Eddy Egan

September 21, 2007

Paolilo Day 2 Pd. 8/9

Uncertainty in Measurement

Purpose: To fine what factors determine the uncertainty of a measurement

Materials and Procedure in Chemistry Connections to Our Changing World pg. 48 using
electronic balances

Date Performed: September 19, 2007

Instrument Measurement Results Uncertainty
5.73 g
Triple-Beam Balance Mass of Coin 5.71 g 5.72 + .01
5.71 g
14.2 cm
Length of Paper 14.2 cm 14.2 + 0.0
Centimeter Ruler 14.2 cm
11.00 cm
Width of Paper 10.90 cm 10.9 + 0.0
10.90 cm
23. 0 ºC
Celsius Thermometer Temperature 24.5 ºC 23.7 + .556
of Air 23.5 ºC
68.0 mL
Graduated Cylinder Volume of Water 68.0 mL 68.0 + 0
68.0 mL

How precise were your measurements?

Our measurements were fairly accurate with only a slight uncertainty placed on three of
the five experiments. The inaccurate readings can be accounted for by human error in the
centimeter ruler experiment, a change in the temperature of the Celsius thermometer
experiment and possibly air speed over the electronic balance as people were hovering
about it and breathing on it. In all the experiments came out much expected and we have
learned from any mistakes we may have encountered along the way.

1. Which instrument would be more accurate for measuring the volume of a liquid-
a beaker or a graduated cylinder?

A graduated cylinder because graduated cylinders have more precise increments of

measurement along the sides in order to determine the volume of the liquid as beakers
have larger increments. These smaller increments allow for greater accuaracy.
2. Volume can be measured in units of cubic meters or milliliters. When would you
use cubic meters? When would you use milliliters?

Cubic meters would be used for measuring the volumes of solids. Milliliters would be
used to measure the volumes of liquids.

3. Is a precise measurement always accurate? Explain.

A precise measurement is a measurement that is very close if not the same as another
measure that was previously made. Precise measurements are a group of measurements
that are practically the same if not the same. However, those measurements may not be
accurate because they are not close to the accepted “Standard Measurement” value.

4. What variables might have affected the accuracy of your measurements?

Some variables that may have affected the accuracy of my measurements could have
been human error which is one of the main mistakes. Room temperature can play a role
on the accuracy of the thermometer. Measuring utensils such as the graduated cylinder or
thermometer were not correct. In addition, many other factors could have acted on the
electronic balance cause it to operate falsely.

What have you learned?

In the previous experiments I have learned about the many mistakes or obstacles
scientists can encounter while analyzing data. In order to achieve the most precise and
accurate readings of all this data collection must be done over a period of time and a
number of times. A main detail I noticed in analyzing data is that human error plays a big
part in the outcome. If a device is known to be precise it then depends on the user to be
precise since he cannot blame it on the device anymore.

“What the Function?!”

-Mrs. Paolilo