Barretto, Dorinne

Batac, Divine Trisha Angela

Cachuela, Neill Steven
Cartagena, Karel
Castillo, Ericka Murielle
Cha, Sung Whoy

Group 2
2C-MT

Experiment #1
The Vernier and Micrometer Calipers
ABSTRACT
With the objective of using the Vernier and micrometer calipers to accurately measure
the dimensions of geometric shapes and compute their densities using the acquired
measurements, the group performed the experiment involving a metallic (steel) cube, a metallic
(steel) washer and a glass sphere. The first step of the experiment was recording and measuring
the mass of the objects using a triple beam balance. Then, Vernier caliper was used to measure
the dimensions of each object. With these values, the group computed for the volume and density
of the objects and compared them to the standard value by solving for the percentage error. For
the second part of the experiment, the dimensions of the same set of materials were again
measured, but this time using a micrometer. Similarly, their respective volumes and densities
were computed and so was the percentage error of each experimental data.
ANALYSIS
Using a Vernier caliper to measure the dimensions of the metallic cube and find its
volume and density yielded a result with a percentage error of 2.95% while the use of the
micrometer with the same object produced a result with a percentage error of 7.458%. On the
other hand, with the use of the Vernier caliper to measure the dimensions of the metallic washer,
there had been a percentage error of 6% while the use of the micrometer on the glass sphere had
a 0% error. This shows that in the experiment, the use of the Vernier caliper has an average
percentage error of 4.48% while the use of the micrometer only has 3%.
GENERALIZATION
With a total average percentage error of 4.11%, it is safe to say that the data gathered
through both the use of the Vernier caliper and micrometer are accurate when compared to the
standard values for each of the objects. However, the use of the micrometer showed to have a
less percentage error of 3% than that of the Vernier caliper, 4.48%, making it more accurate.
This could be because the micrometer can measure up to 3 decimal places while the Vernier
caliper can only measure up to 2.

Answers to questions:
1. Differentiate the Vernier and micrometer scales.
The Vernier caliper and the micrometer are both devices used to measure the length of an
object. The Vernier caliper contains a main scale and a movable Vernier scale. The measurement
is in between the jaws of the Vernier caliper. The micrometer is composed of the screen gauge,
and is capable of measuring a smaller length. The main difference between the Vernier caliper
and micrometer is that the Vernier scale is generally capable of measuring a difference of
0.05mm in the most extreme cases, while the micrometer scale is capable of measuring a
difference as small as 0.01mm generally. The readings produce also differ in such a way that the
Vernier caliper produces readings with two decimal places while the micrometer's readings
extend up to 3 decimal places.
2. Draw the figure for the micrometer readings below:
i. 3.685 mm

ii. 1.596 mm

3. State some of the errors the one might make in measuring length using both the Vernier and
micrometer calipers.
a. There might be wrong readings because the one using the calipers might neglect the unit
of measurement displayed the calipers and so he/she keeps on converting to the required
unit when the one measured was already the right one.
b. There might also be an error in the measuring of the object. For example, in using the
micrometer caliper, you might deform the object when you put too much force in
adjusting the thimble or you might leave an empty space when you do not adjust the
thimble enough for the spindle to touch the object being measured.

c. There might also be an error when the caliper being used is either old or damaged or
both.
d. There can also be a parallax error in reading the calibration. For example, in reading the
vernier caliper, you need to look for a straight line on the main scale and the vernier
scale. What might be a straight line for one student may not be a straight line for another.
4. Determine the percentage error for an observed value of 1.112x10-5 if the standard value is
1.117x10-5.