Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Introduction to Measurement and Uncertainty

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Prelab Questions
These questions need to be completed (on scrap paper) before entering the lab. Once you begin the lab, write out the answers from your workings. You will be penalized if you are not prepared to answer these questions. Please show all workings. Prelab 1: A rectangular object has length L = 25.3 +/- 0.2 cm and width W = 18.6 +/- 0.5 cm. What are the respective absolute uncertainties in length and width? Find the respective relative uncertainties in length and width. Prelab 2: Given a set of length measurements: 60.42, 60.38, 60.51, 60.47, 60.66 cm. Find: the average (mean) length the standard error (refer to pages VII - X of your Lab Workbook).

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Contents
Introduction Part I: Measuring a Wooden Board
Length Measurements Width Measurements Perimeter and Area Calculations

Part II: Measuring Metal Cylinders

Vernier Calipers Measurements Calculations Data Analysis Results

Part III: Summary

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Objective
In this experiment, you will study measurement and uncertainty by measuring the physical parameters of a rectangular piece of board and various metal cylinders. You will then use uncertainty rules to estimate the uncertainty in the perimeter and area of the board. You will make a graph to determine the density of the metal cylinders and the associated uncertainty.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Introduction
When a physical quantity is measured, a reading is made on a scale. The number of significant figures in the reading is limited by the device itself and the size of the smallest division on the scale. The uncertainty is a reflection of the confidence in the measurement. Examples are given in the following two slides.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Introduction
Example 1: A new metre stick measuring a board with a well defined edge: The position can reliably be measured to a fraction of a mm. The uncertainty will be a fraction of a mm (between 0.2 and 0.5 mm).

The position of the edge may be read in this image as 60.46 0.03 cm.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Introduction
Example 2: An old metre stick measuring a board with a rough edge: The position can only reliably be measured to a single mm. The uncertainty will be a single mm.

The position of the edge may be read in this image as 60.3 0.1 cm.

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Definitions
Absolute and Relative Uncertainty If x represents the absolute uncertainty in a measured quantity, then relative uncertainty is given by x/x. The uncertainty is usually rounded to 1 significant figure. A result is generally reported in the form x x. For the example, if we make a reading of the length of an object with a metre stick of 32.45 cm 0.05 cm, the absolute uncertainty x is 0.05 cm and the relative uncertainty is 0.05/32.45 = 0.002. Standard Error The standard error in a measurement, x, that is one of a series of measurements is an indication of how any individual measurement is different from the mean, x . The method of calculation is given on pages VII - X of your laboratory workbook.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Rules for the propagation of uncertainties

Rule 1: When adding or subtracting measured quantities, the absolute uncertainty in the result is the sum of the absolute uncertainties in the measured quantities. Example 1: z = x y, Example 2: z = x + y, z = x + y z = x +y Rule 2: When multiplying or dividing measured quantities, the relative uncertainty in the result is the sum of the relative uncertainties in the measured quantities. Example 1: z = x/y Example 2: z = xy z/z = x/x + y/y z/z = x/x + y/y These and the other rules are further discussed in the introductory material.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Part I: Measuring a Wooden Board Length Measurements

All measurements must be made to either 3 or 4 significant digits. Using a metre stick, measure the length, L, of the board provided. Take three measurements of the length - one near each side of the board, and one near the centre. Record your data in your Activity Log Table 1. Complete Table 1 by calculating:

the mean deviation for each value deviation squared sum of the deviation squared average deviation standard error

See pages VII - X for help in filling out this table

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Part I: Measuring a Wooden Board Length Measurements

Reminder: Your uncertainty is an estimate of the reliability of your measurement. QUESTION 1: Estimate the absolute uncertainty associated with your metre stick. In your estimate, take into account the size of the smallest scale division, and the condition of your measuring device as described previously.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Length Uncertainty
The absolute uncertainty in the average value of length L is written as L where L is either the standard error (recorded in Table 1) or the estimated uncertainty in an individual measurement (Question 1), whichever value is greater. QUESTION 2: Write down the average length of the board in the form L L, where L is either the standard error or the uncertainty of the metre stick (whichever is greater). Find the relative uncertainty in L.
(Refer to Definitions slide.)

Be sure to use the correct number of significant figures. Reminder: relative uncertainty = L/L

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Width Measurements
Using a metre stick, measure the width, W, of the board provided. Take three measurements of the width - one near each side of the board, and one near the centre. Record your data in your Activity Log Table 2. Use Graphical Analysis to determine the standard error in width: Click to open Graphical Analysis.

