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EXPERIMENT 1
THE VERNIER AND MICROMETER CALIPERS
Galian, A.T.*, Garfin, J.P., Gatmaitan, C.C., Guno, N.J., Isip, L.P., Lacanilao, D.A.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy
University of Santo Tomas

ABSTRACT
The group performed the experiment involving a metallic aluminum cube, a steel washer
and a glass marble with the objective of using the micrometer and Vernier calipers to accurately
measure the dimensions of miniature objects, then compute their densities using the
measurements taken. Using a triple beam balance, the mass of the objects were measured first
and recorded. The Vernier caliper was used to measure the dimensions of the metallic
aluminum cube and the steel washer. With the values recorded, their volumes and densities
were computed and compared to their standard densities using percentage error. Then, the
micrometer caliper was used to measure the dimensions of the metallic aluminum cube and the
glass marble. Similarly, the volumes, densities and percentage errors were computed for these
objects.

INTRODUCTION the micrometer, (2) to compute for the

volume and density of the three
The Vernier caliper and the
experimental units, and (4) to compare the
micrometer are both precision measuring
experimental and standard density of the
instruments. The Vernier caliper
experimental units using percentage error.
incorporates a main scale and a sliding
Vernier scale which allows readings to the MATERIALS
least count of 0.05 mm. It may be used to
The materials used in the experiment were:
measure outer dimensions of objects, inside
Vernier caliper
dimensions, and depths. The micrometer
screw gauge is used to measure even Micrometer caliper
smaller dimensions with the least count of Triple Beam Balance
0.01 mm than the Vernier calipers. The Metal cube (aluminum)
thimble is turned clockwise until the object Washer
to be measured is trapped between the Marble
anvil and spindle. A clicking sound by RESULTS
rotating the ratchet knob clockwise indicates
that the measurement of the objet can be Table 1. Results obtained from the
read. experiment

The objectives of the experiment Using Vernier Caliper

are: (1) to measure the length of a metal Metal Cube
cube using both the Vernier caliper and the Material: Aluminum
micrometer, the inner and outer diameter Mass (g): 42.30 g
and the height of a washer using the Vernier Length (mm): 25.45 mm
caliper, and the diameter of a marble using
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Length (cm): 2.545 cm DISCUSSION

Volume (cm3): 16.48402863 (Jp)
cm3
Density (g/cm3) CONCLUSION
Experimental: 2.6 g/cm3 Based on the computations, the total
Standard: 2.7 g/cm3 average percentage error of this experiment
Percentage error (%): 3.70% is 3.13%, which makes it safe to say that
Washer the data acquired using both the micrometer
Material: Steel and Vernier caliper are accurate in
comparison to the standard densities of the
Mass (g): 5.90 g
objects. Though it may show that the
Outer diameter (mm): 25.30 mm
average percentage error of the Vernier
Outer diameter (cm): 2.530 cm
caliper (2.49%) is less compared to the
Outer radius (cm): 1.265 cm
average percentage error of the micrometer
Inner diameter (mm): 6.75 mm (3.78%), factors not related to the calipers
Inner diameter (cm): 0.675 cm could have contributed to possible errors in
Inner radius (cm): 0.3375 cm measurement. Factors such as the rounded
Thickness/Height (mm): 1.65 mm shape of the glass marble affects the
Thickness/Height (cm): 0.165 cm accuracy of the acquisition of dimensions in
Volume (cm3): 0.7704523309 the measurement. In addition, human
cm3 errors in the experiment are to be
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Density (g/cm ) considered. In reality, the micrometer caliper
Experimental: 7.7 g/cm3 is more accurate in measuring objects with
Standard: 7.8 g/cm3 smaller dimensions because it could
Percentage error (%): 1.28% measure differences as small as 0.01 mm,
Using Micrometer Caliper while the Vernier caliper could only measure
Metal Cube differences of 0.05 mm.
Material: Aluminum
Mass (g): 42.30 g REFERENCES
Length (mm): 25.341 mm Ryan, V. (2009). Retrieved from
Length (cm): 2.5341 cm http://www.technologystudent.com/equip1/m
Volume (cm3): 16.27313573 icrom1.htm
cm3
Density (g/cm3) Crisostomo, R., Padua, L. (2010).
Practical and Explorational Physics. Quezon
Experimental: 2.6 g/cm3
City, Manila: Vibal Publishing House,
Standard: 2.7 g/cm3
Incorporation.
Percentage error (%): 3.70%
Marble Gaspar, J. (2015). Retrieved from
Material: Glass http://pediaa.com/difference-between-
Mass (g): 6.10 g vernier-caliper-and-micrometer/
Diameter (mm): 16.690 mm
Diameter (cm): 1.6690 cm (2013). Retrieved from
Radius (cm): 0.8345 cm http://www.phy.uct.ac.za/courses/phylab1/ve
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Volume (cm ): 2.434263753 rnier
cm3
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Density (g/cm ) QUESTION AND ANSWER
Experimental: 2.5 g/cm3
Standard: 2.6 g/cm3 1. Differentiate the Vernier and micrometer
Percentage error (%): 3.85% scales.
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A better method of measuring small

distances is by the use of the
micrometer and Vernier calipers.
Micrometers can measure differences
as small as 0.01 mm. They are used to
make accurate measurements of the
thickness of a sheet of paper and the
external diameter of thin wires, for
example. A micrometer has a sleeve
which rotates on a screw inside it. As the
sleeve rotates, it moves forward until the
tip of the micrometer just touches the
object being measured. The scale 3. State some of the errors that one might
indicates the thickness or diameter of make in measuring length using both the
the object. Vernier and micrometer calipers.

On the other hand, the Vernier Using the micrometer and Vernier
caliper can measure differences as calipers could still amount to some
small as 0.05. It can be used for errors in desired measurements. For
measuring inner lengths, outer example, a zero error in the
lengths and depths of different objects. measurement is possible if the
Some examples are the internal or instruments main scale does not
external diameters of tubes, pipes and coincide with the zero of the vernier
rods. The distance between the jaws of scale or circular scale in the case of the
the caliper is read on a scale attached to micrometer before using either of the
the instrument. instruments. In this case, one must
add/subtract the excess or shortage of
2. Draw the figure for the micrometer the measurement. Difficulty to identify
readings below: the correctly aligned scale lines in the
a. 3.68 mm Vernier caliper can also contribute to
making an error.
4. Determine the percentage error for an
observed value of 1.112x105 if the
standard value is 1.117x105.

Percentage Error= |EDSDSD |100

| 1.112 1051.117 105
1.117 105 |
100

0.45

b. 1.59 mm
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