DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

COLLEGE OF NATURAL COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

SAMPLE LA REPORT
Experiment 1
Measurement and Uncertainty
Date of experiment: 07|06|22
Date of submission: 27|06|22
Group No. 5
Group members

name ID No.
Ermias Gezehegn UGR|1886|14
Ermiyas Tesfaye UGR|6782|14
Emran Mohammed UGR|5245|14
Henok Tariku UGR|3414|14
Instractor:K/mariam S

1
Abstract

In this experiment we measure simple physical quantities such as length,

mass and time. By using this measurement calculate other physical like
volume and density of some materials. We also take notes of the precision
of our measurement via recording experimental uncertainties and find the
uncertainties in our measurement carry through or propagate in to any
calculation using this measurement.

Title: Measurement and uncertainty

Introduction: Physics is based on measurement. We use variety of tools to make precise
measurement. Choosing an appropriate instrument to measure physical quantity is important to insure
that the measurement is accurate and reproducible. The accuracy of the measurement is depend on the
accuracy of measuring instrument, the ability of the observer reading the scale properly and the degree
of precision of the measuring instrument. In this experiment you will practice the skill of making
accurate measurement using variety of measuring instrument then you will use the error propagation
formula to compute the uncertainty in the quantity derived from the measurements.

Objectives

To determine

The mass, length, diameter, volume and time duration of an object and it’s uncertainty

Theory

Physics is a science of measurement that based on observation. if physical theory is to be considered as

valid one it must agree with what is observed in the real world .we cannot observe the universe in a
manner that tell us any within it. We cannot test physical theories. physics say that the process of
measurement is pretty much the same for all common physical quantities. the measurement process is
used in many non-physical fields from medicine to manufacturing where experimentation and
observation are very important. As important a measurement itself is a knowledge the uncertainty
associated with measurement in our lab work it is important to keep track of the uncertainties in our
measurements and how those uncertainty propagate through to other values calculated by using our
measured values.

2
Equipments

Equipment needed quantity

Meter stick 1
Vernier caliper 1
Micrometer screw gauge 1
Triple beam balance 1
Graduate cylinder 25ml 1
Stopwatch digital 1
Rectangular block 1
Cylindrical block (copper and aluminum) 2
Coin(one birr) 1

Procedures

1. Estimate the dimensions of rectangular block.

2. Measure the dimensions of rectangular block using the meter stick or ruler three times
3. Estimate the diameters of the copper and the aluminum blocks
4. Measure the dimensions of each cylindrical blocks using the vernier caliper three times
5. Estimate the thickness of one birr coin..
6. Measure the dimensions of one birr coin using the micro screw gauge three times.
7. Calculate the volume of each object (rectangular block, cylindrical block coin).
8. Measure the volumes of the objects using graduated cylinder. Compare measured values with
calculated values in step 5.
9. Estimate the mass of the copper and the aluminum cylinders.
10. Measure the mass of each cylinder using the triple balance at least three times.
11. Calculate the density of copper and aluminum from your measurement .
12. Using the reference density (theoretical) and the actual density(experimental)of each cylinder
calculate the percentage difference of each.
13. Roll one the cylinder across one meter distance marked off on the lab table .first estimate then
the time taken by the cylinder using the digital stop watch at least three times

Data of measurement
Data table1: Dimension of rectangular block

Measurement estimated Measured average %error

of values(three
trials)
Length(cm) 11 14.5 14.6 14.8
Width(cm) 6 5 4.9 5.2
Thickness(cm) 2.4 2.8 2.9 2.5

3
Data table2: Dimension of cylindrical blocks

Cylinder Measurement estimated Measured average %error

of values(three
trials)
Copper Length(cm) 4 3.9 4.12 3.80
Diameter(cm) 3 2.6 2.7 2.4
aluminum Length(cm) 3 2.9 3.02 2.4
Diameter(cm) 0.9 0.99 0.76 0.61

