General Physics Laboratory Report

EXPERIMENT LAB 1

DETERMINING THE DENSITY OF SOLIDS

Class: ………….…. / Group: ……Team:…. Lecturer’s comment

Full name:
1) ……………………………………………...
2) ……………………………………………...
3) ……………………………………………...
4) ……………………………………………...

I. Aims/Purposes:
The purpose of this experiment is that determining the density of solids by using lenght
and mass measuring devices.
II. Method, Equipment and Procedure:
*A. Measuring the size and determining the volume of solid sample with symmetrical shape
1) Equipment:
1 vernier calliper 0 ÷ 150mm with precision 0,02mm;
3 measuring samples (cube, copper ring, steel balls).
2) Procedure:
A) Measuring the size of the copper ring by vernier calliper to determine the volume
i.Vernier caliper
The meter scale enables us to measure the length to the nearest millimeter only. Engineers and
scientists need to measure much smaller distances accurately. For this a special type of scale
called Vernier scale is used.
The Vernier scale consists of a main scale graduated in centimeters and millimeters. On the
Vernier scale 0.9 cm is divided into ten equal parts. The least count or the smallest reading which
you can get with the instrument can be calculated as under: Least count = one main scale (MS)
division - one vernier scale (VS) division. = 1 mm - 0.09 mm = 0.1 mm = 0.01 cm
The least count of the vernier :

The Vernier calliper consists of a main scale fitted with a jaw at one end. Another jaw,
containing the vernier scale, moves over the main scale. When the two jaws are in contact, the
zero of the main scale and the zero of the vernier scale should coincide. If both the zeros do not
coincide, there will be a positive or negative zero error. After calculating the least count place the
object between the two jaws. Record the position of zero of the vernier scale on the main scale
(3.2 cm in figure below).
 You will notice that one of the vernier scale
divisions coincides with one of the main scale divisions. (In the illustration, 3rd division on the
vernier coincides with a MS division). Reading of the instrument = MS div + (coinciding VS div
x L.C.)
= 3.2 + (3 x 0.01)
= 3.2 + 0.03
= 3.23 cm
To measure the inner and outer diameter of a hollow cylinder or ring, inner and outer callipers
are used.
ii. Measuring the size of the cooper ring and determine the volume:
The volume of the ring can be calculated according to the following formula:
π
V = ×(D 2−d 2)× h
4
B) Determine the volume of the steel cube:
Perform 3 times measurement of the length a, the width b and the height h of the cube at
different positions. To determine the volume of the cube according to the following formula:
V=a.b.c
C) Determine the volume of the steel ball:
Using vernier calliper perform 3 times measurement of the ball radius D at different positions.
To determine the volume of the steel ball according to the following formula:
1 3
V= π × D
6
*B. Measuring the mass using technical balance
1) Equipment:
1 technical balance 0 ÷ 200g with precision 0,02g;
1 weight box 0 ÷ 200g;
3 measuring samples (cube, copper ring, steel balls).
2) Theory:
Mass is a property of a physical body. It can be generalized as the amount of matter in an
object. It is the measure of an object's resistance to acceleration (a change in its state of motion)
when a net force is applied. It also determines the strength of its mutual gravitational attraction to
other bodies. The basic SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg).
* Measurement of mass: Mass of an object can be determined by comparing the mass of it
with a standard mass. For this we can use a lever balance or a common balance.
* Technical Balance: This balance consists of a beam and two scale pans, the beam being
balanced at its mid point on a knife-edge. The scale pans also hang on knife edges and rest on the
base board. When the balance is not in use the beam rests on the beam support.
* Operation of technical balance
 Use the leveling screws, attached beneath the base board to make sure that the beam is
horizontal. It can be verified with the help of the plumb- line provided shown in the diagram.
Use the arrestment knob to raise the beam and the adjusting screw at the two ends of the
beam, to bring the pointer to the middle or zero mark on the scale.
Lower the beam using the arrestment knob again.
Place the body to be weighed on the left scale pan and put weights on the right hand scale
pan to balance the beam (when pointer is at zero).
3) Procedure:
i) Determine the sensitivity S and exactly α of the scale
Do not place objects or weights on the weighing pans. Move the horse to its zero position on
the lever weigh.
Turn the knob N (clockwise) to make the scale "work" in zero conditions load. If the indicator
K needle does not point to the correct zero or oscillates unevenly to both sides of the zero on the
ruler T, the scale must be adjusted to reach the zero position.
Turn the knob N (counterclockwise) to put the scale in the “rest” state. Place weights
10mg onto the left pan, then turn the knob N again to make the balance “active”. Read the
number of divisions n above. The T scale corresponds to the displacement of the indicator needle
K relative to the zero position on the T ruler. Then the sensitivity S of weight is determined by
the formula:
n
S= (divisions /mg)
10
The inverse quantity of the sensitivity S is called accuracy α of the scale, which the formula is:

