Name:_____________________________________ Date: __________________

Measurement Methods and Data Collection

Physical properties of matter like the mass, length and temperature of the substance are
determined by a variety of instruments:

Property Unit Instrument

Mass grams-g balances
Length meters-m rulers/caliper
Temperature degrees Celsius-oC thermometers

When reporting these measurements, two concepts, precision and accuracy, are important
considerations. Precision is defined as how close the measurements are to each other. To determine
the precision of a measurement, the measurement must be done several times and each trial is
compared with the other values. A good precision will show the data obtained to be close or similar
to each other. However, a high precision may not always have good accuracy. Accuracy is defined
as how close a measurement is to the true value. The difference between accuracy and precision
can be easily represented by the figure below.

In this experiment we will find out which type of instrument will give more accurate measurements
for mass, temperature, volume, and length. The more accurate the measurement of an instrument
is, the more number of certain digits are reported. In other words, the more decimal places can be
written down as certain digits. This is where significant figures come into play. Significant figures
provide us with the numbers just down to the point where the measurement ends with an estimated
or uncertain digit. The measurements will have uncertainty usually expressed as ±0.1grams when
measuring mass, for example a triple beam balance.

PROCEDURE:
In this lab you determine the mass, the temperature, and the volume of different objects and
report these measurements according to the accuracy of the instrument.
 I. Determining mass of an object using two different instruments
A. The triple beam balance:

1. Start out by placing all the weights to the zero mark of each beam and making
sure that the lines on the far right are aligned to each other.

2. Place the object to be measured on the center of the pan. This will cause the lines
on the far right to not be aligned. Move the weights to the right until the lines
realign. Record the mass of the object on the data sheet provided. You will
measure the mass of a beaker, a penny, and a lead sinker.

3. The triple beam balance can measure up to 0.1 of a gram. Therefore you must add
an estimated digit to this reading which will be a +/- 0.01 g. (two decimal places
for the final answer)

B. Determining Mass using the analytical balance.

NOTE: The analytical balance is a much more accurate instrument in measuring mass
compared to the triple beam balance. The analytical balance reports mass up to 1/10000 of a
gram (which is a 0.1milligram). When reporting the mass from an electronic balance, you just
write down all the numbers that you see on the screen, the last of which is the estimated digit and
this will usually fluctuate up or down.
1. Start out by pressing the TARE button to place the reading to ZERO.
2. Place the object to be measured at the center of the pan. Close the glass doors and wait
for the numbers to stabilize. Record the mass on your data sheet.
NOTE: When measuring powdered substances, or liquids, or objects that need a container,
first place the container or the weighing boat on the center of the pan then press “TARE”.
This is a very important step because it resets the mass to zero, meaning it erases the mass of
the container. Then slowly add the substance up to the desired mass. Record the mass with
the correct accuracy.

II. Measuring volume of a liquid

The volume can be determined using various methods. Some will be more accurate.
A. Using Graduated cylinder
1. Read the volume of the liquid inside the different graduated cylinders and
report your reading on the data sheet with the correct significant figures taking
into account the uncertain digit.
For example when reading the volume in a 10-ml graduated cylinder, each line is
a 0.1 mL. Report your volume up to 0.01 mL accuracy.

B. Using beakers
Beakers are not considered very useful for obtaining accurate measurements.
When reading a beaker volume the value will be only an approximation.
1. Read the volume of the beaker by observing the markings on the side and
estimate the volume in mL if the liquid is between the markings.
Report the value with the correct significant figures taking into account the
uncertain digit.
C. Using a buret
The number value on the buret is called the delivered volume and tells how much
liquid has been removed when the liquid started at the zero point.
The smallest markings on the buret are 0.1mL. Report the value with the correct
significant figures taking into account the uncertain digit.

III. Measuring temperature

Temperature is determined by thermometers. There are three flasks labeled A, B,
and C. The thermometer on the flask A has 0-50 oC at ± 0.5 oC increments. Flask B has a
thermometer that has 0-100 oC at 1oC increments. The flask C has a thermometer that has
0-50 oC at ± 0.1oC increments.
Report the value with the correct significant figures taking into account the
uncertain digit.
 IV. Determining the Volume of a solid
The volume of a solid is determined by length, width and height. You may use a ruler or
. a Vernier caliper to measure these.
A. Volume of a rectangular block Vrectangular block = Length x Width x Height

1. Obtain a rectangular block and measure its length, width, and height using a
centimeter ruler. Make sure you report you measurements in the correct accuracy
of the instrument.

2. Calculate its volume using the formula for volume of a rectangular block and
report your answer using the significant figures rules.

B. Volume of the metal cylinder Vcylinder = πr2h

1. Obtain the cylinder and measure its diameter and height. For best results use a
Vernier caliper. On your desktop, there is a link that shows you instructions on how
to use the Vernier caliper. Basically you start out by clipping the object with the teeth
of the caliper using the bottom scroll.

Dial used for tightening or loosening

the caliper

2. After the object is held by the caliper, look at the outer bottom lines. Look particularly
at the first line on the left and read its measurement on the inside graduations..
Outer bottom lines

estimated digit

In this figure for example, the first line on the left reads greater than 2.5 cm. But this
only represents the certain digits. You need to add an estimated digit. The Vernier caliper
allows you to make a more accurate estimation unlike when you use an ordinary centimeter
ruler. You can do this by choosing the first line on the same outside lines that aligns
perfectly to any of the graduations right above it. In this example it is the line pointed by
the arrow which is the second one from the first long line. Therefore your final reading will
be 2.52. (if it were the first long line that is aligned perfectly with a graduation above it,
then it would read 2.50 cm).

3. Calculate the volume of the cylinder using the above formula. Make sure your answers
follow the rules on significant figures.
NAME ___________________________ DATE ______________

MEASUREMENT WORKSHEET
Significant Figures
1. Mass of beaker- Triple beam balance: __________ _________
Analytical balance: __________ _________
2. Mass of penny - Triple beam balance: __________ _________
Analytical balance: __________ _________
3. Mass of lead sinker- Triple beam balance: __________ _________
Analytical balance: __________ _________
4. Volume of liquid in small graduated cylinder: __________ _________
5. Volume of liquid in large graduated cylinder: __________ _________
6. Volume of liquid in beaker: __________ _________
7. Volume of liquid delivered from the buret: __________ _________

8. Temperature of water in flasks:

A. _________
B. _________
C. _________

9. Dimensions of Styrofoam block: in centimeters: __________; _________; _________

10. Volume of Styrofoam block (cm3): ______________

11. Dimensions of cylinder in centimeters: Length: __________ Diameter__________

12. Volume of cylinder (cm3): (V= π r2h) _____________