CAPE Chemistry Exercise #1

To test the accuracy of measurements.

2014 Mark December

Name: ..
Background
An uncertainty is a natural variation in a measurement that comes about for a variety of reasons including, the premise that no instrument is exactly accurate,
different people may be using different types of instruments and the instruments adjustment may have changed.

Activity 1: Calculating the volume of a coin along with the absolute uncertainty of the measurement using a millimetre rule.
Thickness of the coin, h:

absolute uncertainty

relative uncertainty

h = 0.15 cm

3 marks
Diameter of coin, d:

absolute uncertainty

relative uncertainty

d = 2.2 cm

3 marks
== volume of coin, V1 =

d2 h
4

relative uncertainty

V1 =

3 marks

Activity 2: The coin was weighed on an electronic balance and the mass was recorded.
Mass of the coin, m:

absolute uncertainty

relative uncertainty

m = 4.12 g

3 marks

== density of the coin, 1 = m

V1

3 marks

The volume V2 of the coin was measured by placing it into water in a measuring cylinder and recording the volume of water displaced. After that 17 coins were
collected and placed all together in one measuring cylinder with water. It was found that the total volume V3 of all 17 coins was 9.0 mL.
NB: The smallest graduation on a measuring cylinder is 0.1mL.
Final Volume = 59.01 mL
Initial Volume = 59.00 mL

absolute uncertainty

relative uncertainty

V2 =

3 marks
Volume of 17 coins = 9.0 mL

absolute uncertainty

relative uncertainty

== V3 = the volume of a number of coins

The number of coins

3 marks

Calculating the densities using V2 and V3 in the spaces below.

2 = m =
V2

relative uncertainty

3 marks

3 = m =
V3

relative uncertainty

3 marks

Question 1: State which of the above method used to determine density is most accurate and provide a justification for your choice.
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2 marks
Suggest an improvement.
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1 mark