NAME: Daniela Velez Jimenez

DATE: 09/14/2023
Laboratory Report 2 (Scientific Measurement)
Procedure 2.1. Review of quantities

The most used base quantities of the international system (IS) are length, mass, time, temperature and
amount of substance (Table 1); besides, some multiples and fractions of these units are commonly used
in Biology observations (Table 2).

Quantity Base unit Abbreviation

Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Temperature kelvin K
Amount of Substance mole mol
Table 1. Base quantities of the IS
Source: Highley, Robert S. Exercises in Laboratory Biology
1. 3rd Ed.

Multiple Prefix Abbreviation Fraction Prefix Abbreviation

1000x kilo- k 1/10 deci- d
1,000,000x mega- M 1/100 centi- c
1/1000 milli- m
1/1,000,000 micro- µ
1/1,000,000,000 nano- n
Table 2. Multiples and fraction in biology
Source: Highley, Robert S. Exercises in Laboratory Biology
1. 3rd Ed.

Procedure 2.2. Measuring length

Wood block number 10 was used for the procedure (as shown in image 1).

Image 1. Wood block used in laboratory

Measurement Result
Length 30.30 cm
Width 13.78 cm
Height 1.80 cm
 Table 3. Measurements of the block taken in laboratory

The measurements consist of four significant figures, three of them are exact (given by the meter stick)
and one inexact (estimated), this being the last digit of the measurement. Besides, there are two decimal
places in this measurement. In summary, the decimal places are the number of digits after the decimal
point while the significant figures are the number of digits in total, that is, those that are visible and the
estimated one.

Length (mm):

l = 30.30 cm ( 101 𝑐𝑚
𝑚𝑚
) = 303.0 mm

Area of one side of the block (𝑐 𝑚2 ):

2
𝐴=𝑙 ⋅𝑤=30.30 𝑐𝑚⋅13.78 𝑐𝑚=417.4 𝑐 𝑚
Area of one side of the block (𝑚 𝑚2):

( )
2
10𝑚𝑚
2 2
𝐴=417.4 𝑐 𝑚 ⋅ =41740𝑚 𝑚
1𝑐𝑚
Volume of the block (𝑐 𝑚3 ):
3
𝑉 =𝑙 ⋅𝑤 ⋅h=30.30 𝑐𝑚⋅ 13.78𝑐𝑚 ⋅1.80 𝑐𝑚=751.6 𝑐 𝑚
Volume of the block (𝑚 𝑚3):

( )
3
10 𝑚𝑚
3 3
𝑉 =751.6 𝑐 𝑚 ⋅ =751600 𝑚𝑚
1 𝑐𝑚
Procedure 2.3. Measuring volume

Image 2. Graduated cylinder used in laboratory

 Volume of water (𝑚𝑙):

𝑉 =50.1 𝑚𝑙
The measurement consists of three significant figures, two of them are exact (given by the cylinder) and
one inexact (estimated), this being the last digit of the measurement. Besides, there is one decimal place
in this measurement. This graduated cylinder allows to measure up to 100 ml.

Volume of water (𝑙 ):

𝑉 =50.1 𝑚𝑙 ⋅ ( 10001𝑙𝑚𝑙 )=0.0501 𝑙

Volume of water (𝜇 𝑙 ):

𝑉 =0.0501 𝑙 ⋅ ( 1,000,000
1𝑙
𝜇𝑙
)=50 , 100 𝜇 𝑙
Procedure 2.4B. Measuring mass

First object:

Wood block number 10 was used for the procedure (as shown in image 3).

Image 3. Wood block and manual balance used in laboratory

Mass of the block (𝑔 ) using a manual balance:

𝑚=319.35 𝑔
The measurement consists of five significant figures, four of them are exact (given by the manual
balance) and one inexact (estimated), this being the last digit of the measurement. Besides, there are two
decimal places in this measurement. The maximum mass that can be recorded using this balance is 610
g and the number of significant figures would be ambiguous because the last nonzero digit in a number
that does not contain a decimal point may or may not be significant.

Image 4. Wood block and electronic balance used in laboratory

Mass of the block (𝑔 ) using an electronic balance:

𝑚=319.3 𝑔
The measurement consists of four significant figures, all of them are exact (given by the electronic
balance) there are not inexact figures because no digit was estimated. Besides, there is one decimal
place in this measurement. The maximum mass that can be recorded using this balance is 620 g and the
number of significant figures would be ambiguous because the last nonzero digit in a number that does
not contain a decimal point may or may not be significant.

Finally, the value obtained using the manual balance is the same as the value using the electronic
balance, meaning that the precision with which the first measurement was made is high and the level of
uncertainty is low.

Second object (Particulate material):

A metallic weighing boat and salt were used for the procedure (as shown in image 5).