1
α = (mg/divisions)
S
ii) Single weighing method:
Place the object to be weighed on the left balance pan. Select the weights (in order from
largest to smallest, counting steeds) and place them on the right pan in turn until the knob N is
turned to put the balance in the. In the "active" state with a load, the lever remains in the
balanced position.
Perform the weighing of the object 3 times to obtain the results.
III. Equations:
The volume of the steel ball:
1 3
V= π × D
6
The volume of the ring:
π 2 2
V = ×(D −d )× h
4
The sensitivity S of weight:
 n
S= (divisions /mg)
10

The accuracy α of the scale:

1
α = (mg/divisions)
S

IV. Experimental Data:

Table 1 (for copper ring): Accuracy of Caliper: 0.02 (mm)

Experiment D ΔD d Δd h Δh
-3 -3 -3 -3 -3 -3
(10 m) (10 m) (10 m) (10 m) (10 m) (10 m)
1 34.92 0.333 25.08 0.007 6.78 0.033
2 34.94 0.353 25.06 0.027 6.74 0.007
3 33.90 0.687 25.12 0.033 6.72 0.027
Mean 34.587 0.458 25.087 0.022 6.747 0.022

Table 2 (for copper ring): Accuracy of counter balance: 0.02 (g)

-3 -3
Experiment m (10 kg) Δm(10 kg)
1 25.96 0.007
2 25.98 0.013
3 25.96 0.007
Mean 25.967 0.009

Table 3 (for steel ball): Accuracy of Caliper: 0.02 (mm)

Accuracy of counter balance: 0.02 (g)
….........................
Experiment (g)
d Δd m Δm
-3 -3 -3 -3
(10 m) (10 m) (10 kg) (10 kg)
1 7.98 0.007 2.08 0.007
2 7.98 0.007 2.08 0.007
3 8.00 0.013 2.06 0.013
Mean 7.987 0.009 2.073 0.009

V. Calculations:
4.1 Calculating the total absolute errors of the measurement of outside diameter D, inside
diameter d and height h
For copper ring:
∆ D=∆ Dsys + ∆ D=0.02+0.458=0.478 ( 10−3 m )
∆ d=∆ d sys+ ∆ d=0.02+ 0.022=0.042 ( 10 m )
−3

∆ h=∆ hsys +∆ h=0.02+0.022=0.042 ( 10−3 m)

∆ d=∆ d sys+ ∆ d=0.02+ 0.009=0.029 ( 10 m )
−3
For steel ball:
4.2 Calculating the total absolute errors of the measurement of mass m
For copper ring: ∆ m=∆ msys +∆ m=0.02+ 0.009=0.029 ( 10−3 m )
For steel ball: ∆ m=∆ msys +∆ m=0.02+ 0.009=0.029 ( 10−3 m )
4.3 Calculating the density of solids
π=3.14 and ∆ π =0.005
For copper ring:
π
V = ( D2 −d 2 ) h=… … …(m 3)
4
∆ V ∆ π 2( D . ∆ D+d . ∆ d) ∆ h
= + + =δ
V π 2
D −d
2
h
=> ∆ V =δ . V =… … …(m3 )

For steel ball:

1
V = π d3 =… … …( m3 )
6
∆V ∆ π 3∆d
= + =δ
V π d
=> ∆ V =δ . V =… … …(m3 )

For calculate the density:

m kg
ρ= =… … …( 3 )
V m
∆ ρ ∆m ∆V
= + =γ
ρ m V
kg
=> ∆ ρ=ρ . γ =… … …( 3 )
m

VI. Conclusions:
kg
ρ=(ρ¿± ∆ ρ)=… … … … … …( )¿
m3