Experiment 1: Measurements and Errors

INTRODUCTION

In Physics, as in all sciences, developments are made by making theories about

phenomena. As such, all physical theories have the characteristic that they can be tested to prove
the soundness of the ideas behind them. Testing is done to verify these theories by performing
experiments. Conducting experiments require the use of measuring instruments. Different
measuring instruments used to measure the same quantity may have different degrees of
accuracy. Moreover, the procedure with which quantities are measured may introduce
inaccuracy in measurements. Sometimes, the measuring instrument itself inherently gives
inaccurate measurements.

In most instances, the measured quantities are used to compute for another quantity. The
result, of course, will not be as accurate and reliable as the quantities from which the computed
values were obtained. It is, therefore, necessary to study errors in measurements and understand
how these errors affect values that are computed using measured quantities. By knowing these
errors and their effects, one can say something about the reliability and validity of the results of
the experiment.

Errors, in this context, are not mistakes or blunders. It is associated with several factors,
or sources of error, such as the environment, measuring processes, limitations of measuring
devices, and human biases. Measurement errors can be minimized but can never be eliminated.
When reporting a result, the error must be estimated. A measured quantity 𝐱 when reported,
therefore, must include; x̅ and Δx, stated as

𝒙 = 𝒙̅ ± ∆𝒙 Equation (1)
where

o 𝒙̅ - the best approximation of the measured quantity –this can be a direct

reading from the measuring device or an average value of several
readings
o ±∆𝒙 - the degree of error or error estimate associated with the measurement

EX: A student’s mass is measured at 54.5 ± 0.5 kg.

This statement is read “54.5 plus or minus 0.5 kg.” This is a shorthand way of saying that the best mass
estimate is 54.5 kg and that the actual value may likely lie between 54.0 kg and 55.0 kg.

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 The error estimate ±∆𝑥, rests on the precision of the measurement. The precision of the
measurement is the degree of confidence one has in a measurement. A "high precision"
measurement expresses high confidence that the measurement lies within a narrow range of
values expressed by Δ𝑥, while low precision, on the other hand, lies within a wider range of
values. Quantitatively, high precision means low Δ𝑥 while low precision means high Δ𝑥. Error
needs to be minimized so that a measurement can have a higher degree of precision.

In the conduct of any experiment, one should be aware of where the errors come from.
The scientific attitude of being critical with experimental errors should be developed and
nurtured by anyone who wants to succeed in the field of science.

OBJECTIVES
After performing this experiment, you should be able to

 identify the least count (smallest division) of measuring devices,

 express results and error estimate appropriately,
 differentiate the types of errors that arise in the measurement of physical quantities, and
 show the effects of errors in measured quantities on computed values.

EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS NEEDED

 Meter stick
 Ruler
 Protractor
 Bathroom scale

THEORY

A. Types of Errors:

Random errors result from unknown or unpredictable variations in experimental situations.

They are also referred to as accidental errors and are sometimes beyond the control of the
observer. The errors may be due to fluctuations in physical factors such as air temperature,
atmospheric pressure, voltage or mechanical stability of the set-up and of friction in mechanisms.
A random error is evident if, upon measuring the same quantity by the same measuring device
and by the same method, a slightly different result is obtained. (If one gets a very different result,
there might be a systematic error.) The only solution to minimizing random errors is to make as
many measurements as possible for the same quantity and analyze how the values differ. This is
important especially if the measured quantity is used for computations. The activities below
serve to point this out.

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 EX 1. Starting and stopping the stopwatch when measuring the period of a pendulum
can result to variation in timing considering that human reaction time varies between 0.15
and 0.20 s for young adults.

Random error can be minimized by repeating the measurements sufficient number of times. An
estimate of random error can be done by analyzing the spread of the measurements.

Systematic errors are associated with particular measuring instruments or techniques. The
common graduation of the instrument deviates from the standard and when the instrument
registers a value when not yet used for measurement. These errors can usually be reduced if
adjustments/modifications are done on the device or on the procedure that introduces these
systematic errors. In most cases, identification of the source/s of systematic errors is done by
comparing the results obtained using a particular instrument or technique to that of the results
gathered using a different procedure or different instrument or both. In some of the following
activities, the systematic errors attributed to some measuring instruments are shown.

