Experiment 1: Physical Quantities and Measurement

Objectives:
1. To expose students to use measurement equipment and right measurement techniques.
2. To obtain derived questions from base quantities.
Inferences:
1. Base quantities are the quantities that cannot be defined in terms of other quantities.
2. Derived questions are physical quantities derived from the base quantities through
multiplication, division or both.
Hypothesis:
1. Measuring physical quantities precisely.
2. Differentiate between base and derived quantities.
Experiment 1A
Apparatus:

Figure 1: Ruler Figure 2: Wooden Block

Figure 3: Vernier Caliper

Procedure:
1. The dimensions of the wooden block are measured using ruler and vernier caliper.
2. The mass of the wooden block is weighted by using a beam balance.
3. The data collected is shown in table 1A.
4. The density of the wooden block is calculated by using the formula;

)

Data:
Table 1A
Dimension Reading
Ruler Vernier Caliper
Zero Error 0.00
Height, h mm
m
mm
m
Width, w mm
m
mm
m
Length, mm
m
mm
m
Mass, m g
kg
Volume, V

Density,

Experiment 1B
Apparatus:

Figure 4: Micrometer Screw Gauge

Figure 5: 20 Cent Coin
Procedure:
1. The dimensions of the 20 cent coin was measured using a micrometer screw gauge.
2. The data collected is shown in table 1B.

Data:
Table 1B
Micrometer screw gauge
Zero error: mm
Readings Average Actual value=average-
zero error
1 2 3
Diameter, d mm
m
Thickness, l mm
m
Volume,

Analysis:
Question:
1. State the precautionary steps to avoid errors in the experiment.
2. From the experiment 1(a), is there any difference using ruler and vernier caliper? Give
your reason.
3. What do you understand with consistency and accuracy from experiment 1(b).
Conlusion:
1. We must avoid parallax error when taking reading from a measuring instrument.