Western Kentucky University - PHYS 231Lab Report 1 Measurements and Uncertainties

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Clarissa Gearner (Partner: Niles Woods) Measurements and Uncertainties 15 September 2018 Abstract This lab illustrates techniques of calculating volume from various measurements, calculating unc... ertainty, and using two different types of calipers – the vernier and micrometer calipers. These are important devices and calculations that will be used for the rest of the semester in this lab. Each group was given an aluminum block and the length was measured five times using the centimeter side of a ruler, resulting in an average length of 13.76 ± 0.01 cm. The width was measured using a vernier caliper, and the average of five measurements was 10.62 ± 0.01 cm. The thickness of the block was then measured five times with a micrometer and the average was found to be 0.947 ± 0.002 cm. With these values, the volume was calculated at 139.9 ± 0.4 cm3. Finally, the mass of the block was measured with an electronic balance at 387.6 ± 0.1 g. The volume and mass were used to calculate the density, which came out to be 2.771 ± 0.008 g/cm3. Using the experimental density of the aluminum block, 2.771 ± 0.008 g/cm3, and the known density of aluminum, 2.7 g/cm3, the percent error and accuracy were determined to be 2.6% and 97.4%, respectively. Introduction Since the devices used in the lab and the people reading the devices are not 100% accurate, a certain amount of uncertainty is expected and must be calculated to account for this level of inaccuracy. Using the measurements taken in this lab, the volume and density of the aluminum block was calculated and compared to the known density of aluminum to determine accuracy and percent error. The equation for volume (V) of a cube is as follows: [Show More]

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