EX.1. Technique/ Method. The “true” height of Maria is 165.0 cm. When measured
using a flexible tape several times, one observes that her measured height always result to
values above 165.0 cm. This type of error exist because of incorrect experimental
procedure. Maria is actually wearing one-inch heeled shoes each time her height was
measured.

EX 2. Measuring Device. But if Maria’s measured height is always below 165.0 cm, then
it could be that the flexible tape is defective, having been stretched over time. Using this
flexible tape will result to shorter than the true height.

EX 3. Technique / Method. In reading a scale, say a thermometer, the eye’s line of sight
must always be perpendicular to the scale. See Figure 1. Point 2 is the correct position of
the eye. Position 1 gives a higher reading and position 3 gives a lower reading.

Other basic sources of systematic error are improperly “zeroed” devices and defective
apparatus. Personal bias on the part of the person performing the experiment can be another
source of systematic error. Consider Figure 1. Suppose you measure certain temperature.
Parallax error occurs when your eye is positioned at an angle with the liquid level of the
thermometer or any measurement markings for that matter. At position 1, you read the scale
higher than the actual temperature and at position 3, you read lower than the actual. To minimize
parallax error, the eye level should be aligned with the liquid level (position 2).

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 Figure 1. Parallax in reading a thermometer scale

Systematic errors can be detected by comparing the measurement with a known value.
Avoiding this error depends on the skill of the person, spotting the error quickly, preventing it,
or correcting it.

B. Significant Figures:
The ,degree of precision of any measurement depends on the device being used. The
measurement includes all the digits that can be directly read from the measuring device,
including one doubtful or estimated figure. The number of digits indicates how precise the
measurement is.

For example, two meter sticks in Figure 2 measure the same length of a metal block. The
measurement reading from meter stick A is 28.7 cm. The digit 7 is a doubtful figure. It is only a
guess or estimate as to where between 28.5 -cm and 29.0-cm divisions the edge of the block lies.
The digits in the reading 2, 8, and 7 are all significant figures. The leftmost digit 2 is the most
significant and the rightmost digit 7 is the least significant. The digit in between the rightmost
and leftmost digit is also significant. Thus, meter stick A is good to three significant figures.

Meter stick B, on the other hand, reads 28.85 cm, with four significant figures. The digit
5 is an estimated figure that lies between 28.8 and 28.9. The smallest division or resolution of
meter stick B is finer at 0.1 cm or 1 mm.

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 (a) Meter stick A

(b) Meter stick B

Figure 2. Meter sticks with different gradation

When compared, meter stick B has “more certainty” or has “higher precision” than meter stick
A. The degree of certainty depends on the quality of the instrument and the fineness of the scale.

C. Calculations with Measured Values

When experimental measurements are used in calculations (e.g., addition, multiplication,

subtraction, division), oftentimes, it produced so many figures. Are all these figures significant?
“No mathematical operations can give a calculated value with a precision greater than the
measured values.” Therefore, it is not sensible to record all the calculated figures. How, exactly,
does one go about in determining the number of significant figures after a mathematical
operation? There is no blanket rule that covers every case encountered. But, there are so called
"rules of thumb" that can be used as general guidelines (Wilson, 1994):

Rule no. 1: Addition and Subtraction.

The final sum or difference must contain the same number of decimal places as the measured
value with the least number of decimal places (least precise measurement).

EX: 812.5 m + 56.04 m + 0.091 m = 868.631 m 868.6 m (1 decimal place)

The least precise measurement is 812.5 ( 1 decimal place) while the most precise is 0.091 m (3
decimal places). The final sum must be recorded up to one decimal place.

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Rule no. 2: Multiplication and Division

The final product or quotient must contain the same number of significant figures as the
measured value with the least number of significant figures.