Data table3: Dimension of one birr coin

Measurement of estimated Measured average %error

(three trials)
Thickness(cm) 0.7 0.75 0.85 0.73
Diameter(cm) 2.8 2.79 2.76 3.4

Data table4: Volume measurements and calculations

object Length/ Width/ Thickness(c Calculated Measure %error

height diamete m) volume( d volume
3
(cm) (cm) cm ¿ (cm 3 ¿
Rectangula 6 2.5 1.9
r block
Copper 3.90 2.80 1.34
Cylinder
Aluminum 2.9 0.9 _
cylinder
One birr _ 2.8 0.85
coin

Data table5: Mass measurements/density calculations

object Estimated(g Measured(gm) averag %error Volume( gm

Density(
m) (Three trials) e cm 3 ¿ cm
3

Copper 35 36. 35. 35. 4

cylinder 4 1 3
Aluminu 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 2.2
m 4 9 0
cylinder
Data table6: Time measurements and estimation
4
 Estimated time(s) Measured time(s) Average(s) %error
(three trials)
4 4 3 2
5 5 4 3

Data analysis

Table 1: Dimensions of rectangular block.

∑ ( L−Li )2
3 1

1,Average length
∑ Li 14.5+14.6+14.8 =14.6cm standard deviation= ( i=1 )=
i=1
= 3
3 3
2
( 14.5−14.6 )2 + ( 14.6−14.6 )2 + ( 14.8−14.6 )2 1
( )
3−1 =0.016cm
2

Sx
Standard error= =0.016cm/√ 3=0.092cm
√ N −1
Length of rectangular block=14.6±0.092cm

5+4.9+5.2
2,average width(w )=¿/n= =5.03cm
3

√
n

∑ ( w−w )2 =
√
2 2 2
Sx=
(5−5.03) +( 4.9−5.03) +(5.2−5.03) =0.69cm
i=1
3−1
n

Sx 0.69
Sx= = =0.40cm
√ N −1 √ 3
2.8+2.9+2.5
3,Thickness: average thickness( x ¿ = =2.73cm
3

√
2 2 2
Sx=
(2.4−2.73) +(2.9−2.73) +(2.5−2.73) =0.31cm
3−1

Error analysis

|estemated value−measured value|

Percentage error = x100
measured value

5
 |11−14.6|
%error of length= x100%=24.65 %
14.6

|6 cm−5.03 cm|
%error of width= x100%=11.17 %
5.03 cm

¿
%error of tickness=¿ 2.4−2.73∨ 2.73 ¿x100% =13.73%

Data table 2: Dimensions of cylindrical blocks

Error analysis

Copper cylinder
n

∑ xi
1,Average value x = i=1
n

3.90 cm+ 4.12 cm+3.80 cm

Average Length of copper cylinder ( x )= =3.94cm
3

√
n

Standard deviation (Sx) = ∑ ( xi−x )2 =

i=1
n

√
2 2 2
(3.90 cm−3.94 cm) +( 4.12cm−3.94 cm) +(3.80 cm−3.94 cm) =0.28cm
3−1

Sx 0.48 cm
Standard error = = =0.28cm
√ N −1 √ 3
%error =¿ 4−3.94∨ ¿ ¿ x 100%=1.5 %
3.94

Measured length of copper cylinder=3.94± 0.28 cm

2.6 cm+ 2.7 cm+ 2.4 cm

Average length of diameter ( x ) = =2.57cm
3

Sx=
√ (2.6 cm−2.57 cm)2+(2.7 cm −2.57 cm)2 +(2.4 cm−2.57 cm)2 =0.48cm
3−1

Sx 0.48 cm
Sx= = =0.28cm
√ N −1 √ 3
6
measured diameter of copper cylinder 2.57± 0.13 cm

