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Accuracy of Measurements

[1] The document describes procedures for measuring the thickness, diameter, mass, and volume of a coin to calculate its density. Measurements were taken of an individual coin's thickness, diameter, mass using a ruler, balance, and measuring cylinder. [2] The coin's volume and density were then calculated. Additional measurements were made by placing multiple coins in a cylinder and calculating their average volume and density. [3] The document asks which method was most accurate and suggests an improvement.

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Sharlene Roberts
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42 views2 pages

Accuracy of Measurements

[1] The document describes procedures for measuring the thickness, diameter, mass, and volume of a coin to calculate its density. Measurements were taken of an individual coin's thickness, diameter, mass using a ruler, balance, and measuring cylinder. [2] The coin's volume and density were then calculated. Additional measurements were made by placing multiple coins in a cylinder and calculating their average volume and density. [3] The document asks which method was most accurate and suggests an improvement.

Uploaded by

Sharlene Roberts
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Accuracy and measure ment

[Numbers in square brackets refer to items in the Notes on Estimating the Accuracy of a Measurement]
{Numbers at far right in curly brackets indicate the marks allocated to that part of the exercise}

Apparatus: electronic balance, volumetric glassware (measuring cylinders, etc.), the experimenters millimetre rule
Reagent: water
Substance: a coin

Procedure: Use the millimetre rule to measure as best as possible [1, 2] the thickness and diameter of the coin.

Thickness of coin, h: absolute uncertainty [1,2, 5] relative uncertainty [3]

{3}
Diameter of coin, d: absolute uncertainty [1,2,5] relative uncertainty [3]

{3}
d h2 relative uncertainty [6] absolute uncertainty [4]
volume of coin, V1 =
4
V1 =

{3}

Measure the mass of the coin using an electronic balance. In the event of a power outage, the mass will be given.

Mass of the coin, m: absolute uncertainty relative uncertainty [3]

{3}

m relative uncertainty [6] absolute uncertainty [4]


density of the coin, 1 =
V1

1 =

{3}

1
Measure the volume V2 of (only) your coin using the displacement of water in a measuring cylinder. After that, the coins will be
collected and placed all together in one measuring cylinder with water. The average volume V3 of a coin is then given by
the volume of a number of coins
V3 .
the number of coins

absolute uncertainty [1,2,5] relative uncertainty [3]


V2 =

{3}
absolute uncertainty [1,2,5,7] relative uncertainty [3]
Volume of coins =

V3 =

{3}

Now calculate the densities again, using V2 and V3, in the spaces below.

m Relative uncertainty [6] absolute uncertainty [4]


2
V2

{3}
m Relative uncertainty [6] absolute uncertainty [4]
3
V3

{3}

State which method of determining density was most accurate and provide a reason for your choice.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

{2}

Suggest an improvement.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

{1}

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