EX. 7.89 m (3 SF) x 0.92 m (2 SF) = 7.2588 m2 7.3 m2 (2 SF)

Rule no. 3: Exact numbers, Conversion factors, and Constants

A calculated quantity will always carry the least number of significant figures of the measured
quantity when this measured quantity is algebraically operated (added/ subtracted/ multiplied/
divided) with an exact number, or conversion factor or constant. This means that the exact
number, conversion factors, and constants have no effect on the final result.
For example the measured radius of a metal disk is 3.48 cm. You are asked to calculate the
circumference of the disk. What should be the reported circumference?

EX. C = 2π R = 2 π (3.48 cm) = 21.865 cm 21.9 cm (3 SF)

2 is an exact number and π is a mathematical constant.

(IMPORTANT: Reporting more significant figures implies greater significance than given by the
measurements, and result cannot be more significant by mathematical operation (Wilson, 1994). When
doing series of computations on a calculator, rounding off of numbers must be done on the final result, not
within intermediate steps as this will introduce further error.)

D. Expressing Error Estimate

a) Percent Error. If an experiment verify certain well-known physical quantities, then an

“accepted” value exist. An absolute difference can be computed between the experimental
value (E) and the accepted value (A).

Absolute difference = |𝐸 − 𝐴|

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 |𝐸−𝐴|

Fractional error = =
𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝐴

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 |𝐸−𝐴|

Percent Error = fractional error x100 = = 𝑥100
𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝐴

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 b) Percent Difference. If two methods are conducted in measuring a certain quantity, but there
is no accepted value, computation of percent error is not possible. Instead, the measurements
can be compared with each other and percent difference can be used to estimate the error.

𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 |𝐸1−𝐸2|

Percent difference = 𝐸1+𝐸2 𝑥100
𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 | 2
|

c) Least Count (L.C.) and Scale Error. Least count (L.C.) and scale error become significant for
(a) one- trial measurement and (b) multiple-trial measurement with similar result.

L.C. is the smallest division marked on a scale of an instrument. In the case of the meter
1
sticks in Figure 2, meter stick A has L.C. of 0.1 cm (decimal form) or 10
cm (fraction form).
1
The L.C. of meter stick B is 0.5 cm or 2 cm.

Scale error is estimated to be one-half of L.C.

EX. Meter stick A has a scale error of ± 0.05 cm (½ * 0.1 cm)
Meter stick B has a scale error of ± 0.25 cm (½ * 0.5 cm)

Since errors are just estimates, thus it cannot be more precise than the measured
value. The error estimate of ± 0.25 cm should be reported as ± 0.3 cm.

d) d) Errors in Digital Instrument (one- trial measurement). Many modern laboratory instruments
a. use digital displays. The best estimate of the measured value is directly registered. Digital
meters have high precision, yet there is always a limit to their precision. Manufacturers
normally specify the margin of error (written at the back of the instrument). But, if there is
no error specified, by the rule of thumb, the error is the lowest significant figure. For example,
in Figure 3, the digital weighing scale reads 318.57 g. The error in the measurement would
be ± 0.01 g. The measurement is reported as 318.57 ± 0.01 g.

Figure 3. Digital weighing scale

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e) Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD). MAD is used for measurement done with several trials. If
all trials provide different values then a likelihood for higher random error. To minimize
random error, multiple trials must be done. The average of all trials is closer to the true
value than a single measurement would be.

The Mean Absolute Deviation (∆𝑥) is determined by simply averaging the absolute value of
the difference (or deviation) of each of the measured values from the mean. The formula is:

∑𝑵 |𝒅𝒊| |𝒙𝟏−𝒙𝒂𝒗𝒆|+|𝒙𝟐−𝒙𝒂𝒗𝒆|+|𝒙𝟑−𝒙𝒂𝒗𝒆|+......+|𝒙𝑵−𝒙𝒂𝒗𝒆|
∆𝒙 = 𝒊=𝟏
𝑵 = 𝑵
Equation (2)

EX. How long does a ball take to reach the ground from a certain level?

The experimenter measures the time of fall five times. The result is shown below.

