Experiment 1: Errors, Uncertainties and Measurements

Laboratory Report

Jyelo Dela Cruz, Bruce Devela, Jyle Diño, Franc Dy, Micole Gabriel

Department of Math and Physics

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas
España, Manila Philippines
Abstract
The objectives of these experiment is
The experiment involved taking the to show how errors and uncertainties affect
measurement of a spherical object - in the any experiment, to introduce the usage of
group’s case, a glass marble - in a span of average deviation, to establish the mean of
ten (10) trials. This was accomplished the set of values and its average deviation,
through the use of three (3) different and to educate students with the following
measuring instruments: a ruler, a vernier instruments and their accuracy in measuring:
caliper, and a micrometer caliper. The vernier caliper, micrometer caliper, and the
experimental value of density was then foot rule. Moreover, the experiment
compared to the accepted value, thus enhances the ability to calculate for the
producing a percent error in calculations. density of an object from its mass and
The measurement for the vernier caliper volume.
revealed the most accurate result with a
0.8% percent error. 2. Theory

1. Introduction Significant figures or significant

Measuring the base unit of an object
is crucial in determining its derived unit.
Aspects such as accuracy and precision
greatly affects measuring which will then
lead to errors and uncertainties. Errors and
uncertainties are inevitable. However,
various methods and techniques are
established to minimise errors and more
sophisticated and accurate instruments are
made to reduce the uncertainty in
measuring.
The Absolute Uncertainty or
Absolute Error is the range where the
actual value will lie on. Accuracy and
precision will both affect the experiment’s
result. Accuracy is how close the measured
value is to the true and actual value while
precision is the consistency in obtaining the
measured value.
digits are essential in scientific and
mathematical calculations and
measurements. It deals with the precision
and accuracy of numbers. Using significant
figures in estimating the uncertainty of the
final result is important. There are rules in
determining the significance of a digit. First,
all numbers from 9 are significant and are
counted. Second, zeroes between numbers
are significant. Third, zeroes that are placed
after the significant numbers are not
significant. However, trailing zeroes after a
decimal point are counted as significant.
All measurements have some degree
of uncertainty. In reporting an experimental
value along with its uncertainty allows
people to judge the quality of the
experiment, as well as facilitates meaningful
comparisons with other similar values or a
theoretical prediction. In making
measurement, we assume that some exact or
true value is present based on ow we define |𝑠1 −𝑠| + |𝑠2 −𝑠| ...|𝑠𝑠 −𝑠|
a.d. =
what is being measured. However, we obtain 𝑠
slightly different results when making
measurements by different methods or using Diameter error percentage is used to
the same methods. Thus, true value can be check how far the measured diameter is
shown as: from the true value.

Measurement 𝑠. 𝑠.
(measured value ± standard uncertainty) % 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = × 100
𝑠
A precision measuring device, like
micrometer, can be used to obtain very fine Volume of the sphere is the amount
measurements. It as available metric and of space that the marble occupies. The
imperial versions. Micrometers measure in formula of the sphere is derived from the
0.01 increments and imperial versions in formula of pyramid and the surface area of
0.001 inches. This measuring instrument as the sphere. It is ⅓ times the radius of the
two scales: a primary scale that can be found sphere times the surface area of the sphere.
on the barrel and a secondary scale that can
be found on the thimble. The combination of 4
the values taken from the two scales makes 𝑠 = 𝑠𝑠3
the total measurement.
3

Vernier calipers is also used to Experimental value of density is the

precisely measure objects. It is very useful calculated to know how compacted the
in measuring the diameter of round objects marble is with matter.
because the measuring jaws can be secured
on either side of the circumference. The 𝑠
𝑠=
scale is graduated in mm or tents of an inch. 𝑠
The reading of this device is the smallest
distance the caliper can measure. the Vernier Percentage error is the useful for
caliper measure in either 0.02mm or determining the precision of the
0.05mm, while the imperial version is in calculations. It is the relationship between
0.001in. the experimental value and the actual value
or the expected value. A percentage closer to
A better look of the uncertainty zero gives a good calculation which means
through repeating the measurement several that the measured values are closer to the
times and examining the variations among true value.
the measured values. Average or mean is
generally the best estimate of the true value.
% 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
|𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
=
𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
Mean = × 100
𝑠𝑠.𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠

Average deviation (a.d.) tells how

much the individual measurements vary
from the mean.
3. Methodology

The group was provided three
measuring devices, which are the foot rule,
vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper, to
measure the diameter of the sphere
provided, which is a marble. The foot rule
was used for a rigid measurement. The
vernier caliper was used for a precise
measurement, and the micrometer caliper
was used to accurately measure thickness.
calculated the mean diameter (𝑠) by adding
all the ten independent diameters and
dividing it to the number (n) of observations.
𝑠
𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
=
𝑠
The group then calculated the
deviation (d) of each of the independent
diameter to the mean diameter.

Image 1: Foot ruler
Image 2: Vernier caliper.
𝑠
= |𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
−𝑠|
Then, the group calculated for the
average deviation (a.d.), which is the the
sum of the deviations divided by the number
(n) of observations.
𝑠𝑠
𝑠. 𝑠. =
𝑠
The average deviation (A.D.) of the
mean diameter is then calculated.

