Lab 1 Measurements and Uncertainty PHY250L
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the underside of the lid of your lab kit):
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
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.
d=(24.30±0.025)mm
2. Why is uncertainty crucial to the reporting of values in scientific and engineering works?
The uncertainty of the values should be added in order to indicate how accurate the
measurement really is. It depicts that the project values are not ideal. It demonstrates that we
do not pretend to know all the right answers and science gets better with time.
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
Back when I had to drive across town, I checked the GPS and it said 35 miles. But I know from
experience, it’s never really just 35. You might have to loop around for a detour, or just end up
taking a side street. For stuff like that, I just call it “about 35, maybe a couple miles more or
less.” As for how long it takes, sometimes you get stuck behind a slow truck, or you hit all the
red lights, and what was supposed to be an hour turns into something else. I just tell people,
"It's around an hour, but honestly, it could be less or more. Depends on the day." I never act like
the time is exact, because it never is.
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 precision measurement is better done using calipers. Rulers are a good way of estimating
leanth but is not so good where precise accuracy is required.
2. As you make measurements, will your uncertainty change? Stated another way, will you have
different uncertainty values for each object you measure?
The measuring process can always be altered by uncertainty. This is a matter of how accurate
the tool in use is.
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?
Comparing accuracy of which of these instruments is more accurate is though since this is
dependent on your proximity to the expected measurements. Accuracy is rather the steadiness
in your measurements and how they are to be monitored
4. What are the sources of uncertainty when using a ruler and caliper?
There are also mistakes of misprinting, wear and tear which may lead to uncertainties. They
should be adjusted.
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the underside of the lid of your lab kit):
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
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.
d=(24.30±0.025)mm
2. Why is uncertainty crucial to the reporting of values in scientific and engineering works?
The uncertainty of the values should be added in order to indicate how accurate the
measurement really is. It depicts that the project values are not ideal. It demonstrates that we
do not pretend to know all the right answers and science gets better with time.
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
Back when I had to drive across town, I checked the GPS and it said 35 miles. But I know from
experience, it’s never really just 35. You might have to loop around for a detour, or just end up
taking a side street. For stuff like that, I just call it “about 35, maybe a couple miles more or
less.” As for how long it takes, sometimes you get stuck behind a slow truck, or you hit all the
red lights, and what was supposed to be an hour turns into something else. I just tell people,
"It's around an hour, but honestly, it could be less or more. Depends on the day." I never act like
the time is exact, because it never is.
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 precision measurement is better done using calipers. Rulers are a good way of estimating
leanth but is not so good where precise accuracy is required.
2. As you make measurements, will your uncertainty change? Stated another way, will you have
different uncertainty values for each object you measure?
The measuring process can always be altered by uncertainty. This is a matter of how accurate
the tool in use is.
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?
Comparing accuracy of which of these instruments is more accurate is though since this is
dependent on your proximity to the expected measurements. Accuracy is rather the steadiness
in your measurements and how they are to be monitored
4. What are the sources of uncertainty when using a ruler and caliper?
There are also mistakes of misprinting, wear and tear which may lead to uncertainties. They
should be adjusted.
