EXPERIMENT 1: PHYSICAL QUANTITIES AND MEASUREMENT

OBJECTIVE

1. To expose students to use measurement equipment and right measurement techniques.

2. To obtain derived quantities from base quantities.

THEORY

1. Base quantities are the quantities that cannot be defined in terms of the other quantities.

2. Derived quantities are physical quantities derived from base quantities through

multiplication, division or both.

3. Zero Error is any indication that a measuring system gives a false reading when the true

value of a measured quantity is zero.

4. Vernier caliper is to measure the internal and external of an object.

5. Micrometer screw gauge is an instrument widely used for precise measurement of

component.

HYPOTHESIS

1. To measure physical quantities precisely.

2. To compare the different between base and derived quantities.

3. Electronic balance is more accurate than beam balance because it measure mass of object

more accurate in scale

4. Caliper is more accurate than the ruler by approximately ten percent of analytical error
EXPERIMENT 1a

APPARATUS

1.Wooden Block

2. Ruler

3. Vernier Caliper

4. Electric balance
 PROCEDURES

1. The dimension of the wooden block was measured by using ruler and Vernier Caliper.2.

2. The mass of the wooden block was weighed with the use of electric balance .

3. All the data were recorded in the Table 1a

.4.The density was calculated by using formula

𝑚 𝑘𝑔
𝜌= ( )
𝑉 𝑚3

DATA

Table 1a

DIMENSION READING

Ruler Vernier Caliper

ZERO ERROR NO ZERO ERROR NO ZERO ERROR

Height, h 25 mm 25.1 mm

0.025 mm 0.025 m

Width, w 62 mm 62.8 mm

0.062 mm 0.0628 m

Length, ι 119 mm 120.35 mm

0.119 mm 0.12035 m

Mass, m 129.2 g

0.1292kg

Volume, V 184450 mm 189705.30 mm

184450 x 10−9 mm 189705.30 x 10−9mm

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
Density, ρ = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 700.46 𝑚3 681.06𝑚3
Conversion of Unit in Experiment 1(a)

Dimension Ruler Vernier Caliper

Height, h 25mm x 10−3 = 0.025m 25.1mm x 10−3 = 0.0025m

Width, w 62mm x 10−3 = 0.062m 62.8mm x 10−3 = 0.0628m

Length, 𝑙 119mm x 10−3 = 0.119m 120.35mm x 10−3 = 0.12035m

Mass, m 129.2g x 10−3 = 0.1292kg

Volume, V 184450𝑚𝑚3 x (10−3 )3 189705.30𝑚𝑚3 x (10−3 )3

=184450 x 10−9 𝑚3 =18970530 x 10−9 𝑚3

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
Density, ρ = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 0.1292 0.1292

184450x10-9=700.46kgm3 189705x10-9=681.06
EXPERIMENT 1b

APPARATUS

1.Coin 20 cent

2.Micrometer Screw Gauge

PROCEDURES

1.The dimension of the coin 20 cent was measured by using micrometer screw gauge

2. All the data were recorded in Table 1b

* Note: Use the formula below to get the volume of the glass rod

𝜋𝑑 2 𝑙
𝑉=
4
DATA

Table 1b

MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE

ZERO ERROR : 0.11 mm

READINGS Average Actual value = average – zero

error

1 2 3 23.81-0.11

Diameter,d 23.81 23.80 23.81 23.81 23.7 mm

0.02381 0.02380 0.02381 0.02381 0.0237m

Thickness,l 1.89 1.90 1.90 1.90 1.79 mm

0.00189 0.00190 0.00190 0.01900 0.00179m

Volume, 841.87 845.61 846.32 844.60 844.49 𝑚𝑚3

𝜋𝑑2 𝑙 844.49 x 10−9 𝑚3

v= 4
Conversion of Unit in Experiment 1(b)

Table 1b

MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE

ZERO ERROR : 0.11 mm

READINGS Average Actual value = average – zero

error

1 2 3 23.81-0.11

Diameter,d 23.81mm 23.80mm 23.81mm 23.81mm 23.7mm x10-3=

x10-3= x10-3= x10-3= x10-3= 0.0237m

0.02381m 0.02380m 0.02381m 0.02381m

Thickness,l 1.89mm 1.90mm 1.90mm 1.90mm 1.79mm x10-3mm

x10-3= x10-3= x10-3= x10-3= 0.00179m

0.00189 m 0.00190m 0.00190m 0.01900m

Volume, (22/7)(0.0 (22/7)( (22/7)( (841.87 844.49 x10-3(3)mm

v=
𝜋𝑑2 𝑙 2381)2(0.0 0.02380)2( 0.02381)2( +845.61+8 844.49 x 10−9 𝑚3
4
0189)/4 0.00190)/4 0.00190)/4 46.32)/3

841.87mm 845.61mm 846.32mm 844.60mm

841.87mm 845.61mm 846.32mm 844.60mm

x10- x10-3 x10-3 x10-3

3
=0.84187 =0.84561 =0.84632 =0.84460

m m m m
ANALYSIS

In experiment 1a, the density of the wooden block using when using ruler is 700.46 kg/m3 while

density of the wooden block when using Vernier Caliper is 681.06 kg/m3 . In experiment 1b the

volume of 20 sent in mm3 is 844.49mm3 and m3 is 844.49x 10-9. When we write down the result

of measurement ,we only write it to the number of figures that the smallest division of the

instrument shows , so the sensitivity of the instrument termed the significant figures of the value.

QUESTION

1.State the precautionary steps to avoid errors in the experiment.

a. Avoid the parallax error by placing the eye such that the line of view is perpendicular to

the scale of the measurement equipment.

b. Take into account zero error of instrument.

2.From the experiment 1(a), is there any difference between using ruler and Vernier Caliper?

Give your reason.

Yes. Because Vanier Caliper is enables to detect a very accurate readings than ruler. Vernier

Scale is the precise measuring device which can be used to measure length including outside

dimensions, inside dimensions and depth with only a small margin on error. While Meter ruler is

the most simple tool to measure objects with medium length. A metre rule can therefore measure

length accurately up to 0.1 cm only meanwhile Vernier Callipers can measure length with an

accuracy of up to 0.01 cm.

3.What do you understand with consistency and accuracy from experiment 1(b)?

Consistency is the state of being consistence and the thickness or viscosity of a substance.

Accuracy is the capable of or successful in reaching the intended target.

CONCLUSION

From the experiments, we have found that the experiments about the physical quantities and

measurement was successful done according to the procedures. The objective of experiments

was achieved to obtain derived quantities from base quantities. From the result, we have found

that the Vernier Caliper readings are more accurate than the ruler. As the conclusion, the

hypothesis is accepted. Based quantities and derived quantities can be differentiated.