Average
Trial 𝒊 1 2 3 4 5 _
t

Time (sec) 𝒕𝒊 8.54 8.35 8.62 8.46 8.56 8.506

_
Deviation di  ti  t 0.034 -0.156 0.114 -0.046 0.054

Absolute
|𝒕| = |𝐭𝐢 − 𝐭|̅ 0.034 0.156 0.114 0.046 0.054
deviation

MAD Δt 0.0808
_
The average t is computed
_
1 8.54  8.35  8.62  8.46  8.56
t x
N
 i

5
 8.506 sec

where N is the total number of trials.

The MAD ∆𝒕 can be calculated using absolute deviations |𝒕|.

0.034 + 0.0156 + 0.114 + 0.46 + 0.054

∆𝒕 = = 0.0808 𝑠
5

The best measured time is the average time 𝒕̅ = 8.506 s and the error estimate is the MAD ∆𝒕 =0.0808 s.
Following the rule in reporting, the final result is

𝒕̅ + ∆𝒕 = 8.51 ± 0.08 s

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E. Propagation of Error

Two measured quantities A and B have error estimates ΔA and ΔB, respectively.
Quantity C is a calculated quantity that depends on A and B. Then ΔA and ΔB “propagate” to
the error estimate ΔC. The process of error propagation follows some rules:

1. Addition or Subtraction.

If 𝑪 = 𝑨 + 𝑩 or 𝑪=𝑨 −𝑩 then ∆𝑪 = ∆𝑨 + ∆𝑩 Equation ( 2)

2. Multiplication or Division

𝑨 ∆𝑨 ∆𝑩
If 𝑪=𝑨 ∗𝑩 or 𝑪= then ∆𝑪 = ( + )∗𝑪 Equation (3)
𝑩 𝑨 𝑩

3. Exponents

If 𝐂 = 𝑨𝒏 then ∆𝑪 = 𝑪 ∗ 𝒏 ∗ ∆𝑨𝑨 Equation (4)

PROCEDURE

Activity A. Least Count and Scale Error

1. Look for at least three measuring devices at home. Possibly a ruler, a protractor, a flexible
tape measure, and a bathroom scale. Take screenshots of these devices and post in your
worksheet.

NOTE: In case you don’t have bathroom scale, then leave blank the cell for this in Table 1.

2. Examine each device and identify the least count (L.C.) and scale error for each. Record in
Table 1.
3. Express the L.C. in decimal and fraction forms and record in Table 1.

Activity B. One –time Measurement

1. Using the ruler, measure the length of your index finger once. Record in Table 2. Indicate the
error estimate of the measurement. The error estimate is the scale error of the ruler. See Table
1 of the Worksheet. Don’t forget to take a screen shot when doing this measurement.

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2. Spread your fingers to maximum. Using a protractor, measure the angle
between the index finger and the middle finger. Take a screen shot of the
measurement.

3. Measure your mass (in kg) using the bathroom scale. Record and indicate
error estimate.

NOTE: If you don’t have the bathroom scale, just make an estimate of Figure 4. angle
your mass. between index
and middle fingers

4. Measure your height using a flexible tape measure.

a. Take-off your shoes and stand straight against the wall. Your buttocks, shoulder
and the back of your heels should be touching the wall.
b. Look straight forward with your heels together. Let somebody at home put a ruler on
top of your head perpendicular to the wall and let him/her mark the highest point
c. of your head.
d. Lay flat on thewall the flexible tape measure from the floor up to the mark made.

5. Finally, count the number of significant digits of each measurement.

Activity C. Perimeter of a Tabletop

Perimeter is the measure of the length of the sides. The tabletop is a quadrilateral. If the top is
assumed to define a perfect rectangle and thus, opposite sides are equal, then its perimeter is

𝑃 = 2(𝑙 + 𝑤) Equation (5)

where 𝑙 is the length and 𝑤 is the width of the tabletop.

Procedure.

