Significant Figures Lab Worksheet
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Name______________________ Date_____________ Class_________ Period ______
Lab Partners ______________________________________________
Purpose of lab:__________________________________________________________
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Procedure:
Materials
1 Bag containing three lengths of chain, special meter stick with varying degrees of precision,
balance
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Data and Observations
All your measurements must have units and the correct number of significant digits
for the measurement tool used.
Short Chain
Medium Chain
Long Chain
L AS
LA ) Length with 0.1 m
LAM
L AL
scale
LBS
LB ) Length with 0.01m
LBM
LBL
(1 cm) scale
LCM
LCL
LC ) Length with 0.001m
LCS
(1 mm) scale
M X ) Mass using only the
top slider
M Y ) Mass using all three
sliders on the balance
M XS
M XM
M XL
M YS
M YM
M YL
Additional observations:
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Significant Figures Lab Worksheet
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Data Analysis 1: Using the values for the medium length chain, calculate the linear density for each case
below. The answers should have units (cm, g, cm/g) and appropriate significant digits using the rules for
observations and the appropriate multiplication/division rules.
LAM
LBM
LCM
Measured values and calculated linear density
value _________ M YM
value _________
M XM
# sig figs________
# sig figs________
value _________
# sig figs ______
value _________
# sig figs ______
value _________
# sig figs ______
Data Analysis 2: Only use the most precise measurements for each chain ( LC , M Y - the shaded section of
the data table). Make a graph of mass (y-axis) as a function of length (x-axis). Determine the slope of the
graph. Using the slope and proper significant figures, determine the best estimate for the linear density of
the chain. If you prefer, you may make this graph with excel and tape it below.
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What is the slope of the graph above (be careful of units, sig figs)?
Convert that slope to units of kg/m (be careful of sig figs)
Significant Figures Lab Worksheet
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Conclusions
What have you learned from this lab?
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Go back to the purpose that you wrote and that was described in the handout. Based on
the graph, to what extent was the hypothesis consistent with your data?
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Suggestions for improvement (if you have any)
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Extension problem (Be sure to use proper significant digits in your answer.)
You are given a piece of paper. With a balance, you measure a mass of 1.3g. The length
of the paper is 10.2 cm and the width is 4.7 cm.
a) Determine the mass per unit area of this piece of paper in g/cm2.
b) Convert that value to kg/m2.