Image 5. Weighing boat and electronic balance (zeroed) used in laboratory

Mass of weighing boat Mass of salt (balance zeroed)

 2.2 g 5.8 g
Table 3. Weights measured by electronic balance in laboratory

The measurement consists of two significant figures, all of them are exact (given by the electronic
balance) there are not inexact figures because no digit was estimated. Besides, there is one decimal
place in this measurement. Weighing boats with rounded corners facilitate controlled pouring of liquid,
powdered, or granular samples such as salt, preventing spillage or loss during the measurement.

Image 6. Weighing boat and manual balance used in laboratory

Mass of weighing boat Mass of weighing boat and Mass of salt

salt
2.35 g 8.12 g 5.77 g
Table 4. Weights measured by manual balance in laboratory

The measurements consist of three significant figures, two of them are exact (given by the manual
balance) and one inexact (estimated), this being the last digit of the measurement. Besides, there are two
decimal places in this measurement. The maximum mass that can be recorded using this balance is 610
g and the number of significant figures would be ambiguous because the last nonzero digit in a number
that does not contain a decimal point may or may not be significant.

Finally, if the mass of salt obtained above is rounded, this value would be the same as the value using the
electronic balance (5.8 g), meaning that the precision with which the measurement was made is high and
the level of uncertainty is low.

Procedure 2.5. Measuring temperature

Temperature of the water (℃ ):

𝑇 =23.3 ℃
The measurement consists of three significant figures, two of them are exact (given by the thermometer)
and one inexact (estimated), this being the last digit of the measurement. Besides, there is one decimal
place in this measurement. The maximum temperature that can be recorded using this thermometer is 52
℃ and the number of significant figures would be two.
Temperature of the water (K):

𝑇 =23.3 ℃+273.15=296.5 𝐾
QUESTIONS:

1. Why is it necessary to quantify the observations?

It is necessary because quantities are objective and measurable data that allow scientists to test their
hypotheses and formulate new theories. Additionally, it helps to validate results ensuring accuracy and
compare them with prior observations.

2. Why should there be accepted quantities (standards) that are measured? List the
quantities covered in this exercise

Standard quantities are measurements that the scientific community has agreed to use in the description
of physical phenomena, therefore, they provide a common language to communicate and compare
scientific findings and observations, also making possible the develop of theories based on previous
information. In this exercise we covered the quantities of length, mass, and temperature.

3. What should you do if the specimen or object that you are measuring the length of is
much smaller than the standard for length? For mass?

If the object measured is much smaller than the standard unit for length it is necessary to use a smaller
unit of measurement, for example, switch from meters to centimeters or millimeters, multiplying the
measurement by 100 or 1000, respectively.

In the case of mass, it is necessary to switch for example, from kilograms to grams or milligrams,
multiplying by 1000 or 1000000, respectively.

4. What are the units that represent the least count on the scale of the meter stick?
Graduated cylinder? Balance? And Thermometer?

 Meter stick: millimeters

 Graduated cylinder: milliliters
 Balance: Decigrams
 Thermometer: Celsius

5. If an object has a length of 5.65 cm and a width of 3.15 cm, the raw area is calculated to be
17.7975 𝑐 𝑚2 . Are all these digits significant? Why or why not? If not, what is the accepted
area of this object?

No, they are not, because in multiplication the number of significant figures in the result is determined by
the original number that has the smallest number of significant figures. In this case both original numbers
have three significant figures so the area must have also three, that is, 17.8 𝑐 𝑚2

6. How does estimation in a measurement maintain uncertainty in science?

An estimation in a measurement will always bring with it some limitations and sources of error related to
the scientist’s skills, the environment of the measurement and the instruments used, therefore, scientific
data is never absolute. For that reason, it is important to maintain and express uncertainty in the
measurements to obtain accurate and reliable conclusions. Additionally, it is crucial to give several
possible values for the true value of a measured quantity, with the purpose of reducing the uncertainty of
the measurement.

7. State the difference between accuracy and precision

When measuring an observation, the accuracy is how close this measurement is to an accepted standard
or a target, while precision is how consistent this value is when the measurement is repeated several
times, that is, how reproducible it is.

8. How would parallax affect a measurement?

Parallax is when the position of an object changes depending on the viewpoint of the person measuring
the object. Consequently, the value of a measurement can be incorrect if the observer is not ubicated in
the specific angle that the measuring instrument requires to be read.

9. Give several instances when error can be introduced while making a measurement
 Accidents such as spillage, breakage, or leaks of the measured material
 Miscalibration of the measuring instruments
 Wrong calculation of measurements (using the incorrect formula or units)
 Reading a device incorrectly (from the wrong angle, with a wrong posture or the measuring
instrument is placed improperly)
 When the measurement is taken just once, so the precision of the result is not clear
 When measuring temperature, the exposure to sunlight or an improper time when the
thermometer had contact with the object or substance

10. Elaborate on the statement that “all measurements have a degree of uncertainty”

Since all measurements have an estimated figure performed by a human, results vary depending on his
or her skill used during the measuring process, furthermore, limitations of the instruments and
environmental conditions add to the measurements a sense of doubt. For that reason, scientific data is
never absolute and is always in constant development with the aim of reaching a better accuracy of
measurements that can validate observations and theories.