1. Using a meter stick or ruler, do five independent measurements of the length and width of
the tabletop. Record your data in Tables 1 and 2.
2. Compute the errors in the measurement of the length and of the width using the Mean
Absolute Deviation (MAD) of the measured values.
3. Using the values above, compute for the error in the perimeter using Equation (6).

Activity D. Area of a Tabletop

Area is the measure of space occupied by a two-dimensional object. Assuming the

tabletop is a perfect rectangle, the formula for its area is

𝐴= 𝑙𝑤 Equation (7)

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where, 𝑙 is the length and 𝑤 is the width.

According to the error propagation laws, if X is the product of two

measured quantities Y and Z
∆𝑿 ∆𝒀 ∆𝒁
𝑿 = 𝒀𝒁, then = + .
𝑿 𝒀 𝒁

Therefore, the fractional error in the area of the tabletop is

∆𝑨 ∆𝒍 ∆𝒘
𝑨𝒂𝒗𝒆
=(
𝒍𝒂𝒗𝒆
+
𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆
) Equation (8)

Procedure:
1. Use the measurements of the length and width of the tabletop in the previous activity to
determine its area.
2. Compute for the fractional error in the area using Equation (8). From the fractional error,
compute the absolute error ∆A

Activity E. Volume of an object

Volume is the measure of space occupied by a three-dimensional object. If the object has
a regular shape, its volume is obtained by measuring the necessary dimensions and using the
appropriate formula. This is true for rectangular, cylindrical and spherical objects to cite a few
cases. If the object has an irregular shape such that it has no clearly defined length, width, etc.
and if it is not porous, such an object has a volume which can be measured using the liquid
displacement method. In liquid displacement method, the material is immersed in the liquid
completely and the amount of liquid it displaces is its volume.

To simplify the procedure in liquid displacement method, a graduated cylinder is oftentimes

used. A certain amount of water is poured into the graduated cylinder and the initial water level,
y1, is read. The irregularly shaped object is then fully immersed and the final water level, y2, is
read. The volume of the immersed object is determined by

𝑉 = 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 Equation (9)

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 Error propagation laws provide that if
𝑿 = 𝑨 – 𝑩, then ∆𝑿 = ∆𝑨 + ∆𝑩 Equation (9)

where 𝐴 and 𝐵 are measured values.

Therefore, the error in the volume of the object is

∆𝑽 = ∆ 𝒚𝟏 + ∆ 𝒚𝟐. Equation (10)

Procedure:
1. Compute the MAD of the data given in Table 3.
2. Compute the MAD of the data given in Table 4
3. Using Equation 10, compute the uncertainty in the volume.

Activity F. Density of a substance

Density is a measure of how “compact” a substance is. If a substance has a large mass
and is confined to a small volume, then its density is high. An object that has a higher density
than a liquid would sink in that liquid. The formula for density is

𝐷 = 𝑚/𝑉 Equation (11)

0.5
where 𝑚 is the mass and 𝑉 is the volume of the object.

According to the error propagation laws, if X is the quotient of two measured

quantities
𝒀 ∆𝑿 ∆𝒀 ∆𝒁
𝑿= , then = + . Equation (12)
𝒁 𝑿 𝒀 𝒁

Therefore, the fractional error in the density of the irregular object is

∆𝑫 ∆𝒎 ∆𝑽
𝑫𝒂𝒗𝒆
=(
𝒎𝒂𝒗𝒆
+
𝑽𝒂𝒗𝒆
) Equation (13)

Procedure:
1. Compute the average and the MAD for the data in Table 5.
2. Using the average value and the MAD of the mass, and the value of the volume from Activity
C compute the density and the error in the density using Equation (13). From the fractional
error, compute the absolute error ∆𝐷.

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Activity G. Body Mass Index (BMI)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most widely used diagnostic tool to indicate if one is
overweight, obese, underweight or normal. Although BMI may not be an actual measure of a
person’s percentage of body fat, it is a useful tool to estimate a healthy body weight. It is used
as basis to identify weight problems and risks of developing diseases. The formula universally
used to calculate BMI is
𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑘𝑔)
𝐵𝑀𝐼 = Equation (14)
ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡2 (𝑚2)

Table 1 presents classification of BMI scores for South East Asian body types. Health
problems associated with non-normal BMI scores are type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease
and hypertension.

