Lab 1 EXPERIMENTAL UNCERTAINTIES

INSTRUCTIONS

This laboratory expects that you have viewed the Blackboard lab 1 module and completed the module pretest. In this lab you will perform various experiments to learn how to treat data, specifically the calculation
of a mean, a standard deviation, the reporting of errors and how to combine errors correctly. In addition you
will both calculate and estimate the uncertainty of the slope of a straight line.
Report: The provided worksheet must be filled in and submitted online within 3 days of this laboratory.
Required Formulae:
mean

1
= ,

=1

standard deviation
( )2
=
,
1

error on slope

| |
,
| 1 |

error combination
=
= +

=
=

=
+
|| || ||

= ||
||
||

Experiment 1: Determine the variation in a range of digital thermometers calculating

The class is provided with a large container of water, and each group is provided with a digital thermometer.
The thermometer can be read to 0.1. Each group is to measure the temperature of the water. Each group
will enter its temperature value in the excel spread sheet provided by the lab supervisor. Fill out your table
in Experiment 1 using data collected by your row.
Experiment 2: Determine the acceleration due to gravity

A simple pendulum consists of a mass suspended by a light string. The oscillation period , time for 1
complete swing, can be related to the length of the pendulum and the acceleration of gravity (formula in
figure left). While you are not yet required to know
how this formula is derived (P258 Wolfson), we can
use this relationship to measure by measuring the
dependence of upon . A clever approach to
analyse the results is to square both sides of [1],
4 2
=

[2]

Plotting 2 versus gives a straight line with a zero

y-intercept and a slope of = 4 2 . To reduce
your error in determining , measure the time taken
for 10 complete swings and divide this time by 10 to calculate . Each group should measure for one
value of from the worksheet table and then enter this value in the excel spreadsheet provided by the lab
supervisor. Fill out your worksheet table using the data collected by your row. Plot the data and a line of
best fit on the 2 graph. Calculate and then use error propagation to find .
Experiment 3: Determine the volume of a cylindrical block

Use either a red or blue ruler provided measure the diameter and height of a cylindrical wooden block.
You should estimate your own uncertainty in measuring each of these quantities. Calculate the volume of
of your wooden block and correcly propagate the errors in and to find the uncertainty in . Each group
enter their value for in the excel spread sheet provided by the lab supervisor, noting your ruler colour.
Problem 1: Calculating mean and standard deviation using your STAT function of the TI-30XB

(10.5, 9.5, 8.7, 9.2, 11.2, 9.4, 10.1, 9.9, 9.1, 10.5, 11.0, 9.8, 9.7, 8.7, 10.5, 8.6, 9.9, 8.7, 10.5, 9.8)
Problem 2: Calculate the density and uncertainty in the density for one of the following objects:
SPHERE: = 1.00 0.01 , = 0.20 0.01
CUBE: = 1.00 0.01 , = 0.20 0.01