Lab 1 Measurements and Uncertainty PHY250L”
Student Name: Annie Burns
Access Code (located on the underside of the lid of your lab kit): AC-8PYXXK
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and formatting 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
1. 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.
The diameter of the quarter is 24.05mm + - 0.025 mm
2. Why is uncertainty crucial to the reporting of values in scientific and engineering works?
Uncertainty is crucial when reporting values because it will provide a more precise
measurement. It is important to mention the uncertainty because that will give us more reliable
results.
3. Give your own, unique example of a measurement that you have taken where you had to
consider how much uncertainty was acceptable.
, Lab 1 Measurements and Uncertainty PHY250L”
I do a lot of DIY projects at home. I recently was working on building a bookshelf, I had to cut a
piece of wood to a specific length. I knew that the tape measure i was using might vary in its
precision based on how i am holding it or the angle i measure at. I needed to decide the
acceptable level of uncertainty because I wanted to make sure that the pieces fit together with
no wiggle room.
EXPERIMENT 1: RULERS VS. CALIPERS
Introduction Questions
1. 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 precise than using a ruler. A ruler will give you the general length, while a
caliper can give you a more precise measurement by using the jaws of the caliper.
2. As you make measurements, will your uncertainty change? Stated another way, will you have
different uncertainty values for each object you measure?
You will have different uncertainty values when measuring different objects. The level of
uncertainty can depend on the precision of the tool you are using as well as the complexity of
the item being measured.
3. 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?
It can be difficult to compare their accuracy because these tools are designed for different
purposes, and they both offer different levels of precision. When determining the accuracy of
each tool you must compare it to a known standard.
4. What are the sources of uncertainty when using a ruler and caliper?
There can be uncertainty in the tool you are using such as not being able to read the exact
measurement due to the tool being old. Human error can be a big uncertainty depending on
how you use the measuring tool, also depending on how you read the measurement.
Student Name: Annie Burns
Access Code (located on the underside of the lid of your lab kit): AC-8PYXXK
Lab Report Format Expectations
Utilize college level grammar and formatting 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
1. 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.
The diameter of the quarter is 24.05mm + - 0.025 mm
2. Why is uncertainty crucial to the reporting of values in scientific and engineering works?
Uncertainty is crucial when reporting values because it will provide a more precise
measurement. It is important to mention the uncertainty because that will give us more reliable
results.
3. Give your own, unique example of a measurement that you have taken where you had to
consider how much uncertainty was acceptable.
, Lab 1 Measurements and Uncertainty PHY250L”
I do a lot of DIY projects at home. I recently was working on building a bookshelf, I had to cut a
piece of wood to a specific length. I knew that the tape measure i was using might vary in its
precision based on how i am holding it or the angle i measure at. I needed to decide the
acceptable level of uncertainty because I wanted to make sure that the pieces fit together with
no wiggle room.
EXPERIMENT 1: RULERS VS. CALIPERS
Introduction Questions
1. 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 precise than using a ruler. A ruler will give you the general length, while a
caliper can give you a more precise measurement by using the jaws of the caliper.
2. As you make measurements, will your uncertainty change? Stated another way, will you have
different uncertainty values for each object you measure?
You will have different uncertainty values when measuring different objects. The level of
uncertainty can depend on the precision of the tool you are using as well as the complexity of
the item being measured.
3. 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?
It can be difficult to compare their accuracy because these tools are designed for different
purposes, and they both offer different levels of precision. When determining the accuracy of
each tool you must compare it to a known standard.
4. What are the sources of uncertainty when using a ruler and caliper?
There can be uncertainty in the tool you are using such as not being able to read the exact
measurement due to the tool being old. Human error can be a big uncertainty depending on
how you use the measuring tool, also depending on how you read the measurement.