𝑠. 𝑠.
𝑠. 𝑠. =
√𝑠
The % error of the diameter was then
calculated by considering the average
deviation (A.D.) as the error and the mean
diameter (𝑠) as the standard value.

Image 3: Micrometer caliper. 𝑠. 𝑠.

% 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 = × 100
The group first tried to see if the 𝑠
calipers that would be used will produce any
errors. Then, the least count of the foot rule, The volume (V) of the sphere is then
vernier caliper, and micrometer caliper were measured using radius (r) as the mean
determined. Afterwards, the foot rule was radius.
used to make ten independent measurements
of the diameter of the sphere. After
measuring the sphere, the group then
 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 (𝑠) 3 1.4cm
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 (𝑠) 4 1.3cm
= 5 1.4cm
2
6 1.5cm
4 7 1.5cm
3
𝑠 = 𝑠𝑠 8 1.4cm
3 9 1.6cm
10 1.5cm
The mass (m) of the sphere was then
Mean diameter 1.46cm
measured using an electronic gram balance.
After, the density (p) of the sphere was Average deviation 0.008
obtained. (a.d.)
Average deviation 0.0215
𝑠 of the mean (A.D.)
𝑠= % error of 1.5%
𝑠 diameter
To calculate the % error of the Volume (cm3) 1.67cm3
density of the sphere, the instructor was first Mass (g) 5.05g
asked for the accepted value of the density Experimental 2.99g/cm3
of the sphere. Value of density
(g/cm3)
% 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 Accepted value of 2.57g/cm3
|𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 density𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
(g/cm3) |
= % .error for 16.3%
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 density
× 100

All measurements, procedures, and Table 2. Diameter of the sphere in

centimeters using vernier calipers.
calculations were then repeated using the
vernier caliper and micrometer caliper.
Trial Vernier Caliper
4. Results and Discussion 1 1.580cm
2 1.535cm
Tables 1, 2, and 3 show the diameter 3 1.565cm
of the sphere used during the experiment 4 1.570cm
while utilising the following instruments: a 5 1.530cm
foot rule, vernier calipers, and a micrometer 6 1.540cm
caliper. Each instrument was allotted ten 7 1.550cm
(10) trials. 8 1.540cm
9 1.565cm
Table 1. Diameter of the sphere in 10 1.550cm
centimeters using a foot rule.
Mean diameter 1.550cm
Average deviation 0.0135
Trial Foot Rule
(a.d)
1 1.5cm
Average deviation 0.0427
2 1.5cm of the mean (A.D.)
 % error of 0.1% each measuring apparatus. With an average
diameter deviation of the mean (A.D.) of 0.0215, the
Volume (cm3) 1.95cm3 ruler was considered the most precise
Mass (g) 5.05g instrument, followed by the micrometer
Experimental 2.59g/cm3 caliper at 0.0301 and the vernier caliper at
Value of density 0.0427. In terms of accuracy, the vernier
(g/cm3) caliper proved to be the most accurate with
Accepted value of 2.57g/cm3 only a 0.8% percent error for density. The
density (g/cm3) micrometer caliper followed at 4.7% and the
% error for density 0.8% ruler at 16.3%.
Table 3. Diameter of the sphere in
centimeters using a micrometer caliper
Research suggests that, among three
instruments, the micrometer caliper would
Trial Micrometer
prove the most accurate while vernier the
Caliper
most precise. However, the results did not
1 1.6050cm present these ideas. The group believes that
2 1.6000cm this was caused by systematic and random
3 1.6065cm errors, specifically in the form of
4 1.5420cm uncalibrated instruments and inaccurate
5 1.5440cm readings due to parallax and in the
6 1.5440cm measuring of the diameter of the spherical
7 1.6015cm ball.
8 1.5830cm
9 1.5500cm 5. Conclusion
10 1.6450cm
Mean diameter 1.5800cm The experiment was accomplished
by measuring the diameter of a glass marble
Average deviation 0.0301
within ten (10) trials to produce an
(a.d.)
experimental value of density. In
Average deviation 0.010
comparison to a ruler and a micrometer
of the mean (A.D.)
caliper, the vernier caliper produced the
% error of 0.006% most accurate results with a percent error for
diameter density of 0.8%. The objectives were
Volume (cm3) 2.06cm3 properly met as each student learned how to
Mass (g) 5.05g make use of the different equipment
Experimental 2.45g/cm3 required in the experiment and to later solve
Value of density for the values such as the mean, average
(g/cm3) deviation, average deviation of the mean,
Accepted value of 2.57g/cm3 and density. Understanding all these
density (g/cm3) concepts helped the group realize how error
is highly related to the accuracy of
% error for density 4.7% determining an object’s measurements. The
micrometer caliper should have shown a
The experiment allowed the group to more accurate percent error but due to a a
determine the accuracy and precision of
possible variety of errors, its accuracy was
only second to the vernier caliper.
6. Applications
a. Which among the three measuring
devices give you the least % error?
Is the accuracy of a measurement
affected by the least count of the
measuring device?
In this experiment, we faced
the former two (2) types of errors,
Systematic Errors and Random
errors. The uncalibrated instruments
and inaccurate readings due to
parallax were a cause of a systematic
error while the Random Errors were
encountered in measuring the
diameter of the spherical ball.

