Physics 215 - Experiment 1

Measurement, Random Error & Error analys is

Advanced reading- from Physics by Giancoli, 6th Edition

(Sections 1-4, 1-5 & 1-6)
Part A-Measurement of Length and Error Analysis

Equipment: longer be square; (3) errors of

1 Ruler parallax should be avoided by
1 Vernier Caliper placing the scale against the ob-
1 Micrometer Caliper ject to be measured.
Several Coins. In using a vernier caliper
tenths of a division are not esti-
Objective: mated; they are read off the
The object of this experiment is vernier scale. Notice that 10 divi-
twofold: sions on the vernier scale corre-
sponds to 9 divisions on the main
1. To learn to measure lengths scale. Therefore, the mark on the
using a ruler, vernier caliper, vernier scale which best lines up
and micrometer caliper. with a mark on the main scale
gives the reading of a tenth of
2. To become acquainted with the smallest division on the main
types of error and statistical scale (see fig. 1. 1).
methods for analyzing one's
data and for estimating its ac-
curacy.

3. To determine the density of a Figure 1-1

block of metal.
In using a micrometer caliper,
Theory: centimeters and tenths of a cen-
In using a ruler three things timeter are read from the scale on
must be remembered: (1) the the barrel. Then thousandths of
reading should be estimated to a centimeter are read from the
one half of the smallest division; scale on the thimble. Since this
(2) the ends of the ruler should scale only goes from 0 to 50 thou-
not be used since the ends may sandths the thimble must be
have become damaged and no turned twice to move one-tenth of
 Physics 215 - Experiment 1
Measurement, Random Error & Error analys is

a centimeter. If the scale is over every reading will be too large by

halfway between the marks on this amount and the zero correc-
the barrel, then 50 thousandths tion must be subtracted from
must be added to the reading. each reading. When closing the
Ten-thousandths of a centimeter micrometer caliper the small
should be estimated. (See fig. knurled knob must be used so
1.2.) A zero correction for the mi-
crometer caliper should be deter- that the caliper will not be dam-
mined and recorded. For exam- aged by overtightening.
ple, if the micrometer caliper
reads 0.002 cm when closed, then
as

1 n 1
x= !
n i=1
x i = (x1 + x 2 + ...+ x n )
n
x will be the most probable value
for the quantity being measured.
By itself, however x gives no in-
dication of the reliability of the
results, that is, of what statistical
error there may be in the results.
To analyze this facet of the prob-
lem one needs the standard de-
viation or root mean square of
the data.
Figure 1-2
Standard Deviation Or Root
Statistical Analysis Of Data Mean Square
and Errors The standard deviation (or
root mean square) of the above n
Mean measurements is defined as
If one makes a series of n 1
measurements with results xl,x2, $ (x " x)2 ' 2
# 1
...x n, the mean, or average value, ! =& )
&% ( n " 1) )(
x , of the measurements is defined
 Physics 215 - Experiment 1
Measurement, Random Error & Error analys is

tape measure in cold weather; the

σ is a measure of the scatter to be tape must have contracted due to
expected in the measurements. If thermal effects so that its length
one measured a large number of is shorter than the length indi-
values xl, then statistically about cated on the rule. A final exam-
67% of the xl's would lie between ple is presented by most electrical
x - σ and x + σ and about 97% of meters which have an indicated
the x i 's would lie between x - 2σ accuracy stamped on the meter.
and x + 2σ. If the accuracy is indicated as 5%
The error discussed here is ex- then one's measurements made
perimental, or random error with the meter may be too large
which results because one does or too small by up to 5%. One
not always get the same result in way of compensating for system-
making a series of measurements. atic errors is to calibrate one's in-
This type of error is unavoidable struments if more accurate re-
because, no matter how accu- sults are desired.
rately one makes one's measure- Personal or human error is a
ments, there will always be some third type of error. Often the
uncertainty in the measure- person taking data is biased by
ments. the first result obtained. In tak-
The above error is not the only ing measurements one should not
type of error which may be pre- try to make them all come out the
sent, however. Systematic errors same, but should merely make
may be present, and if they are each measurement as accurately
present they may be difficult to as possible. Another type of hu-
account for unless one is aware of man error is to be sloppy in one's
them. A few examples will ex- experimental technique; for ex-
plain what systematic error is. ample, if one allows parallax er-
The speedometer in most auto- rors to occur in making a meas-
mobiles reads too high so that urement, this is an avoidable
one's speed is systematically human error. In the present ex-
lower than the indicated speed, periment, one must be careful to
and the speedometer introduces a avoid parallax errors.
systematic error into any calcula- In analyzing the error in your
tions of the speed of the auto. A data try to estimate the magni-
second example is using a steel tudes of the various kinds of error
which may be present and discuss
 Physics 215 - Experiment 1
Measurement, Random Error & Error analys is

them in your laboratory report. and I.B using the micrometer

caliper this time. Record the re-
Procedure: sults on your data sheet.

