Pau
Physical Therapy
College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila

Abstract
In Physics experiments, errors may
happen because the measurements of
quantities are merely approximations of the
exact value which may lead to the
uncertainty of the results obtained.
In
this
experiment,
different
measuring devices were used to get the
diameter of a sphere. The group has found
out that the vernier caliper produced the
least percentage of error, the micrometer
caliper
gave
the
most
accurate
measurements, and that the thumb can't be
considered as a standard for measuring
devices in inches.
Introduction
1. Introduction
In physics, no measurement ever made
is exact. The accuracy (correctness)
and precision (number of significant
figures) of a measurement are always
limited by the degree of refinement of the
apparatus used, by the skill of the observer,
and by the basic physics in the experiment.
(Lindberg, V. 2000). Experiment 1 is all
about errors, uncertainties and
measurements. Measurement, first of all, Is
the process of obtaining a magnitude of a
quantity relative to an agreed standard

(Sutton, C. 2011). To obtain these

magnitudes is not a hard thing to do. But to
measure an object with accuracy and
precision is a challenge.
In experiments, we try to do our best
to provide the best and the most accurate
answers but since, no measurement that is
ever made is exact, there is a possibility of
errors and uncertainties. Most of the time a
number of trials are made to ensure the
correctness of measurements. Most likely
you could get a different answer on your
second trial from your first trial. The
difference you make between your first
reading and second reading determines the
error in your measurement. To help
determine measurements, there is a need for
measuring instruments that provide
precision and accuracy.
In this experiment the group was
asked to measure a spheres diameter using
different kinds of measuring instruments.
The first instrument that the group was
asked to use is a Foot Rule or simply a ruler,
which is a stick that measures a foot long
that is used to measure a certain length or
distance in inches or centimeters. The
second one is a vernier caliper, which is
used to measure the dimensions of an object
with great accuracy. The last one is a
micrometer, which measures objects even
smaller than what a vernier caliper can
measure in a precise manner.

The group should be able to complete

the following objectives: (1) to study errors
and how they propagate in simple
experiment, (2) to determine the average
deviation of a set of experimental values, (3)
to determine the mean of a set
of experimental values as well as set of
average deviation of the mean, (4) to
familiarize the students with the vernier
caliper, micrometer caliper, and foot rule, (5)
to compare the accuracy of these measuring
devices, (6) and to determine the density of
an object given its mass and dimensions.
2. Theory
Errors
in
the measurement
is
unavoidable because there is a lot of
factors and many sources of variability
that may affect. Having 2 variables taken
by the same person, we expect them to
be equal, if not they are unequal. we can
resolve this problem by assuming that
one or both of the measurements
contains error. Errors play a vital role in
quantitative analyses, by making it
possible to model data without
immediately running into consistencies.
(Angoff 2008) In this experiment we
conclude that we will have many errors.
So we will study how this errors
somehow affect the results that we will
be getting and compute the average
deviation of the data we can relate it to
Angoff's theory that to resolve the
dilemma of having two different results
by assuming that one or the other
contains error.
3. Methodology
In Activity 1, the students used a
ruler, Vernier Caliper and Micrometer
Caliper to study errors between the
experimental values made.

Figure 1: Measuring the diameter of the

sphere using a Vernier Caliper

Figure 2: Measuring the diameter of the

sphere using a Micrometer Caliper
To determine the errors, the students
used a Micrometer Caliper (see Figure
1), Vernier Caliper (see Figure 2), and a
foot rule in which they made ten
independent measurements for the
diameter of a sphere by measuring it at

different points along its circumference.

The group took turns in measuring to get
different values depending on how the
sphere was placed into the measuring
device.
After making 10 trials of measuring,
they computed the mean diameter of the
sphere by adding all the gathered
measurements then divided by ten.
They next computed for the Average
Deviation (a.d.) by using the given
formula:
d
a . d .=
n
Next, one member had measured the
mass of the sphere by using the
electronic beam balance which when
measured has a mass of 16.21g. After
getting the mass of the sphere, they
computed the volume of the sphere by
4 3
using V = 3 . After this, density
was calculated by using the values
obtained when volume and mass were
computed.
In activity #2, it was explained that
during ancient times, the parts of the
body were used as standards basically,
the ancient people considered the thumb
as an inch. By this, it was instructed to
measure the thumb of each member. The
students have collected different
measurement values for each thumb.
4. Results and Discussion
Tables 1, 2, and 3 show the diameter of
of sphere using three different measuring
devices. Ten independent measurements
were made using a foot rule, vernier caliper,
and a micrometer caliper.

Table 1. Diameter of Sphere using the

Foot Rule
Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean Diameter
(a.d.)
(A.D.)
Volume
Mass
Exp. Val. Of
Density
Acc. Val. Of
Density
% Error for Density

Foot Rule
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
1.5 cm
0 cm
0 cm
1.77 cm3
16.21 g
9.15 g/ cm3
7.86 g/ cm3
16.5164 %

Table 2. Diameter of Sphere using Vernier

Caliper
Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean Diameter
(a.d.)
(A.D.)

Vernier Caliper
1.65 cm
1.6 cm
1.6 cm
1.5 cm
1.6 cm
1.7 cm
1.6 cm
1.75 cm
1.6 cm
1.55 cm
1.615 cm
0.051 cm
0.0161 cm

Volume
Mass
Exp. Val. Of
Density
Acc. Val. Of
Density
% Error for Density

2.21 cm3
16.21 g
7.35 g/ cm3

The possible source of % errors may

be the measurement technique or procedure,
and the misreading of an instrument.