The vernier caliper showed the least

percent error with a value of 0.8%. The c. Sketch
micrometer caliper, which has a least count i. A vernier caliper that reads
of 0.0001 cm, is considered more accurate 3.48cm
than the vernier caliper with a least count of
0.01 cm.; therefore, the accuracy of
measurement is indeed affected by the least
count of the measuring device in an inverse
relationship.

b. What do you mean by error? What

are the types of errors? What are the
errors you encountered in the
experiment?

An error, according to the

City Collegiate, is defined as the ii. A micrometer caliper that
difference between the measured reads 7.05mm
value and the actual value. There are
three (3) types of errors: Systematic
Errors, Random Errors, and
Blunders.
Systematic Errors are errors
that can be eliminated. For instance,
reading measurements in the correct
angle to avoid parallax
measurements. Random Errors are
errors that may not have an d. A student weighed himself using a
identifiable source such as bathroom scale calibrated in
unpredictable spikes in voltage or kilograms. He reported his weight in
temperature in an experiments. pounds. What is the percentage error
Blunders are mistakes made by a in his reported weight if he uses this
person in recording or in calculating. conversion: 1 kg = 2.2 pounds? The
This type of error is very standard kilogram is equal to 2.2046
distinguishable and is not included in pounds.
any analysis of data.
 Suppose the student weighs
70 kilograms. With the conversion of
1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds, he
would then weigh 154 pounds. On
the other hand, with the standard
kilogram conversion of 1 kilogram is
equal to 2.2046 pounds, he weighs
154.32 pounds. In this calculation,
the percent error is 0.20865.
I would prefer the second result
%𝑠 because the collected data are closer to each
and 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
| 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 more precise.
| The error of the
= 𝑠100
experiment will also be lesser.
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
|154.322 − 154 | f. Give other parts of the body that are
%𝑠 = 𝑠 100 being used for measurement even
154.322
today. What are some properties to
%e = 0.20865 % ≈ 0.21% be a standard of measurement?

e. In an experiment on determination of
mass of a sample, your group
consisting of 5 students obtained the
following results: 14.34g, 14.32g,
14.33g, 14.30g, and 14.23g. Find the
mean, a.d. and A.D. Suppose that
your group is required to make only
four determinations for the mass of
the sample. If you are the leader of
the group, which data will you omit?
Recalculate the mean, a.d. and A.D.
without this data. Which results will
you prefer?
Some of the parts of the body which
are currently being used for measurement
are the following:
Cubit
From Latin cubitum, "the elbow." A cubit
was a measurement based on the forearm
from elbow to fingertip. The exact length
varied according to whose arm was being
used and could be from 18-22 inches.
Digit
In Latin, digitus could mean either "finger"
or "toe". The same is true of digit in modern
English. People use the digits of their hands
to count to ten.

Fathom
Old English faethm was "the length of the
outstretched arm,"about six feet."

The data that I would omit is the Hand

14.23g because it is the farthest among the Originally, a "hand" was a measurement of
collected data. three inches, but now it is four inches. The
measurement is still used to reckon the
heights of horses.
Handful
This is an indeterminate quantity of some
dry measure, such as grain, that can be held
in the cupped hand. A Greek word for
"handful" is the origin of the Greek coin
called a drachma.
Span
In old English, a span was "the distance
between the thumb and little finger of an
extended hand," roughly nine inches.
Thumb
- The basis of the measurement now
called an inch. We don't measure
things in "thumbs," anymore, but we
do talk about thumbnail sketches and
thumbnails in the sense of "small
images."
- The expression rule of thumb
originated from carpenters who used
their thumbs to take rough
measurements.
The properties to be a standard of
measurement are the following:
of-instruments-and-errors-in-
measurements/#least-count-error
[2] Citycollegiate.com. (2018). Types Of
Error-Systematic Error-Random Error-
Empirical Formula-Molecular Formula-
Limiting Reactant. [online] Retrieved from
https://www.citycollegiate.com/chapter1bXI
.htm
[3] Purdue University College of Science.
(n.d.). Significant Figures. Retrieved from
http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/to
picreview/bp/ch1/sigfigs.html
[4] Maddox, M. (n.d.). Body Parts as Tools
of Measurement. Retrieved from
https://www.dailywritingtips.com/body-
parts-as-tools-of-measurement/
[5] National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion | Division
of Population Health. (2016). Measurement
Properties: Validity, Reliability, and
Responsiveness. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/measurement.ht
m

- Validity: degree to which an

instrument measures what it is
supposed to measure
- Reliability: degree to which an
instrument can produce consistent
results, and consistent results on
different occasions, when there is no
evidence of change
- Responsiveness: ability to detect
change over time

7. References
[1] AskIITians.com. (n.d.). Accuracy,
Precision of Instruments and Errors in
Measurements. Retrieved from
https://www.askiitians.com/iit-jee-
physics/general-physics/accuracy-precision-