Uncertainty in Measurement

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Becca Duttry
Taylor Thomason

I Purpose
-This lab was done to practice taking measurements, and to gives examples of the difference
between accuracy and precision. It also provided practice for percent error and absolute error
equations.
II Procedure
-Equipment was used to determine mass, diameter, volume, and height of various objects.
These measurements were then used to find volume, density, absolute error, and accepted
error.
III Materials
-Aluminum shot
-Bismuth Plug
-Tap water
IV Equipment
-Pennies
-Digital Balance (Centigram)
-Centimeter ruler
-100-mL Graduated cylinder
V Data (Measured)
-10 Pennies
-Mass: 27.49 g
-100-mL Graduated cylinder
-Diameter: 3.0-3.1 cm
3.2 cm
-Tap water
-Volume: 49.0-50.0 mL
49.9 mL
-Height: 9.2-9.3 cm
9.25 cm
-5 Pieces of Aluminum shot
-Mass: 2.12 g
-Volume:
Volume of Aluminum - Volume of Water
50.0-51.0 mL
50.3 mL
50.3mL - 49.9 mL
= 0.4 mL
-Bismuth plug
-Mass: 24.92 g

-Volume:
Volume of Bismuth - Volume of Water
52.0-53.0 mL
52.5 mL
52.5mL - 49.9 mL
= 2.6 mL
VI Calculations (Using math)
-Average Mass of Coins
Mass = Mass of Coins
10
27.49 g
10
= 2.749 g
-Percent Error
|Measured value - Accepted value| x 100 = Percent Error
Accepted value
2.749 g - 2.67 g x 100
2.67 g
= 2.96%
-Absolute Error
Measured value - Accepted value = Absolute Error
2.749 g - 2.67 g
= .08 g
-Volume of water in graduated cylinder
Diameter = r
2
r = 3.2 cm
2
1.6cm
V = 3.14 x r^2 x h
V = 3.14 x (1.6 cm)^2 x 9.25 cm

= 74 cm^3
-Percent Error for Volume
|Measured value - Accepted value| x 100 = Percent Error
Accepted value
|49.9 mL - 50.0 mL| x 100
50.0 mL
= .2%
-Volume of Aluminum
Volume of 5 pieces of Aluminum = Volume per piece
5
0.4 mL
5
= .08 mL
-Density of Aluminum
Mass of 5 pieces of Aluminum = Mass per piece
5
2.12 g
5
= .424 g
D= m
v
.424 g
.08 g
= 5 g/mL
-Volume of Bismuth
= 2.6 mL
-Density of Bismuth
D= m
v
24.92 g
2.6 mL

= 9.6 g/mL
VII Questions
-What is the difference between accuracy and precision?
Accuracy is how close the measurement is to the correct or accepted value. Precision is the
consistency or repeatability of a set of measurements of the same quantity made in the same
way.
-The density of a certain liquid was measured three times by a set of students and found to be
2.86 g/mL, 2.85 g/mL, and 2.87 g/mL. The students used a handbook to look up the density of
the liquid and found to be 2.35 g/mL. Explain the measured values of the students in terms of
accuracy and precision.
Their accuracy was off by about .50 g/mL. They had the same consistency.
-List two differences between percent error and absolute in terms of recording the final answers.
Percent error is a percent value, and cannot be negative. Absolute has units, and can be
negative.
-Explain how the final answer should be rounded when performing multiplication and/or division
problems.
It should be rounded to the least amount of significant figures.
-Explain how the final answer should be rounded when performing multiplication and/or division
problems.
It should be rounded to the least amount of decimal places.
VIII Conclusions
-Objects were measured and calculated to find their mass, volume, and density, using a digital balance
(centigram), centimeter ruler, and a 100-mL graduated cylinder. Percent error, absolute error, accuracy, and
precision were also determined.