|3 cm−2.57 cm|
% Error x100% =16.73%
2.57 cm

Aluminum cylinder

2.9 cm+3.02 cm+2.4 cm

Average length ( x )= =2.77cm
3

√
2 2 2
Sx=
(2.9 cm−2.77 cm) +(3.02 cm−2.77 cm) +(2.4 cm−2.77 cm) =0.23cm
3−1

Sx 0.23 cm
Sx= = =0.13cm
√ N −1 √ 3

Measured length=2.77±0.13cm

|3 cm−2.77 cm|
% error= x100% =8.30%
2.77 cm

0.99 cm+ 0.76 cm+ 0.61 cm

Average length of diameter= =0.79cm
3

Sx=√ (0.99 cm−0.79 cm)2 +( 0.76 cm−0.79 cm)2 +¿ ¿ ¿ ¿=0.04cm

Sx 0.04
Sx= = =0.02cm
√N √3

¿
% error =¿ 0.9 cm−o .79 cm∨ 0.79 cm ¿ x100% =13.92%

Measured length of diameter aluminum cylinder 0.79±0.04cm

Data table3: Dimensions of one birr coin

Error analysis

o .75 cm+ 0.85 cm+ 0.73 cm

Average thickness= =0.78cm
3

√
2 2 2
Standard deviation(Sx)=
(0.75 cm−0.78 cm) +(0.85 cm−0.78 cm) +(0.73 cm−0.78 cm) =0.06cm
3−1

Sx 0.06
Standard error(S x ) = = cm=0.03c
√N √3

7
Measured thickness=0.78±0.03cm

%error =¿ 0.7 cm−0.78 cm∨ ¿ ¿

0.78 cm x100% =10.25%

2.79 cm+2.76 cm+3.4 cm

Average diameter= =2.98cm
3

√
2 2 2
Sx=
(2.79 cm−2.98 cm) +(2.76 cm−2.98 cm) +(3.4 cm−2.98 cm) =0.36cm
3−1

Sx 0.36 cm
Sx= = =0.21cm
√N √3

Measured diameter=2.98±0.36cm

|2.8 cm−2.98 cm|

%error = x 100% =6.04%
2.98 cm

Data table4:volume measurements and calculations

Error analysis

|calculated val ue−measured value|

%error= x100%
measured value

Volume of rectangular block=lwh=6cmx2.50cmx1.9cm=28.5 cm 3

|28.5 cm3−28 cm3|

percentage error of rectangular block= 3
x 100% =1.78%
28 cm

Volume of copper cylinder= πh ¿¿ – πh ¿¿ Douter =2.80cm, Dinner = D outer –thickness=2.80cm-

1.34cm=1.46cm

V= πh ¿= π (3.90 cm ) ¿ ¿=17.48cm3

¿ ¿
Percentage error of copper cylinder=¿ 17.48−14∨
14 x100=24.89%
2
D
Volume of aluminum cylinder= π h =3.14x(2.9cm)¿ ¿=1.84cm3
4
¿
Percentage error ¿ 1.84−1.7∨ 1.7 x 100=8.23 % ¿

8
 2 ( 2.8 cm )2
Volume of one birr coin A=π r t =(3.14cm) (0.85 cm)=5.23cm 3
4
¿ x 100 ¿
Percentage error=¿ 5.23−4∨ =30.75%
4

Data table5:mass measurement/density calculation

Error analysis

36.4 gm+35.1 gm+35.3 gm

Average copper cylinder mass= =35.6gm
3

Density=35.6gm/4cm3=8.9g/cm3

|35 gm−35.6 gm|

Percentage error= x 100=1.68%
35.6 gm

8.9 g 8.93 g ¿
% difference of copper cylinder=¿ 3
− 3
∨ ¿
3 x100=0.34%
cm cm 8.93 g /cm

