Scientific Measurement

Part 1: Measurement of length

Measurement of length
In this section, we will be studying three instruments used to measure length: 1. Metre rule 2. Vernier calipers 3. Micrometer screw gauge Precise to 0.1 cm Precise to 0.01 cm Precise to 0.001 cm

Measurement of length
The metre rule

The metre rule is a common lab instrument used for the measurement of length.
It can measure up to a precision of 0.1 cm or 1 mm. Therefore, in recording measurement made by the metre rule, we must write the measurement to 1 decimal place of a cm. Test your understanding with the next few examples.
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Measurement of length
What is the length of the black line in m, cm and mm?

Answer: 0.054m, 5.4 cm or 54 mm

Answer: 0.090 m, 9.0 cm or 90 mm

The last zero is important because it tells the reader that the instrument has a precision of 0.1 cm.
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Measurement of length
The vernier calipers

Main scale up to 0.1 cm Vernier scale up to 0.01 cm The vernier calipers is another common lab instrument used to measure length. As shown in the picture, we can use the two jaws and the stem to measure lengths that may be difficult to achieve by using rulers. The vernier calipers is 10 times more precise than the metre rule; it can measure up to 0.01 cm. (Be mindful that you need to record calipers measurement to 0.01 of a cm.)

Measurement of length
Optional: how the vernier scale works
The main scale is the same as a rule. The vernier scale is 0.9 cm long and is sectioned into 10 sections, each 0.9 mm long. The difference between one scale value of the main scale and 1 scale value of the vernier scale is :
0.10 0.09 = 0.01 cm That is how the vernier scale helps to make a normal rule 10 times more precise.
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Measurement of length
Reading the vernier calipers
1. Locate the position of the zero mark of the vernier scale and note the preceding value of the main scale. This is the main scale reading. 2. Locate the mark on the vernier scale that coincide exactly with the marking on the main scale. This is the vernier scale reading. 3. Add the two reading: 22 + 0.6 = 22.6 mm

Measurement of length
Test your understanding

Reading:

4.32 cm or 43.2 mm
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Measurement of length
Test your understanding

Reading:

12.61 cm or 126.1 mm
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Measurement of length
Micrometer screw gauge, notes page 5

The name of the instrument is a bit misleading because the micrometer screw gauge used in school lab can only measure up to 10 mm, not 1mm.

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Measurement of length
Structure of the micrometer screw gauge

Important: The object to be measured is clamped between the anvil and the spindle. In order to prevent over-tightening, which will lead to an inaccurate reading, we must turn the ratchet during the tightening. There is a mechanism in the ratchet that will produce a clicking sound when the micrometer is fully tightened.
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Measurement of length
Reading the micrometer screw gauge
Thimble scale When the anvil and spindle is closed with no gaps in between, the micrometer scales should look like this. The horizontal scale is the main scale. The smallest division on the main scale is 0.5 mm. The cylindrical scale is called the thimble scale. The smallest division on the thimble scale is 0.01 mm.

Main scale The zero mark on the thimble scale should coincide with the main scale axis.

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Measurement of length
Optional: how the micrometer works
Working principle:

1.0 mm

When we loosen the micrometer screw 0.01 mm gauge, the thimble will extend outward and reveal the thimble scale. One full turn on the thimble extend the sleeve (main scale) by 0.5 mm. There are a total of 50 divisions on the thimble scale. Hence, each division is simply = 0.5 50 = 0.01 mm

0.5 mm

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Measurement of length
What is the reading?
Main scale = 4.5 mm Thimble scale = 0.12 mm 0.12 mm Actual reading = 4.62 mm

4.5 mm

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Measurement of length
What is the reading?
Main scale is measured in mm

Reading:

4.00 mm or 0.400 cm

Note the importance of the zeroes behind the decimal points. They indicate the precision of the instrument.

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Measurement of length
What is the reading?

Reading:

13.89 mm or 1.389 cm

Note the importance of the zeroes behind the decimal points. They indicate the precision of the instrument.

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Measurement of length
For the same picture, express the reading in m and mm?

Reading:

0.01389 m

13890 mm

For this particular measurement, the last zero is actually not important because the micrometer cannot measure up to 1 mm. We will discuss more about the significance of zero in Part 3: Significant figures.

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Measurement of length
Which instrument should I use?
I want to measure the inner and outer diameters and the depth of a test tube. Which instrument(s) should I choose?

Test tube Outer diameter Inner diameter Depth

Instrument Vernier calipers / micrometer Vernier calipers Vernier calipers

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Measurement of length
Summary for part 1
We have studied three kinds of instrument for length measurement Instrument Metre rule Vernier calipers Micrometer screw gauge Precision 0.1 cm 0.01 cm 0.001 cm

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Scientific Measurement
Part 2: Errors in measurements

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Measurement of length
In this section, we will be studying two kinds of error: 1. Parallax error 2. Zero error

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Measurement of length
Parallax error
What is parallax? Parallax is the apparent shift of an objects position due to a change in the observers point of view. To help us understand better. Lets try a simple experiment: Hold out your index finger and focus on some background object. Now close each eye in rapid succession while holding the finger still. You should see the finger seems to shift: thats parallax. Parallax can be very useful and has been used to determine the distance of nearby celestial bodies. However, when reading a measuring instrument, it might lead to parallax error.

