Introductory Physics Laboratory Faculty of Science, UOIT

Report IP-01: Measurement and Evaluation of

Physical Parameters
Student’s name: Sidra Qazi CRN: 44760 Date: 09/22/2018

Experiment #1: Length, Diameter and Volume

Hypothesis
What method do you think will be more precise for measuring the object’s volume (a) using calipers to
measure linear dimensions and then calculate the volume or (b) just measuring the volume of water
displaced by the object? Why do you think so?
To measure the objects volume, using calipers would be far more precise rather than using the water
displacement method. The water displacement method would present an individual with an
approximation value. This is due to the high chance of human error that can occur which may skew the
results. That being said in comparison when using a highly detailed instrument, like the caliper can limit
the number of errors that may arise.

Measurements
You have a block or a cylinder as a regular-shaped object. Using calipers, measure the height, h, width, w,
and length, l, for the block or height, h, and diameter, d, for the cylinder.
Table 1.1. Measurements
Object Height of cylinder or block, h, cm Diameter of cylinder, d, or width of block, w,
cm

regular-shaped object 1.600 1.580 1.600 1.600 1.580 3.140 3.140 3.200 3.140 3.140
cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm cm
irregular-shaped object
N/A* N/A
*Not Applicable
Object Length of block only, l, cm Displaced volume, VD, ml (cm3)

regular-shaped object 4.880 4.900 4.880 4.900 4.880 25.00 25.08 25.07 25.03ml 25.00ml
cm cm cm cm cm ml ml ml
irregular-shaped object 25.08 25.00 25.00 25.06ml 25.03ml
N/A
ml ml ml

Report IP-01: Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Parameters

Introductory Physics Laboratory Faculty of Science, UOIT

Analysis
1. First, calculate the mean values of all measured quantities in Table 1.1 (h, w or d, l, VD) using the
following formula:
a. Regular-Shaped Object
❑
∑ 4.880+ 4.900+ 4.880+4.900+ 4.880
x̄= length
5
=4.888cm
❑
∑ 3.140+3.140+ 3.280+ 3.140+3.140
widt h
x̄=
5
=3.152cm
❑
∑ 1.600+1.580+1.600+1.600+1.580
x̄= height
5
=1.592cm
❑
∑ 25.00+25.08+25.07+ 25.03+ 25.00
x̄= V D
5
=25.036
b. Irregular-Shaped Object
❑
∑ 25.08+25.00+25.00+25.06+ 25.03
x̄= V D
5
=25.034
where xi is the ith result of measurement of quantity x (h, w or d, l, VD), and N is the number of such
measurements.
2. Calculate the absolute statistical uncertainties of these (h, w or d, l, VD) measured quantities:
a. Regular-Shaped Object
5

√
2 2 2 2 2
∑ ( 4.880−4.880
¯ ) + ( 4.900−4.880
¯ ) + ( 4.880−4.880
¯ ) + ( 4.900− 4.880
¯ ) + ( 4.880− 4.880
¯ )
lengt h
σ x , stat=
5 ( 5−1 )
=0.006324555
5

σ x , stat=
√ ¯ )2 + ( 3.140−3.152
∑ ( 3.140−3.152
widt h
¯ )2 + ( 3.140− 3.152
¯ )2 + ( 3.140−3.152

5 ( 5−1 )
¯ )2 + ( 3.140−3.152
¯ )2

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Introductory Physics Laboratory Faculty of Science, UOIT

=0.006
5

√
2 2 2 2 2
∑ ( 1.600−1.592 ) + ( 1.580−1.592 ) + ( 1.600−1.592 ) + ( 1.600−1.592 ) + ( 1.580−1.592 )
h eig h t
σ x , stat=
5 ( 5−1 )
=0.004898979
5

σ x , stat=

=0.06911534
√ ∑ ( 25.00−25.036 )2 +( 25.08−25.036 )2 + (25.07−25.036 )2 +( 25.03−25.036 )2 + (25.00−25.036 )2
VD

5 ( 5−1 )

Irregular-Shaped Object
5

σ x , stat=

=0.013564659
√ ∑ ( 25.06−25.034 )2 + ( 25.00−25.034 )2 + ( 25.00−25.034 )2 + ( 25.06−25.034 )2 + ( 25.03−25.034 )2
VD

5 ( 5−1 )

3. Calculate the absolute uncertainties of all measured quantities taking into account the instrumental
uncertainty:
2 2
√
σ x = ( σ x , stat ) + ( σ x ,inst ) ,
where σx,inst = 0.05 mm is the instrumental uncertainty of the calipers and σx,inst = 0.5 ml (cm3) is the
instrumental uncertainty of the graduated cylinder.
4. Calculate the mean volume for the regular-shaped objects:
V̄ B = l̄ ⋅ h̄ ⋅ w̄
¿ ( 4.888 )( 1.592 ) ( 3.152 )
=24.52790579
5. Calculate the absolute uncertainty of the volume VC or VB measurements:
σ d 2 σh 2
)( )
σ C =V̄ C
√( 2

2
d̄
+
h̄
,

2 2
σ σ σ
B
√ l̄ h̄ w̄
σ =V̄ ( ) +( ) + ( )
B
l h w
.

6. Record the data obtained in Table 1.2. Compare the results for the two different methods of volume
measurements.

 Volume calculated- 1.513cm3

 Volume displaced- 0.5003cm3
 1.513-0.5003=1.0127 or 1.103

Therefore they are very clear in value as they are only 1.013 cm 3 off approximately.

