Department of Physics

Course Number PCS211

Course Title Physics: Mechanics
Semester/Year Winter 2014
Instructor Jahan Tavakkoli
TA Name Stacy-Lee Annis

Lab/Tutorial Report No. 1

Report Title Errors in Simple Measurements

Section No. 06
Group No. 01
Submission Date January 29, 2014
Due Date January 29, 2014

Student Name Student ID Signature*
Chaitali Sheth 86610
Kumpal Madhiwala 04199



(Note: remove the first 4 digits from your student ID)

*By signing above you attest that you have contributed to this submission and confirm
that all work you have contributed to this submission is your own work. Any suspicion of
copying or plagiarism in this work will result in an investigation of Academic Misconduct
and may result in a 0 on the work, an F in the course, or possibly more severe
penalties, as well as a Disciplinary Notice on your academic record under the Student
Code of Academic Conduct, which can be found online at:

http://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/senate/policies/pol60.pdf





Objective
The purpose of this experiment was to accurately estimate the uncertainties of direct and
indirect measurements, including mass, volume, and density of regular-shaped solids.
Engineers often tackle problems that require accurate recordings of values and its
uncertainties so that mistakes are not made, or it may cost much money or many lives. To
avoid these types of errors, it is important to learn propagations of error.

















Theory
Many things can go wrong when measuring values, and one of them is a parallax. This
occurs when your eyes are at a different level from the object and the measuring device,
which creates inaccuracies.

There are two types of error associated with measurements. First is the Reading Error,
which refers to the need to estimate the value between two scales. In such a case, half of
the smallest scale would be used as an uncertainty of the value. The second type is the
Observation Error, which refers to the different values resulting from measuring
several times. In cases like these, the error is the difference between the largest difference
between the values and the average value.

However, to calculate the uncertainties of an indirect value collected from direct
measurements, there are formulas of propagation of errors to be applied. If direct
measurements are being added or subtracted from each other, the uncertainty of the
indirect measurement can be calculated by ... ) ( ) (
2
2
2
1
x x y , where y is the
uncertainty of the indirect measurement and
n
x are the uncertainty of the direct
measurements. If two direct measurements are being multiplied or divided, then the
uncertainty of the indirect measurement can be calculated by
2
2
2 2
1
1
) ( ) (
x
x
x
x
y
y

,
where y is the uncertainty of the indirect measurement, y is the indirect measurement,
1
x ,
2
x are the uncertainty of the direct measurements, and x
1
, x
2
are the direct
measurements.
Procedure
Part A Parallax
In this experiment, the meter stick and the larger rectangular block were used.
1) Stand meter stick on the table
2) Place the larger rectangular block few centimetres away from the stick
3) Read the height of the block from an angle above the tabletop
4) Record the value
5) Repeat steps 2-3 two or three more times, using different angles
6) Place block right up to the meter stick and measure the height with the eye level at
90
o
to the tabletop
7) Record the value

Part B Measurements of Volume and Density
In this experiment, the smaller rectangular block, a calliper, and a balance were used.
1) Measure height, length and width of the block using the calliper and record the
measurements and the uncertainty
2) Repeat three times for each value
3) Determine the average for each value
4) Calculate the volume and its uncertainty using the average
5) Measure the blocks mass three times using the balance and record the
measurements and the uncertainty
6) Choose most probable mass value
7) Calculate the density and its uncertainty
8) Using Appendix 1, determine the objects material

Part C Volumetric Displacement of Water
In this experiment, the smaller rectangular block, a beaker, a graduated cylinder, and
some water were used.
1) Fill beaker with water until it can completely submerge the block
2) Almost completely fill graduated cylinder with water, record its initial volume
3) Mark the water level in the beaker with the block submerged using a masking tape,
then take out the block.
4) Remove block from beaker
5) Fill beaker with water from graduated cylinder until the water level reaches its
previous point
6) Record new volume in the graduated cylinder
7) Using the initial and final volumes of the graduated cylinder, calculate volume
and uncertainty of the block
8) Determine uncertainty of density using this method







Observations and Results
Part A Parallax






Part B Measurements of Volume and Density



Number
Of Try.
Chaitali Kumpal
1 5.40.5 cm 5.80.5 cm
2 5.80.05 cm 5.70.5 cm
3 5.50.5 cm 5.90.5 cm
Number
Of Try.
Chaitali Kumpal
1
2
3
Measurements Values
Length 3.250.05 cm
Height 3.140.05 cm
Width 3.150.05 cm
Weight 92.90.05 g
Part C Volumetric Displacement of Water
Figure 3 Volume of Water in Graduated Cylinder

























Measurements Values
Initial volume 100 1 mL
Final volume 53 1 mL
Calculation and Results:
Formulas:
1] Density= Density =

2] Volume=Length Height Width
3] Uncertainty for Multiplying and Dividing:
Uncertainty = Density

Data Tables:

For Solution Part-B:












For Solution Part-C:
Volume of Graduated Cylinder










Solution Part-B:
Volume of solid= LHW
= (3.25cm) (3.14 cm) (3.15 cm) (3

100%)
= 32.14 4.76

Weight of solid: 92.9 g
Now using weight and volume we can calculate the density of solid using equation-1:
Density =

Measurements Values
Length 3.250.05 cm
Height 3.140.05 cm
Width 3.150.05 cm
Mass 92.90.05 g
Measurements Values
Initial volume 100 1 mL
Final volume 53 1 mL
= 2.890

Now for Uncertainty:
Uncertainty = Density

= 2.890

= 2.890

= 2.890

0.377
= 1.08

Therefore the Density = 2.890 1.08

Solution Part-C:
Weight of solid mass from solution part-1: 92.9 g 0.05

Volume change in Graduated Cylinder:
Change in volume = (Initial Final) mL
= 100 mL 53 mL
= 47 mL 1 mL

Using weight and Volume calculating density:
Density =

=



= 1.97

Calculating Uncertainty:
Uncertainty = Density

= 1.97

= 1.97

= 1.97

0.021
= 0.042

Therefore the Density = 1.97 0.042

Discussions and Conclusions
After analyzing the data collected from the experiment it can be determined the material
of the metal block was Aluminium. The density of the block was calculated to be 2.89
g/cm
3.
From our data analysis stated above, it is shown that the volumes measured by
using the displacement technique and using the calliper linear dimension are
approximately near. However, the one which led to a more accurate result was the
displacement technique. This was found true when the volume of the calliper linear
dimension where slightly higher compared to the displacement technique. The difference
in volume resulted to a 1 percent (%) error in measurement.
Theoretical volume= 47 mL = 47

Actual volume= 32.14 c

= 3.214

Error % = actual/ theoretical
= 3.214

/ 47

= 0.66 percent.
The reason why the displacement technique is way better was discussed earlier in the
background. This is because when the solid was immersed; the level of water increased
which on the other hand would displace an amount of water equal to its own volume. The
displacement method can be used for both regular and irregular object while the calliper
linear dimension is mostly useful for regular. Example of irregular objects can be the
crown while regular objects can be solids etc.



References
1. Department of Physics. (Jan. 2014). Physics laboratory manual for engineering
students in the first year. Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario.
2. Plutarch. "Parallel Lives Complete e-text from Gutenberg.org". Project
Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/674. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
3. ^ O'Connor, J.J. and Robertson, E.F.. "Archimedes of Syracuse". University of St
Andrews. http://www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Archimedes.html.
Retrieved 2007-01-02.
4. ^
a

b
Rorres, Chris. "Death of Archimedes: Sources". Courant Institute of
Mathematical Sciences.
http://www.math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/Death/Histories.html. Retrieved
2007-01-02.