7.86 g/ cm3

Table 4 shows the width of the

thumb of the group members in inches using
a foot rule

6.4885 %

Table 4. Width of thumb

Table 3. Diameter of Sphere using
Micrometer Caliper
Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Mean Diameter
(a.d.)
(A.D.)
Volume
Mass
Exp. Val. Of
Density
Acc. Val. Of
Density
% Error for Density

Micrometer Caliper
1.541 cm
1.544 cm
1.543 cm
1.544 cm
1.542 cm
1.543 cm
1.544 cm
1.542 cm
1.542 cm
1.543 cm
1.5428 cm
0.0084 cm
0.0027 cm
1.92 cm3
16.21 g
8.43 g/ cm3
7.86 g/ cm3
7.2519 %

All measuring devices used for the

experiment didnt give exact measurements.
The vernier caliper is more precise than the
foot rule, and it has the least percentage of
error. The micrometer caliper is the most
accurate because it can measure up to 3
decimal places in cm, compared to the
vernier caliper which can measure up to 2
decimal places in cm.

Membe
r
Width
of
thumb
(in)

0.787
4

0.826
8

0.669
3

0.748
0

Member 2 has the widest thumb in

the group, followed by member 1, and then
members 4 and 3.
5. Conclusion
Error is always made in experiments but
this does not mean we shouldnt try our best
to provide the best possible answer. In this
experiment, the use of a foot rule created the
largest percent error for density. This implies
that out of the three instruments, the foot
rule is the least precise and accurate. A
possible answer to why it isnt as precise
and accurate is because the measurement
was only estimated because the ruler only
had centimeters, as its smallest unit.
The following measurements were made
for Average Deviation Mean, 0 cm,
0.0161cm and 0.0027 using the foot rule,
vernier caliper and micrometer respectively.
The density of the sphere was also
measured. The group got the results by using
the foot rule, vernier caliper, and the micro
meter, in g/cm3of 9.15, 7.35, and 8.43. Out
of all the 3 in percent of error in density the

vernier caliper had the least percent with

6.49%. From this information we can
conclude that the vernier caliper may indeed
be the most precise and accurate.
Micrometer follows with the percentage of
7. 25%. The least precise is the foot rule
with a percent error of 16.52%.

environmental conditions. No errors were

encountered by the group.
3. A) vernier caliper that reads 5.08
cm and B) a micrometer caliper that
reads 2.55 cm

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?
The micrometer caliper gave us the
least % error for the diameter. The accuracy
of the measurement was affected by the
values that the measuring devices could
read. Since the micrometer caliper could
read more values than the other devices it
had the measurements that are most certain.
The foot ruler on the other hand was able to
produce the most accurate result for density
because the of relationship of the mass and
diameter.
2.What do you mean by error? What are
the types of error? what are the errors
you encountered this experiment?
Based on the Merriam Webster
dictionary an error is something produced by
mistake, or an unintentional deviation from
truth or accuracy. There are two types of
errors, systematic and random. Stematic
errors in experiments usually come from the
measuring device. They may occur because
there is something wrong with the
instrument or its data handling system, or
because the instrument is wrongly used by
the experimenter while random errors in
experimental measurements are caused by
unknown and unpredictable changes in the
experiment. These changes may occur in the
measuring instruments or in the

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=2.2pounds? The standard
kilogram is equal to 2.2046
pounds.

|SVSVEV |100

error =

100
|2.20462.2
2.2046 |

error =

% error = (2.026546312 10-3)

100
% error = 0.208654631 %
% error = 0.21 %

deviation 4= 14.3014.304
deviation 4=0.004

deviation 5= DiD

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.
Supposed 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?

deviation 5= 14.2314.304

deviation 5=0.074

a . d .=

d
n

0.036 +0.016+0.026+ 0.004+0.074

5

a.d. = 0.0312
a.d .
A . D .=
n

0.0312
5

A.D. = 0.013953064
14.34 g+ 14.32 g+14.33 g+14.30 g+14.23 g
D=
=
number of values
5
SV EV
a . d .A . D .
0.
error =
100=
100=
SV
a .d .
D=14.304 g

of values

error =55.28
deviation 1= DiD

deviation 1=14.3414.304

When the value 14.23g is removed

deviation 1=0.036
D=

deviation 2= DiD
deviation 2= 14.3214.304

of values
number of values

14.34 g+14.32 g+14.33 g+14.30 g

4

deviation2=0.016
D=14.3225 g
deviation 3= DiD

deviation 3= 14.3314.304
deviation 3=0.026

deviation 1= DiD

deviation 1=14.3414.3225
deviation 1=0.0175

deviation 4= DiD

deviation2= DiD
deviation 2= 14.3214.3225

deviation 2=0.0025
deviation 3= DiD

deviation 3= 14.3314.3225
deviation 3=0.0075

deviation 4= DiD
deviation 4= 14.3014.3225

deviation 4=0.0225

a . d .=

0.0125
4

A.D. = 0.00625

|SVSVEV |100
a . d . A . D .
|
| 100
a .d .
0.01250.00625
|
|100
0.0125
error =

error =50

d
n

0.0175+ 0.0025+0.0075+0.0225

4
a.d. = 0.0125
A . D .=

a.d .
n

6. References
[1] www.scribd.com%2Fdoc
%2F44118327%2FErrors-UncertaintiesAnd-Measurements&h=cAQFNJtkt