Report PBI-01: Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Parameters 3

Introductory Physics Laboratory Faculty of Science, UOIT

Table 1.2. Analysis

Regular-shaped object:
Mean Instrumental Statistical Absolute
(average) uncertainty, uncertainty, uncertainty, σ x
value, x̄ σ x ,inst σ x , stat

Height, h 1.592 cm 0.005 cm 3.794x10-3cm 0.00627 cm3

Diameter of cylinder or
3.152 cm 0.005 cm 0.01587 cm 0.01664 cm3
width of block, d/w

Length of block only, l 4.888 cm 0.005 cm 4.899 x10-5cm 0.006999 cm3

Volume calculated, VB/C 24.52 cm3 N/A N/A 1.513 cm3

Volume displaced, VD 25.05 cm3 0.5 mL 0.01703 cm3 0.5003 cm3

Volume of the regular-shaped object VB/C = 24.53 cm3

Volume of the regular-shaped object VD = 25.04 cm3

Irregular-shaped object:

Instrumental Statistical
Absolute
Mean value, x̄ uncertainty, uncertainty,
uncertainty, σ x
σ x ,inst σ x , stat

Volume displaced, VD 25.034ml3 0.5 mL 0.01612mL3 0.5004 cm3

Volume of the irregular-shaped object VD = 25.03cm3

Report PBI-01: Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Parameters 4

Introductory Physics Laboratory Faculty of Science, UOIT

Experiment #2: Mass and Density

Measurements
Table 2.1. Measurements
Instrumental Absolute
Object Mass m, g uncertainty, uncertainty,
σ m,inst , g σ m, g
regular-shaped object 65.50g 0.05g 0.05g

irregular-shaped object 66.04g 0.05g 0.05g

Analysis
1. Calculate the density, , of each object using the mean volume values from Table 1.2:
m
ρ=
V̄
2. Calculate the density’s absolute uncertainty:
σ m 2 σV 2
σ ρ= ρ
√( m )( )
+
V̄
,

where m is the object’s mass in Table 2.1; σm = 0.05 g is the uncertainty of the balance; V̄ is the
object’s volume V̄ B / C or V̄ D, and σV is the uncertainty of the volume σC /B or σD in Table 1.2.
3. Obtain the accepted value for the density of brass and aluminum from a reference book CRC Handbook
of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press, 2001 and record the material name.
4. Record all of the calculated density and uncertainty values in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2. Analysis
Absolute Absolute Absolute
Volume, Mass, Density,
Object uncert., uncert., uncert.,
V, cm3
σV, cm3 m ,g
σm, g ρexp, g/cm
3
σρ, g/cm3
regular-shaped object,
1.513 cm3 65.53 g 0.05 g 2.6702 g/ 2.616 g/ cm3
indirect volume equation 24.53 cm3
cm3
method

regular-shaped object,
25.04 cm3 0.5003 65.54 g 0.05 g 2.6162g/ 2.617 g/ cm3
direct displaced volume
cm3 cm3
method

irregular-shaped object,
25.03 cm3 0.5004 66.40 g 0.05 g 2.653 g/ 2.636 g/ cm3
direct displaced volume
cm3 cm3
method

Density of the regular-shaped object ρexp = 2.6702g/cm3

Report PBI-01: Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Parameters 5

Introductory Physics Laboratory Faculty of Science, UOIT

Material: Aluminum ρref = +/-2.70g

Density of the irregular-shaped object ρexp = 2.653g/cm3

Material: Brass ρref = 73 g/cm3

Conclusion and Error Analysis

In this experiment we explored the methods of measuring volume using two different types of objects,
“regular” and “irregular”. An objects volume can be measured in two different methods. The first
method is done by the use of an instrument known as calipers. A caliper is a tool that precisely
measures the dimensions of an object down to their instrumental uncertainty. Another method that was
available to use to measure volume of objects was by water displacement. The second method was not
favored as it relied on an approximation and left too much room for human error to occur.
From measuring both objects one can see that uncertainties are bound to take place. For example,
while using machinery of any sort, the risk of improper use or estimation can hinder your final volume
value by being less precise. This can happen at the stage of the water displacement as it has no limit for
human error to occur. But also, when using the calipers, the instrumental uncertainties can hinder your
final volume value as it may be different according to various readings.
Experimental investigation during this lab proves the major differences between the two measuring
techniques. While measuring the dimensions of the regular shaped object, using the caliper provided
the overall volume will be more precise. This is due to the accuracy the caliper enables by giving the
correct measurement if read properly. When finding the volume of the irregular shaped object using
the water displacement method was ideal. That being said, water displacement is prone to more human
error as it is difficult to control the complete transfer of water from each container.
For example, in Table 1.2 Analysis under Experiment # 1: Length, Diameter & Volume, instrumental
uncertainty values are measured to consider for the errors that may have arisen due to machinery
failing to precisely measure the dimensions taken. This can occur from both the calipers and the mass
taken from the weighing scale. Because the scale has its own uncertainty as it may have foreign
particles on the surface of the scale that may increase the mass of the object which will therefore alter
the mass’s value.
Therefore, in order to measure the objects volume, using calipers would be far more precise rather than
using the water displacement method. That being said, that statement can only be applied for objects
with clear dimensions and is overall more traditionally structured. While the water displacement
method would present an individual with an approximation value it is primarily ideal for measuring
volumes of objects that don’t have clear areas that can be measured. In comparison when using a
highly detailed instrument, like the caliper, can limit the number of errors that may arise.

Report PBI-01: Measurement and Evaluation of Physical Parameters 6