Name: Groupmates:

Section:

Certainly Not!

Objectives
• Measure length using different measuring devices
• Compare the precision of different measuring devices

Materials
vernier caliper tape measure
micrometer caliper a five- or ten-peso coin
ruler

Estimated Time Frame: 60 minutes

Procedure
A. Comparing Measuring Devices
1. Ensure that the scale of the vernier caliper and the micrometer caliper reads zero. When the jaws or the
anvil and spindle are completely closed but do not read zero, then the calipers have zero error. To correct
the zero error, the reading (when the jaws are closed), called zero correction, should be added to or
subtracted from every measurement taken from these calipers.

small jaws

depth gauge
beam

metric fixed scale

lock
metric vernier scale

big jaws
Parts of a vernier caliper
 To use the vernier caliper, clamp the object whose dimensions are to be measured between the jaws.
The small jaws are used to measure internal diameters. Read on the metric fixed scale the exact number of
centimeters and tenths of a centimeter between the zero of the metric fixed scale and the zero of the metric
vernier scale. The hundredths place (and the thousandths place in models where there are 20 vernier
divisions) is determined by noting which division on the vernier scale coincides with a division on the main
scale. For example, the caliper on the right reads 1.16 cm.
A micrometer caliper consists of a micrometer screw mounted in a strong frame. The longitudinal scale
is marked on the barrel upon which the screw rotates. The circular scale is engraved around the thimble
that rotates with the screw and moves along the scale on the barrel. A common model of a micrometer
caliper has the longitudinal scale graduated in millimeters, a pitch of 0.5 mm, and 50 divisions in the
circular scale. For every revolution of the thimble, the screw advances by half a millimeter. Since there are
50 divisions in the circular scale for every one revolution of the thimble, it follows that rotating the thimble
through one scale division will cause the screw to move by 1/50 of 0.5 mm or 0.01 mm. Hence, one
division of the circular scale is equivalent to 0.01 mm.
measuring
surfaces locking nut
spindle
longitudinal scale
anvil

thimble
circular scale ratchet
barrel knob
frame

Parts of a micrometer caliper

The object to be measured is placed between the end of the screw (spindle) and the projecting end of
the frame (anvil). Most calipers are provided with a ratchet knob that clicks as soon as the object is gently
pressed between the spindle and the anvil.
To read the caliper, count the number of millimeters and half millimeters from the zero of the
longitudinal scale to the edge of the thimble. Read the division on the circular scale that is in line with the
scale line of the longitudinal scale. Remember that one division of the circular scale is equivalent to
0.01 mm. So you need to multiply the reading on the circular scale by 0.01 mm. After multiplying, add this
to the reading on the longitudinal scale.

0 1 2 3 4 30

25

20

A micrometer caliper reading of 4.75 mm

2. Determine the least count of the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper, ruler, and the tape measure.
3. Make five independent measurements for the diameter of the coin using the ruler.
4. Calculate the mean diameter of the coin.
5. Calculate the variance and standard deviation of the set of measurements.
6. Express the diameter of the coin in terms of absolute uncertainty.
7. Express the relative uncertainty of the diameter of the coin.
8. Repeat steps 3 to 7 using the vernier caliper, micrometer caliper, and tape measure. Record all
measurements in the table below.

Results

Micrometer
Ruler Vernier Caliper Tape Measure
Caliper

Least count

Diameter 1

Mean diameter

Variance

Standard deviation

Diameter in terms of
absolute uncertainty

Relative uncertainty

B. Body Parts as Standards

During the ancient times, the parts of the body were used as measurement standards. The width of the
thumb was defined as an inch. Measure the width of the thumb of each member of the group using a tape
measure. Record your measurements in the table. Can you consider the thumb as a standard?

Results

Group Member 1 2 3 4 5

Width of thumb (in)

Sample Computations
Conclusion

Post-Laboratory Questions
1. What is the advantage of taking several measurements for the same quantity?

2. Which among the four measuring devices gives you the least relative uncertainty? How is the precision of
a measurement affected by the least count of the measuring device?

3. What is meant by error? What are the types of errors? What are the errors you encountered in this
experiment?