Lab 1 Measurement and Error Analysis

Physics 2LA (009) & (011)

Weilei Zeng
April 2, 2016
Date Performed:

April 1, 2016

Objective

To learn conducting careful measurement and analyze error in the measurement.

To learn recording significant figures
To learn how to use DataStudio to do basic data analysis like graph plotting
and linear fitting. To collabrate with other groups to measure the density and
identify the material.

Apparatus

Two metal cylinders,Vernier Caliper,mass balance, computer with DataStudio

software.

Introduction

Taking Data There is reslutioin error for each measurement tool, also named
accuracy. Resolurion error is the smallest unit the tool can read. Resulted
from the environment, manipulation and etc, there would be a random
error when repeating the same measurement. The P
average is a propertu
Xi , where n is the
of a data set, defines as Xaverage =< X >= X = n1
number of data points.
Vernier Caliper The resolution error for Vernier Caliper is 0.02 mm. The
total measured distance is X = Xf ixed scale + Xsliding scale

Procedure

In order to get the density of the metal material, we need the volume and mass
of it.The mass can be measured by balance. The volume of the cylinders, can
1

be calculated from diameter and height, where

V olume = Area of base Height = ( d2 )2 h = 14 d2 h

4.1

Diameter & Height

Table 1: Measurement of Diameter and Height

Mearsurement (mm)
1
2
3
4
5
Average
Standard Deviation
Random/Standard error
Resolution error
Total error

Cylinder 1
22.18
22.20
22.18
22.22
22.20
22.20
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.02

Cylinder 2
19.00
19.00
19.02
19.02
19.00
19.01
0.01
0.00
0.02
0.02

Pn

(X Xi )2
(mm)
n1

Random/Standar error: Xran =

n
Resolution error: X
pres = 0.02mm
2
2
Total error: X = Xran
+ Xres

Standard deviation: =

4.2

i=1

Volume
1
V olume = V = d2 h
4
r
V

2d 2
h 2
=
(
) +(
)
V
4
d
h

Cylinder 1
20.30
20.32
20.31
20.34
20.30
20.32
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.02

Cylinder 2
25.44
25.40
25.40
25.38
25.40
25.40
0.02
0.01
0.02
0.02

Table 2: Calculation of the Volume of the Two Cylinders

Cylinder 1
22.20
0.02
20.32
0.02
7865.43
12.68

Average Diameter (mm)

Error in Diameter (mm)
Average Height (mm)
Error in Height (mm)
Volume (mm3 )
Error in Volume (mm3 )

4.3

Cylinder 2
19.20
0.02
25.40
0.02
7209.21
12.72

Mass

use the balance to measure the mass for five times.

Table 3: Measurement of Mass
Measurment (gram)
1
2
3
4
5
Avarage
Standard deviation
Random error
Resolution error
Total error

4.4

Cylinder 1
67.89
67.89
67.89
67.89
67.89
67.89
0.00
0.00
0.01
0.01

Density

M ass
, that is, = M
V
V olume
p
Error in Density:
= (M M )2 + (V V )2

Density =

Cylinder 2
61.31
61.31
61.36
61.30
61.29
61.31
0.03
0.01
0.01
0.02

Table 4: Calculation of Density

Volume (mm3 )
Error in Volume (mm3 )
Average Mass (gram)
Error in Mass (gram)
Density (g/mm3 )
Error in Density (g/mm3 )

4.5

Cylinder 1
7865.43
12.68
67.89
0.01
8.63
0.01

Cylinder 2
7209.21
12.72
61.31
0.02
8.50
0.02

Identifying material
Table 5: Theoretical Densities of Some Material
Material
Iron
Brass
Copper
Silver
Lead
Gold
Aluminum
Water

Relative percent error =

Density (g/cm3 )
7.87
8.55
8.96
10.5
11.3
19.3
2.69
1.00

|T heoretical value measured value|

100%
T heorectical value

Table 6: Identifying mateial for Cylinder 1 and Cylinder 2

Cylinder 1
Cylinder 2

4.6

Material
Brass
Brass

Percent error
1%
1%

Graphical Analysis

Linear fit
Use own data and also data from other groups to make a linear fit of mass
versus volume. Here, y=mass, x=volume. The slope k (y=kx+b) gives
the density of the material.
Result: slope=8.59 (g/cm3 )

Identifying material
Material: Brass
Relative percecnt error: 1%

Conclustion
a. In this experiment, we did the measurements of length and mass, calulated
the volume and density of the error.
b. Also, we took care of the errors and the propobagation of errors.
c. Afterthen, we used our measurement result to identify the material.
d. Finally, linear fit is a useful method to analysis data.