A. Ruler D. Measurement of Density

Measure the diameter of a coin Density is defined as the ratio
three times with the ruler record- of the mass of an object di-
ing the results on your data vided by its volume. Using the
sheet, then let your partner do triple beam balance, deter-
the same recording his results. mine the mass of your coin,
Make your measurements at dif- and then assume it is a cylin-
ferent points so that a good aver- der and determine its volume.
age dimension will be obtained. Try to identify the composition
You should always be able to es- of your coin from the density
timate the fractional part of the you calculated. Note:
smallest division to get your last Coins are made of various al-
significant figure. loys. However, you should be
Calculate the mean diameter able to determine the most
and the standard deviation. Dis- abundant metal used in the
card any nonsignificant figures minting of the coin. You
before recording the mean diame- should be able to find the ex-
ter. act composition on the web.

B. Vernier Caliper Questions:

Make three measurements of
the diameter of the coin as in part 1. Which of the three instru-
I.A but using the vernier caliper ments used in today’s lab do you
this time. Let your partner do think allowed you to make the
the same. Record the results on most accurate measurement of
your data sheet. Calculate the the diameter of the coin? Why?
standard deviation and mean di-
ameter as in part A. 2. List and discuss the different
types of errors that were present
C. Micrometer Caliper in your measurements
Repeat the measurements and
calculations made in parts I.A
 Physics 215 - Experiment 1
Measurement, Random Error & Error analys is
Part B- Random Error Analysis vertical column. We will now ob-
tain two numbers which will give
Objective
The purpose of this experiment
is to make a series of measure- a measure of the variability of
ments involving a sufficient your skill in this experiment.
number of trials to permit the use
of a statistical theory of errors to
evaluate the results.

Part 1:

Equipment:
Steel Ball
Carbon Paper
Sheets of Ruled Paper
ruler

Procedure:
Place a sheet of paper over a
layer of carbon paper approxi-
x
mately 30 cm from the table on
the laboratory floor. Mark a line
on the paper which is parallel to
the edge of the table. Using a
plumb bob, locate the position of Ball shown on table with pa-
the edge of the table on the floor per beneath.
and accurately measure x, the
distance from the table and at-
tempt to hit the line on the paper 1) Calculation of the average
as the ball strikes the floor. value:
Measure the horizontal distance
from the position of the edge of N

the table to the actual impact

!x i
i =1
x=
point, call it x1 (measure to the N
nearest cm). Repeat these in a
 Physics 215 - Experiment 1
Measurement, Random Error & Error analys is

The xi’s are simply the meas- Include on the graph:

ured values for x for the different
trials. A comparison of this value 1) The average value of the
with the true distance from the measured value of x ( the arith-
table edge to the line shows metic average).
whether or not the results are
consistently too short or too long. 2) The true value of x (actual
position of the line).
2) Calculation of the standard
deviation: This quantity gives an 3) The calculated standard de-
indication of the consistency of viation.
the trials.

Write your result as: Part 2

N
2
# ( x " x)
i
Equipment:
!2 = i=1

N "1 Compressed Pills

Digital Balance (0.001g resolution)
3) Plot of the distribution of hits
versus position (i.e., a histogram): Procedure:
Measure the mass of at least
Draw a graph of the number 30 of these compressed pills and
of times the ball hit within a calculate:
specified distance from the line a) the average value of the
versus the distance from the table mass
in centimeter intervals.
b) the standard deviation of
this distribution

c) plot the distribution of mass

versus number for the pills in
your measurement set.

Questions:

1. Compare the graph of your

data with the sample graph. Ex-
 Physics 215 - Experiment 1
Measurement, Random Error & Error analys is

plain the differences in the distri-

butions observed. How could you
reduce the value of σ if the ex-
periment were repeated?

2. If a die were tossed twice,

what can you say about the av-
erage value of the number
thrown? If the die were tossed
100 times, what would be the
average value of the number
thrown? Why are your answers
different?

3. What can you say about the

dose delivered by a pill in your
measurement set. How does this
experiment help to describe the
variability or consistency of the
production process producing this
medication?