Experiment1:Errors,Uncertainties,andMeasurements

LaboratoryReport
DaudAbrahamjr,DelaCruzMariel,DiosoClarenzClare,DionisioKarlAnthony
Department of Biology
College of Sciences, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa Street, Manila Philippines
that remains constant or depends in a
Abstract
All measurements of quantities that
can assume a continuous range of
values consist of two parts: the
reported value itself
and the uncertainty of the
measurement. Measurements are
subject to error which leads to the
uncertainty of the result. Error does
not only mean just outright mistakes.
Gross errors sometimes happen
and usually yield results that are
sufficiently unexpected.
Accuracy is the goal we aim for in
scientific measurements.
1. Introduction
The purpose of measurement is to
provide information about a quantity.
No measurement is exact. When a
quantity is measured, the result
depends on the measuring system, the
measurement procedure, the skill of the
person, and the environment.
Measurement uncertainty
is a non-negative parameter
characterizing the dispersion of the
values attributed to a measured
quantity (Webster). The uncertainty
shows the incomplete knowledge of
the quantity. All measurements are
subjected to uncertainty, and a
measured value is only complete if it
is associated by a statement of the
uncertainty given. The measuring
system may provide measured values
that are not far from the true value.
There are two types of measurement
error, systematic and random. A
systematic error is a component of error

specific manner on some other

quantity. Readings will consistently be
either too high or too low, thus,
repeated trials will not reduce
systematic error. On the other hand, a
random error is associated with the fact
that when a measurement is repeated, it
will provide a different value. It is
random since the next measured value
cannot be predicted from the previous
values. The effect of random error can
be reduced through repeated
experimental trials, since there is
an equal probability of them being high
or low each time a reading is taken.
Accuracy refers to how closely the
measured value of a quantity
corresponds tits true value.
Precision expresses the
degree of reproducibility, or
arrangement between repeated
measurements.
In this experiment, the group should
be able to achieve the following
objectives:
(1) to study errors and how they
propagatein simple experiment, (2) to
determine the average deviation of a
set of experimentalvalues, (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
Wherea.d.istheaveragedeviation
whichisthesumofthedeviations(d),
anddividedbynumberof
observations(n)
WhereA.D.istheaveragedeviation
ofthemeandiameterwhichisa.d.
dividedbythesquarerootof(n)
WherePercenterrorisequivalentto
averagedeviationdividedbymean
diameter
3.Methodology
In the experiment, the materials used
were a metal ball with a mass of
18.85g and a density of 7.86g, foot
rule, vernier caliper, micrometer
caliper and electronic gram balance.
Firstly, the measuring devices were
checked from errors. Least counts of
every device were obtained. 5
independent measurements of the
diameter of the metal ball for each
measuring device were taken.
After which, the mean diameter for
each measuring device and the
deviation of each measurement from
the mean were obtained. Next, the
average deviation, a.d., was obtained.
With the recently computed average
deviation, the average deviation,
A.D., of the mean diameter was
computed. Then, the percentage error
was obtained. The volume of the metal
ball was computed using the obtained
diameter and with the volume and the
mass of the metal ball, the density was
computed. The computed density was
compared with the given accepted
density and the percentage
error was calculated. Measurements of
the width of the thumb of each member
were obtained by measuring with a
foot rule
4. Data and Analysis of Data
it is noticed from the data that the
micrometer caliper has the least

percentage error. This is because the

least count of the micrometer caliper is
less than the other two making the
micrometer calipers measurement to
be more accurate.
Errors of measurement may be due
to the measuring devices because like
for the foot rule, the calibrations had
larger spaces. For the calipers the
errors were from variations of the
independent measurements of the
diameter of the ball. To avoid errors, it
is needed to check the measuring
devices for errors and fixing the
measuring devices. As for the thumb, it
may not be a standard for measurement
since it varies in length for every
person.
Trial
1
2
3
4
5.
Mean diameter
a.d.
A.D.
Volume
Mass
Experimental
value of
density
Accepted value
of density
%error of
denity

Group member
Width of thumb

Diameter of Sphere(cm)
Foot
Vernier
Micrometer
rule
caliper
caliper
1.50c
1.670cm
1.663cm
m
1.60c
1.665cm
1.663cm
m
1.50c
1.665cm
1.663cm
m
1.60c
1.665cm
1.663cm
m
1.60c
1.665cm
1.663cm
m
1.60c
1.666cm
1.663cm
m
0.04c
0.02cm
0.000cm
m
0.02c
0.0009cm 0.000cm
m
2.1
2.421
2.408
18.85g
18.85g
18.85gm
8.98g
7.786g
7.828g
7.86g

7.86g

7.86g

14.24
%

.94%

.41%

1
1.3

2
1.3

3
1.1

4
1.2

5.Conclusion
An error is the difference between a
computed or measured value and a true
or theoretically correct value. Random
error is always present in measurement
and it refers to the statistical

fluctuations in the measured data due

to the precision limitations of the
measurement device while systematic
errors are caused by the imperfect
calibration of measurement,
Instruments or imperfect methods of
observation, or interference of the
environment with
the measurement process, and always
affect the results of an experiment in a
predictable direction.
6. Applications
1. Among the three measuring devices,
the vernier caliper gave the least
percent error. Yes, the accuracy of a
measurement is affected by the least
count and the least count also indicates
the degree of accuracy of
measurement that can be achieved by
the measuring instrument.
2. An error is a deviation from
accuracy or correctness. Errors are
classified into two categories. First is
the systematic error, which results due
to faulty measurement practices.
Second is the random error, which are
caused by unknown and unpredictable
changes in the experiment. We
encountered systematic error due to
personal biases.
3. There are different parts of the
body that can be used for measuring,
such as the hands, feet, breast, waist
and almost all parts of it. Many of the
systems of measurement, which had
been in use, were to some extent
based on the dimensions of the human
body according to the proportions and
as an effect units of measure could
vary not only from location to
location, but from person to person.

7. References
[1]
Dealing with error and
uncertainty in measured values
.Retrieved on November 25, 2010
from
http://www.chem1.com/acad/webtext
/pre/mm2.html
[2]
Melissinos and Napolitano. 2003.
Experiments in modern physics.
Academic Press, USA: Elsevier
Science.
[3]
Tsokos.
Physics for the Cambridge: University
Press.