0.54 gm+0.39 gm+ 0.5 gm

Average aluminum cylinder mass= =0.48gm
3

Density=0.48gm/0.2cm3=2.08g/cm3

|0.5 gm−0.48 gm|

Percentage error= x 100 =4.17%
0.48 gm

2.08 g 2,70 g ¿
%difference of aluminum cylinder=¿ 3
− 3
∨ ¿
3 x100=23%
cm cm 2.70 g /cm

Data table6: time measurement and estimation

¿¿
I Average time=4 s +3 s +2 s+
3 =3s

%error =¿ estimated value−measured value∨ ¿ ¿ ¿ 4 s−3 s∨ ¿ ¿ x100=33.3%

measured value = 3s
¿
II Average time=5 s +3 s +4 s∨ 3 ¿=4s

%error =¿ 5 s−4 s∨ ¿ ¿x100=25%

4s

RESULT

Data table1: Dimension of rectangular block

Measurement estimated Measured Average % error
9
s of values(three trial)
Length(cm) 11 14.5 14.6 14.8 14.6 24.65
Width(cm) 6 5 4.9 5.2 5.03 16.17
Thickness(cm) 2.4 2.8 2.9 2.5 2.73 13.75
 cylinder Measurement estimated Measurement average % error
of values(three
trials)
Copper Length(cm) 4 3.90 4.12 3.80 3.94 1.5
Diameter(cm) 3 2.6 2.7 2.4 2.57 16.73
aluminum Length(cm) 3 2.9 3.02 2.4 2.77 8.30
Diameter(cm) 0.9 0.99 0.76 0.61 0.79 13.92
Data table2: Dimensions of cylindrical blocks

Measurement of estimated Measured(three average % error

trial)
Thickness(cm) 0.7 0.75 0.85 0.73 0.78 10.25
Diameter(cm) 2.8 2.79 2.76 3.4 2.98 6.04
Data table3: Dimension of one birr coin

object Length/height Width/ Thickness Calculated Measured % error

(cm) diameter (cm) Volume( Volume(
3 3
(cm) cm ¿ cm ¿
Rectangular 6 2.50 1.9 28.5 28 1.78
block
Copper 3.90 2.80 1.34 17.48 14 24.89
cylinder
Aluminum 2.9 0.9 _ 1.84 1.7 8.23
cylinder
One-birr _ 2.8 0.85 5.25 4 30.75
coin
Data table4: Volume measurement and calculation

object Estimated(gm) Measured(gm) Average(gm) error Density

Volume( (g/cm3 ¿
3
cm ¿
Copper 35 36.4 35.1 35.3 35.6 1.68 4 8.9
10
 cylinder
Aluminum 0.5 0.54 0.39 0.5 0.48 4.17 0.2 2.08
cylinder
Data table5: Mass measurement/density calculation

Data table6:Time measurement and estimation

Estimated time Measured time(s) Average time(s) %error

4 4 3 2 3 33.3
5 5 4 3 4 25

Discussion

In the first table the error propagation is relatively high when we compare with other. This is because
the value we estimated is far from the measured value. In addition to the estimation there was some
error during reading the measuring scale because of improper eye position. This error can be reduced by
proper eye position.

In the second table the error exaggerated in the diameter measurement of the cylindrical blocks. Since
error made during reading the scale the error is exaggerated. We can reduce this by reading the scale
properly. In table four percentage error of the calculated volume and the measured volume of one birr
coin and copper cylindrical not related because of systematic error occurred during the measurement.

In table five the error is relatively less when we compare with the rest of other measurement because
we take the measurement with high precision resulting precise calculation with less percentage error. in
table six our measurement made by irregular shape of cylindrical block result exaggerated percentage
error.

Conclusion

Quantity observations or Measurements are central to physics. the ability to make and measure the
physical quantity is essential not only for physics. In the experiment we observe that the error appeared
in measure of dimension and mass propagate to volume and density measurement. The percentage
uncertainty of measured quantity get large when it propagate to calculated quantity using this
measurement. This is one reason why we got large uncertainty in our measurements.

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