EXPERIMENT NO.

1
THE VERNIER AND MICROMETER CALIPERS

Abstract

The group was assigned to compute for the density ( =

) of three geometrically shaped objects

namely: Aluminum Metallic Cube, Steel Metallic Washer and Glass Sphere. First, the group
accurately measured the dimensions of the geometrically shaped objects with the use of the
vernier caliper and micrometer caliper. The Vernier Caliper is a measuring instrument with a
precision of 0.05 mm and can quantify up to 155.00 mm while the Micrometer is a measuring
instrument with a precision of 0.01 mm. and can quantify up to 25.000 mm. Using the
measurements gathered, the volume for each geometrically shaped objects was computednwith
the use of the given formulas (Vcube= s
3
, Vcylinder

, Vwasher= h(r
o
2
-r
i
2
), Vspehe=

) Lastly, the geometrically shaped objects were weighed with the use of the triple beam
balance to complete the density formula . Given the densities of these geometrically shaped
objects, the percentage errors (

were solved to compare it with the standard

densities. No yield was above 10% which is considered erroneous.

Questions and Problems

1. Differentiate the Vernier and micrometer scales.
Vernier caliper is used to take the inside, outside and depth measurements of an object while the
Micrometer caliper is only used to measure outer dimensions. The Venier caliper can also
quantify up to 155.00 mm while the Micometer caliper can only quantity up to 25.000 mm. In
terms of precision, the Micrometer is more accurate with a precision of 0.01 mm compare to the
vernier calipers precision of 0.05 mm. Lastly, vernier caliper uses a slider while the micrometer
caliper has a rotary handle.

2. Draw the figure for the micrometer readings below:
a. 3.635 mm





b. 1.596 mm




3. State some of the errors the one might make in measuring length using both the vernier and
micrometer calipers.
The errors a performer can do using both the vernier and micrometer calipers in measuring
length includes parallax error where the performer measures the solid objects inaccurately due
to incorrect positioning of the ocular perceiver. The performer may also wrongly read the zero of
the vernier caliper known as Zero Error. Errors can also be a result of incorrect use of the
device. Using a damage device can also cause erroneous readings.

4. Determine the percentage error for an observed value of 1.112 x

if the standard value is

1.117 x

% error =

x 100

% error =

x 100

% error = 0.4476%


Conclusion
The vernier caliper and the micrometer caliper are measuring devices that can be used to
measure the dimensions of a geometrical object with extreme accuracy having a precision of
0.05 mm and 0.01 mm respectively. Though the accuracy of the measurements obtained with the
use of the vernier caliper or the micrometer caliper is affected by human error and any damage of
the device.