Table on Health Risk Classification According to Body Mass Index (BMI)

Classification BMI Category Risk of developing health problems
(kg/m )
2 (type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular
disease)

Underweight < 18.50 Increased

a) Severe Thinness <16.00
b) Moderate Thinness 16.00 – 16.99
c) Mild Thinness 17.00 – 18.49
Normal Weight 18.50 - 22.99 Least

Overweight 23.00 - 27.59 moderate

Obese class I 27.60 - 34.99 High

Obese class II 35.0 - 39.99 Very high

Obese class III >= 40.0 Extremely high

(morbid obesity)
Note: For persons 65 years and older the 'normal' range may begin slightly above BMI 18.5 and extend
to 30. ((Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm)

Procedure:
3. Use the data of your mass and height in Table 1 to compute your BMI (Equation 14).
4. Compute the error of your BMI using Equation (15).

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 ∆𝐵𝑀𝐼 ∆𝑚 ∆ℎ
= 𝐵𝑀𝐼 ( + 2 ( ))
𝐵𝑀𝐼 𝑚 ℎ

5. Evaluate your BMI based on Table on Health Risk.

6. Using the average value and the MAD of the mass, and the value of the volume from Activity
C compute the density and the error in the density using Equation (13). From the fractional
error, compute the absolute error ∆𝐷.

NOTE: For Table, 3, Table 4, and Table 5, initial data are provided.

REFERENCES

Wilson, J. (1994) Physics laboratory experiments. D. C. Heath and Company, Mass., USA
Katz, D. (2016) Physics for scientists and Engineers, Vol. 1 Boston M.A. Cengage learning
Loyd, D. (2008) 3rd ed., Physics Lab manual, Thomson Learning academic center CA
Belmont.

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Name Acosta, Owen Brylle L. Date Performed September 17, 2020

Subject PHY 3131 Schedule Th 10:30 am - 1:30 pm

Experiment 1. Measurements and Errors

Worksheet

Table 1. Activity A: Least Count and Scale Error

Measuring Instrument Least count Scale Error

Decimal Fraction
centimeter scale 0.1 cm 1/10 cm ± 0.05 cm
Ruler
inch scale 0.0625 inch 1/16 inch ± 0.03125 inch
centimeter scale 0.1 cm 1/10 cm ± 0.05 cm
Tape measure
inch scale 0.125 inch 1/8 inch ± 0.0625 inch
kilogram scale - - -
Bathroom scale
pound scale - - -
Protractor degrees 1° 1/360° 0.5°

Table 2. Activity B. One-time Measurement

Measuring Instrument Physical Quantity Measurement Number of
Significant
figures
Ruler Length of you index finger (cm) 8.63 cm± 0.05 3
Protractor Angle between index and 69.5° ± 0.5 3
middle fingers
Bathroom scale Your Mass (kg) 71.5 kg± 0.5 3
Your weight (lb) 157.6 lbs 4
Flexible tape measure Your height (cm) 164.40 cm ± 0.05 5

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 Table 3. Activity C. Perimeter of Table top
Length Measurement Width Measurement

Trial Length (cm) Deviation |𝑑𝑖| Width (cm) Deviation (cm) |𝑑𝑖|
(cm)
(cm) 𝑑𝑖 = 𝑤𝑖 − 𝑤𝑎𝑣𝑒 (cm)
𝑑𝑖 = 𝑙𝑖 − 𝑙𝑎𝑣𝑒

1 112.5 92.6
0.4 0.4 0.54 0.54

2 112.0 91.0
-0.1 0.1 -1.06 1.06

3 111.9 -0.2 92.0

0.2 -0.06 0.06

4 111.1 91.7
-1 1 -0.36 0.36
5 113.0 93.0
0.9 0.9 0.94 0.94
Sum 560.5 2.6 460.3 2.96
Ave. 112.1 0.52 92.1 0.59

The length is lave ± ∆l = ( 112.1 ± 0.52) cm , while the width is wave ± ∆w = ( 92.06 ± 0.59 ) cm.