Enter your width values in the table. Click Analyze then Statistics. Record the mean, standard deviation, and point count in Table 2. Calculate the standard error and record your result in Table 2. QUESTION 3: Write down the average width of the board in the form W W where W is either the standard error or the uncertainty in an individual measurement (whichever is greater). Find the relative uncertainty in W.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Perimeter and Area Calculations

QUESTION 4: Calculate the perimeter P of the board, the absolute uncertainty in P, and the relative uncertainty in P.

Reminder: Rule 1: When adding or subtracting measured quantities, the absolute uncertainty in the result is the sum of the absolute uncertainties in the measured quantities. Example 1: z = x y, Example 2: z = x + y, z = x + y z = x +y

QUESTION 5:

Write down the perimeter of the board in the form P P to the correct number of significant figures.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Perimeter and Area Calculations

QUESTION 6: Calculate the area A of the board, the relative uncertainty, and the absolute uncertainty in A.

Reminder: Rule 2: When multiplying or dividing measured quantities, the relative uncertainty in the result is the sum of the relative uncertainties in the measured quantities. Example 1: z = x/y Example 2: z = xy

z/z = x/x + y/y

z/z = x/x + y/y

QUESTION 7:

Write down the area of the board in the form A A to the correct number of significant figures.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Part II: Measuring Metal Cylinders Vernier Calipers

Vernier calipers are commonly used in laboratories for the precise measurements of dimensions.
Turn on the calipers with the OFF/ON switch. Make sure the calipers are set to measure in millimetres by pressing the mm/inch button until the display shows mm. Close the jaws of the calipers completely and press ZERO to zero the calipers. Be sure to convert any measurements to cm.

The uncertainty associated with the calipers is 0.01 mm.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Use of Vernier Calipers

To measure outer dimensions of an object, the object is placed between the jaws, which are then moved together until they secure the object. The screw clamp may then be tightened to ensure that the reading does not change while the scale is being read.

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Measurements of Metal Cylinders

Using a triple beam balance, weigh each of the four metal cylinders and record the masses in Table 3. Using the Vernier calipers, measure the length of each cylinder and enter it in Table 3. Using the Vernier calipers, measure the diameter of each cylinder and record it in Table 3. Calculate the volume of each cylinder and record it in Table 3. Careful with units when entering your results in Table 3!

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Relationship between mass and volume

We will now analyze the data graphically by plotting the data and determining the slope and associated uncertainty. But first, we examine what we are plotting and why. We have a relationship between physical quantities in an equation: Density equals mass divided by volume or =m/V. (the Greek letter (rho) is the symbol for density). We will plot the measured data of mass on the y-axis and volume on the x-axis. QUESTION 8: To what physical quantity does the slope of the mass versus volume graph equal correspond?

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Graphical Analysis
Open Graphical Analysis by clicking on the icon below CLICK HERE CLICK HERE Enter the values of volume in the x column of graphical analysis and enter the values of mass in the y column. Label your axes with include proper units and title your graph (see Page XI of the
introductory material for instructions).

Draw a line of best fit by clicking Analyze then Linear Fit. Doubleclick on the pop-up box labelled Linear Fit and check the options Standard Deviations for both Slope and Intercept. Click OK. Record the slope and its uncertainty in Table 4. CHECKPOINT: Have an instructor check the value of your slope. Enter your names in the Notes window and select File, Print.

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Part II: Results

QUESTION 9: Using the slope and uncertainty from your graph, what are the maximum and minimum values for the density of the cylinders?

QUESTION 10: By comparing your value of density with those in the table, what kind of metal are your cylinders made of?
Substance aluminum Iron lead silver steel Density (g/cm3) 2.7 7.75 11.3 10.5 7.85

Physics 1050 Experiment 1

Part III: Summary

QUESTION 11: List at least three sources of the experimental uncertainties involved in Parts I and II of this experiment. Classify them as random or systematic and justify your classification. QUESTION 12: As an example of the propagation of errors, consider the perimeter of the board: Was the absolute uncertainty of perimeter larger or smaller than the absolute uncertainties of length and width of the board? Is this an expected result? Explain.

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Wrap it up!

Check that you have completed all the Tables in your Activity Log Make sure that you have answered all Questions completely. Attached to your Activity Log should be your graph of mass versus volume.