Name
Date
Per.
Lab 01 N
Measurement and Uncertainty
Student Data Sheet
ESTIMATE AND RECORD MEASUREMENT ON YOUR DATA SHEET—CIRCLE THE ESTIMATED
DIGIT—INCLUDE UNITS—INCLUDE THE UNCERTAINTY WITH UNITS (e. g., ± 0.05 cm)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TASK 1: MEASUREMENT OF LENGTH IN ORDER TO CALCULATE THE AREA
AREA OF A DESK TOP (see instruction in your lab manual)
OBJECTIVE: Use the four-sided meter stick to measure and calculate the area of your desktop
or tabletop. Eventually you will do this four times, using all of the sides of the meter stick.
Table 1.1 Length and width measurements with area calculations
Meter Stick
Scale
Divisions
Estimate
last digit
to __ place
1m
0.1 m
0.1 m
0.01 m
0.01 m
0.001 m
0.001 m
0.0001 m
Measured
Length (m)
Measured
Width (m)
Calculated
Area (m2)
± __ m
± __ m
(No uncertainty)
Final Answer
With Correct
Number of
sig figs (m2)
DID YOU CIRCLE THE ESTIMATED DIGIT, INCLUDE UNITS AND UNCERTAINTY? DID
YOU REPORT YOUR FINAL CALCULATED ANSWER WITH CORRECT SIG FIGS?
TASK 2: MEASUREMENT OF MASS TO COMPARE THE UNCERTAINTY OF DIFFERENT
BALANCES
OBJECTIVE: Use several difference balances to compare the mass of the same object.
HINT: be sure to “tare/zero” the electronic balances before using them.
Table 1.2 Mass of the Same Object on Different Balances
Balance Used
Recorded Mass
(with units)
Conversion
(Kg to g)
Comparison of
g
Bathroom Scale
Triple-beam Balance
-----
0.1 g Balance
-----
0.01 g Balance
-----
0.001 g Balance
-----
DID YOU CIRCLE THE ESTIMATED DIGIT AND INCLUDE UNCERTAINTY? DID YOU
CALCULATE THE CONVERSION?
TASK 3: UNCERTAINTY OF DIFFERENT GRADUATED CYLINDERS
OBJECTIVE: Record the uncertainty of different graduated cylinders.
Table 1.3 Uncertainty of Different Graduated Cylinders
Size of graduated
cylinder
Volume represented
by closest two marks
(with units)
Amount of uncertainty
(± ____)
(with units)
10 mL
50 mL
100 mL
TASK 4: MEASUREMENT OF VOLUME TO COMPARE DIFFERENT VOLUMETRIC TOOLS
OBJECTIVE: Use several different volumetric measuring tools (see the list in Table 1.4, below),
to compare measured volumes of water to the calculated volume of that water in order to
determine the accuracy of the measuring tool and calculate the % error.
Table 1.4 Comparison of volume measured to actual mass of water
Volumetric
Measurement
Device Used
Measured
Volume (mL)
(Experimental
value)
Recorded
Mass (g)
Converted
Volume (mL)
(Theoretical
Value)
% error =
Exper – Theor x 100
Theoretical
_______mL
Beaker (50-100 mL)
10 mL Graduated
Cylinder
50 mL Graduated
Cylinder
100 mL Graduated
Cylinder
______mL
Volumetric Flask
DID YOU CIRCLE THE ESTIMATED DIGIT AND INCLUDE UNCERTAINTY FOR ALL
MEASUREMENTS?
TASK 5: DENSITY CALCULATIONS: COMPARISON OF CALCULATED VOLUME OF
WATER WITH THE MEASURED MASS OF THE WATER




SHOW ALL WORK AND CALCULATIONS IN THE SPACE PROVIDED.
INCLUDE UNITS IN YOUR ANSWERS, CIRCLE THE UNCERTAIN (ESTIMATED) DIGIT
INCLUDE UNCERTAINTY FOR ALL MEASUREMENTS—RULER, GRADUATED CYLINDER,
TRIPLE-BEAM BALANCE, ETC.
WRITE COMPLETE, FINAL ANSWERS (WITH SIG FIGS!) IN THE BOXES PROVIDED
FOR EACH SECTION.
Rev 09/2015
2
OBJECTIVE: Compare calculated volume with measured mass of water. Complete all calculations
below.
1.
Obtain a clear plastic rectangular prism from your teacher. Measure the inside dimensions of
the plastic rectangular prism that you and your partner were given. Write down your
measurements (with uncertainty) in the work area below.
Calculate the inside volume of the plastic box and report your answer in cubic centimeters. Round
your final answer to the correct number of sig figs.
(Put your final answer in the box below)
2. Now fill your plastic box with tap water and pour the water into an appropriate sized
graduated cylinder. Determine the volume of the water based on your graduated cylinder
reading. Write down your measurements (with uncertainty and units) in the box below.
3.
Next, fill your plastic box with distilled water again and then determine the mass of this
water (and just the water) using a triple beam balance.
Show all your work below (including such information as the mass of your empty container, etc.).
After this step, show your data to the teacher to get an approval stamp.
Please leave this box empty. It is
for the teacher’s approval stamp.
4. Now, determine the density of distilled water using your data for the mass of the distilled
water that filled the box and value for the volume of the box.
Report your answer with appropriate units.
Rev 09/2015
3
TASK 6: OBSERVATIONS OF A CANDLE
Objective: make 10 or more observations of a candle—at least 5 qualitative and 5 quantitative.
Obtain a candle and a match or lighter. Light the candle and observe it. Your observations may
be of both a lit and an unlit candle.
Your qualitative observations will use your senses. DON’T just use your eyes. Be creative.
Use different measuring devices for quantitative observations. Use the instruments properly,
including: units for measurements, circle the estimated, uncertain digit and indicate the
appropriate uncertainty of all your measuring instruments.
Record your data in Table 1.5 on your Data Sheet
YOU CAN DO THE CANDLE OBSERVATIONS AT HOME WITH A TEA CANDLE IF YOU WISH.
Table 1.5 Observations of a Candle
Qualitative Observations
Rev 09/2015
Quantitative Observations
4