Lab #1: Measuring Common Objects
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this lab is to gain experience in the use of these measurement tools, recording data that comes from them, estimating the uncertainty of the readings, calculating the data and using the significant figures system of number rounding, and decision making in terms of how to measure certain objects and which tools to use.
Equipment:
- Verneir Caliper
- Metric Ruler
- Meter Stick
- Small Bamboo Rod
- Cylinder
- Wood Block
- 5 pages of notebook paper
Procedure:
Measurement 1: Determining the Volume of a Wood Block
The determination of the wood block's volume involves the use of the Verneir caliper. The caliper is used to measure the length, width, and height of the wood block, after which the three measurements are multiplied to arrive at the volume.
Measurement 2: Determining the Volume of a Cylinder
The determination of the cylinder's volume involves the use of the Vernier valiper, a metric ruler, and a small bamboo rod. The caliper is used to determine the diameter of the cylinder. The height of the cylinder is determined through the use of the small rod and the metric ruler. The small rod is placed into the cylinder, and the first point where the rod is no longer in the cylinder is marked. The rod is then measured by the metric ruler from the base (the point that entered the cylinder) to the mark, which produces the cylinder's height. The volume is then derived: the diameter is divided by two and is multiplied by pi, then the resultant number is then multiplied by the height to give the cylinder's volume.
Measurement 3: Determining the Thickness of a Page of Notebook Paper
The derivation of the thickness of a page of notebook paper uses the Vernier caliper and four additional pages of the same notebook paper. The five pages are stacked so that they are directly on top of each other, and so that they are pressed together. Then the caliper is used to measure the thickness of the stack of pages. Then this measurement is divided by five in order to obtain the thickness of an individual page. This is required as the caliper's range of measurement does not allow for the measurement of something so thin as a page of notebook paper.
Measurement 4: Determining the Volume of a Physics Classroom
The derivation of the volume of the physics classroom involves the use of a meterstick. Using the meterstick, the room is measured from the doorway to the south-west windows, from the south-eastern wall to the northwest wall, and from the floor to the ceiling. These measurements are then multiplied with each other to derive the volume of the room.
Collected Data:
Wood Block | Cylinder | Paper (5 pages) | Physics Classroom | |
Width | 20.8 mm | n/a | n/a | 7.87 m |
Height | 50.6 mm | 120 mm | .2 mm | 2.9 m |
Length | 51 mm | n/a | n/a | 12.8 m |
Diameter | n/a | 10.8 mm | n/a | n/a |
Data Analysis:
Measurement 1: Determined Voulme of a Wood Block
l * w * h = v
20.8 mm * 50.6 mm * 51 mm = 54000 mm^3
20.8 mm * 50.6 mm * 51 mm = 54000 mm^3
Measurement 2: Determined Volume of a Cylinder
d / 2 = r
3.14 * r^2 = a
a * h = v
10.8 mm / 2 = 5.4 mm
5.4^2 mm * 3.14 = 92 mm^2
92 mm^2 * 120 mm = 11000 mm^3
3.14 * r^2 = a
a * h = v
10.8 mm / 2 = 5.4 mm
5.4^2 mm * 3.14 = 92 mm^2
92 mm^2 * 120 mm = 11000 mm^3
Measurement 3: Determined Thickness of a Page of Notebook Paper
f / 5 = t
.2 mm / 5 = .04 mm
.2 mm / 5 = .04 mm
Measurement 4: Determined Volume of a Physics Classroom
l * w * h = v
7.87 m * 2.9 m * 12.8 m = 290 m^3
7.87 m * 2.9 m * 12.8 m = 290 m^3
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the four objects were measured, and their relevant traits derived: the wood block has a volume of 54000 mm^3, the cylinder has a volume of 11000 mm^3, the page of notebook paper has a thickness of .04 mm, and a physics classroom has a volume of 290 m^3. These objects' derived traits were derived under certain assumptions: the calculations and procedure deriving the volume of the wood block are made based off of the assumption that the wood block is a perfect rectangular prism, all calculations and procedures involving the volume of the cylinder are based on the assumption that the cylinder is a perfect cylinder, the calculations and procedure involved with deriving the thickness of the pages assumes that the pages are of equal thickness, and that during measurement there is no space between the pages, and the equations and procedure involved in deriving the volume of a physics classroom assumes that the room is a perfect rectangular prism. As this was a practice procedure, many different measurement devices were used and were made familiar, and many different techniques for measuring things were utilized.