The perimeter of the tabletop is Pave ± ∆P = (408.32± 2.22 ) cm.

1. Assuming that the errors in the length and in the width are reliable, what would be the maximum
and minimum values of the length? the width?
Length Width

Maximum Value 112.6 cm 92.7 cm

Minimum Value 111.6 cm 91.5 cm

2. What would be the maximum and minimum values of the perimeter of the tabletop?
Maximum Value 410.54 cm Minimum Value 406.10 cm
The area of the tabletop is Aave ± ∆A = (10320.23 ± _113.26 ) cm2.

3. From your data, what would be the maximum and minimum area of the tabletop?

2 2
Maximum Value 10433.49 cm Minimum Value 10206.97 cm

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 Table 4. Activity E. Volume of an object

Initial water level measurements Final water level measurements

Initial Deviation Final Deviation

water |𝑑𝑖| water |𝑑𝑖|
Trial (cm )
3
Trial (cm3)
level (cm3) level (cm3)
(cm3) 𝑑𝑖 = 𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦𝑎𝑣𝑒 (cm3) 𝑑𝑖 = 𝑦𝑖 − 𝑦𝑎𝑣𝑒

1 10.5 1 20.4
0.14 0.14 -0.32 0.32
2 106 2 21.0
0.24 0.24 0.28 0.28
3 10.2 3 20.7
-0.16 0.15 -0.02 0.02
4 10.0 4 21.0
-0.36 0.36 0.28 0.28
5 10.5 5 20.5
0.14 0.14 -0.22 0.22
Sum Sum
51.8 1.04 103.6 1.12
Average Average 20.7
10.4 0.21 0.22

The initial water level is y1ave ± ∆ y1 = ( 10.4 _± 0.21 ) cm3

The final water level is y2ave ± ∆ y2 = ( 20.7 ± 0.22 ) cm3

The volume of the immersed object is Vave ± ∆ V= ( 10.00 ± 0.43 ) cm3

4. From the results above, what are the maximum and minimum values of the initial and final
water levels? Initial water level Final water level
Maximum 10.61 cm3 20.94 cm3
3
Minimum 10.19 cm 20.5 cm3

5. What are the maximum and minimum values of the volume of the object?

3 3
Maximum Value 10.79 cm Minimum Value 9.93 cm

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 Table 5. Activity F. Density of a Substance

mass Deviation (g) |𝑑𝑖|

Trial
(g) 𝑑𝑖 = 𝑚𝑖 − 𝑚𝑎𝑣𝑒 (g)

1 27.4
0.24 0.24
2 27.0
-0.16 0.16
3 26.9
-0.26 0.26
4 27.4
0.24 0.24
5 27.1
-0.06 0.06
Sum
135.8 0.96
Average
27.16 0.19

The mass is mave ± ∆m = ( 27.16 ± 0.19 ) g.

The density of the object is Dave ± ∆D = ( 2.62 ± 0.13 ) g/cm3.

6. From the results above, what are the maximum and minimum values of the mass and density
3 3
of the object? Density : Maximum Value 2.75 g/cm Minimum Value 2.49 g/cm
Mass :Maximum Value 27.35 g Minimum Value 26.97 g

Table 6. Activity G. Your BMI

𝐵𝑀𝐼: 26.50 _𝑘𝑔/𝑚2 ∆𝐵𝑀𝐼 = 0.19 _𝑘𝑔/𝑚2

Show calculation of BMI and ∆𝐵𝑀𝐼:

BMI=kg/m^2 BMI= BMI(m/m+2(h/h))
= (71.5 kg)/(164.40)^2 = 26.50 = 26.5(0.5/71.5+2(0.05/164.40)) = 0.19
Your 𝐵𝑀𝐼 ± ∆𝐵𝑀𝐼 = ( 26.50 ± 0.19 )

Evaluation of your BMI using Table on Health Risk: Overweight .

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