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Measurement of length
Parallax error
The eye must be positioned perpendicularly at the mark on the scale to avoid parallax error.
8.3 cm correct

8.2 cm wrong
8.5 cm wrong

Parallax error is due to incorrect positioning of the eye the object is not at the same level as the markings of the scale

Measurement of length
Parallax error in measuring cylinders
What is the volume reading of the two liquids?

Water: 6.55 cm3 Mercury: 6.85 cm3 Special: For the measuring cylinder and burette, you can read up to one-half of the smallest division.

For most liquids, the eye level should be horizontal with the bottom of the meniscus.

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measurement of length
Vernier Calipers: zero errors
When the two jaws of the vernier calipers touch each other, both zero marks on the main scale and on the vernier scale should coincide. If not, there is a zero error in the vernier calipers.

measurement of length
Vernier Calipers (Zero Error)
The two jaws touch each other, but the zero marks of the main scale and vernier scale do not coincide. In this case, the zero marking on the Vernier scale is on the right hand side of the main scales Zero mark, hence the positive zero error is ______________.
main scale (fixed) vernier scale (movable) 0 1

10

zero error = +0.01 cm supposing observed reading is 3.24 cm, then corrected reading = observed reading zero error = 3.24 (+0.01) = 3.23 cm

measurement of length
Vernier Calipers (Zero Error)
The two jaws touch each other, but the zero marks of the main scale and vernier scale do not coincide. In this case, the zero marking on the Vernier scale is on the left hand side of the main scales Zero mark, hence the zero negative error is ______________.
main scale (fixed) vernier scale (movable) 0 1

10

zero error = -0.02 cm supposing observed reading is 4.03 cm, then corrected reading = observed reading + zero error = 4.03 + 0.02 = 4.05 cm

measurement of length
Vernier Calipers (common mistake)
What is the length X shown on the Vernier Callipers?

A 14.5 mm B 15.0 mm C 15.5 mm D 25.0 mm

*** Take reading from the Zero marking of the Vernier Scale, not the end of the right hand side jaw!!!

measurement of length
micrometer screw gauge
Before taking a measurement, turn the thimble such that the anvil and spindle touch each other to check for zero error. The zero markings on the sleeve and thimble should align as shown below. Otherwise the micrometer has zero error.

mm

5 0

10

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measurement of length
Positive Zero Error
Determine the Zero Error
Reading on sleeve
} 2 divisions

0.0 mm

Reading on thimble 0.02 mm Zero error + 0.02 mm

Prior to reading, when spindle & anvil are touching each other

Even before any object is placed between the anvil and spindle to be measured, the micrometer already has a reading that is __________ than zero greater Markings on sleeve and thimble align above the zero line Thus, the zero error is positive.

measurement of length
Example 4: Correcting Zero Error

} 2 divisions

a) Zero Error

b) Observed Reading

Zero Error Observed reading on sleeve Observed reading Actual dimension of object ***

+ 0.02 mm 2.0 mm 2.37 mm 2.37 0.02 = 2.35 mm

Observed reading on thimble 0.37 mm

To compensate for zero error of +0.02 mm in the micrometer, subtract we must _____________ 0.02 mm to from the observed reading to obtain the actual dimensions of the measured object

measurement of length
Negative Zero Error
Determine the Zero Error
} 3 divisions

Reading on sleeve
`

0.0 mm

Reading on thimble 0.03 mm Zero error

Prior to reading, when spindle & anvil are touching each other

0.03 mm

Even before any object is placed between the anvil and spindle to be measured, the micrometer already has a reading that is __________ than zero less Markings on sleeve and thimble align below the zero line Thus, the zero error is negative.

measurement of length
Example 5: Correcting Zero Error

} 3 divisions

a) Zero Error

b) Observed Reading

Zero Error Observed reading on sleeve Observed reading Actual dimension of object ***

0.03 mm 2.5 mm 2.87 mm 2.87 + 0.03 = 2.90 mm

Observed reading on thimble 0.37 mm

To compensate for zero error of 0.03 mm in the micrometer, add we must _____________ 0.03 mm to from the observed reading to obtain the actual dimensions of the measured object

measurement of length
Example 6:
A micrometer with zero error in Fig (a) is used to measure the diameter of a coin. The observed readings is shown in Fig (b). Find the actual diameter of the coin.

mm

5 45

1 0

1 5

mm

1 0
0

1 5

Fig a: Zero Error

Fig b: Observed Reading

Zero Error
Observed reading on sleeve Observed reading Actual dimension of object

+ 0.43 mm
3.5 mm 3.50 mm 3.50 - 0.43 = 3.07 mm

Observed reading on thimble 0.00 mm