Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and formaṄng when answering text based
questions. Report all equations in a proper mathematical format, with the correct
signs and symbols. Submissions with incomplete or improperly formatted
responses may be rejected.
Pre-Lab Questions
• The experiments in this lab utilize a number of tools to take accurate and precise
measurements. One of those instruments in the Vernier Calliper. Demonstrate what you
learned regarding the use of this tool by reading the diameter of the quarter in Figure 3
from the lab material, which has been provided below. Your measurement must have the
correct units, and must have the associated error.
Figure 3: A quarter being measured by a caliper.
I learned that to read this measurement properly, you need to measure from one end of
the quarter to the other, then use the dash above 0 to find the main scale
measurement, and then the second dash to find the vernier scale reading . Scale
Reading=24mm, vernier Scale reading is
0.05. The final measurement is 24.05mm
• Why is uncertainty crucial to the reporting of values in scientific and engineering works?
It is very important because uncertainty is what provides the best measurement out of a
wide range of values that are measured in experiments
, • Give your own, unique example of a measurement that you have taken where
you had to consider how much uncertainty was acceptable.
One good example would be when I carefully measured how much sugar I wanted to put
in my homemade cookies. The measuring cups I had were not always accurate based on
the amount that I was making. I used a 1/4 measuring cup to measure exactly how
much sugar I wanted which was 1 full cup. So I had to use four 1/4 of a cups to measure
one full cup, but I knew that not every cup of sugar was going to be exactly the same.
There is always a uncertaintly even after making a proper measurement.
EXPERIMENT 1: RULERS VS. CALIPERS
Introduction Questions
• In this experiment, you will utilize a ruler and a caliper to take measurements of various
objects. Which one of these instruments is more precise? Explain your reasoning in
order to earn credit. The caliper is more accurate because your able to keep the object
in place without moving the object. Compared to the ruler you have to use your hands
to place the object in the right spot.
• As you make measurements, will your uncertainty change? Stated another way, will
you have different uncertainty values for each object you measure?
The measurements will change, because every object is going to be different, the
measurement will differn from the uncertainty that is in the object
• You spoke to the differences in precision between the ruler and caliper in Question 1.
You can do so easily because one is clearly more precise than the other. Why is it
more difficult to compare their accuracy? What could you do to determine their
accuracy?
We can only see the object itself but we cannot observe the exact mass of the object
because its harder to read and examine. To determine the accuracy you could measure
the same object more than once, and then determine the median of the object
• What are the sources of uncertainty when using a ruler and caliper?
The rulers uncertainty is + or - .05, the calipers uncertainty is + or - .0025
Data and Observations
Record your measurements from Experiment 1 in the table below, being sure to report the
measurement and the uncertainty in units of centimeters (cm).
Utilize college level grammar and formaṄng when answering text based
questions. Report all equations in a proper mathematical format, with the correct
signs and symbols. Submissions with incomplete or improperly formatted
responses may be rejected.
Pre-Lab Questions
• The experiments in this lab utilize a number of tools to take accurate and precise
measurements. One of those instruments in the Vernier Calliper. Demonstrate what you
learned regarding the use of this tool by reading the diameter of the quarter in Figure 3
from the lab material, which has been provided below. Your measurement must have the
correct units, and must have the associated error.
Figure 3: A quarter being measured by a caliper.
I learned that to read this measurement properly, you need to measure from one end of
the quarter to the other, then use the dash above 0 to find the main scale
measurement, and then the second dash to find the vernier scale reading . Scale
Reading=24mm, vernier Scale reading is
0.05. The final measurement is 24.05mm
• Why is uncertainty crucial to the reporting of values in scientific and engineering works?
It is very important because uncertainty is what provides the best measurement out of a
wide range of values that are measured in experiments
, • Give your own, unique example of a measurement that you have taken where
you had to consider how much uncertainty was acceptable.
One good example would be when I carefully measured how much sugar I wanted to put
in my homemade cookies. The measuring cups I had were not always accurate based on
the amount that I was making. I used a 1/4 measuring cup to measure exactly how
much sugar I wanted which was 1 full cup. So I had to use four 1/4 of a cups to measure
one full cup, but I knew that not every cup of sugar was going to be exactly the same.
There is always a uncertaintly even after making a proper measurement.
EXPERIMENT 1: RULERS VS. CALIPERS
Introduction Questions
• In this experiment, you will utilize a ruler and a caliper to take measurements of various
objects. Which one of these instruments is more precise? Explain your reasoning in
order to earn credit. The caliper is more accurate because your able to keep the object
in place without moving the object. Compared to the ruler you have to use your hands
to place the object in the right spot.
• As you make measurements, will your uncertainty change? Stated another way, will
you have different uncertainty values for each object you measure?
The measurements will change, because every object is going to be different, the
measurement will differn from the uncertainty that is in the object
• You spoke to the differences in precision between the ruler and caliper in Question 1.
You can do so easily because one is clearly more precise than the other. Why is it
more difficult to compare their accuracy? What could you do to determine their
accuracy?
We can only see the object itself but we cannot observe the exact mass of the object
because its harder to read and examine. To determine the accuracy you could measure
the same object more than once, and then determine the median of the object
• What are the sources of uncertainty when using a ruler and caliper?
The rulers uncertainty is + or - .05, the calipers uncertainty is + or - .0025
Data and Observations
Record your measurements from Experiment 1 in the table below, being sure to report the
measurement and the uncertainty in units of centimeters (cm).
