LABORATORY NO.

1
(Modified due to ECQ restrictions)
THE VERNIER CALIPER (Activity Data Sheet)

Name _________________________________________________
Grade ____________ Section ___________ Group No. _________
Date Performed ___________ Teacher _______________________

OBJECTIVES
1. Describe a vernier caliper.
2. Measure the dimensions of regular solids using a vernier caliper.
3. Compare and contrast the vernier caliper and other measuring instruments in terms of
accuracy and precision of measurement.*

DATA TABLE 1

Dimension to Main Scale Vernier Scale Total Reading

VSR x LC (cm)
be measured Reading (cm) Reading (cm) (cm)

0 x 0.01
Diameter of the 2.1 cm 0 cm 2.1 cm
sphere = 0 cm

3 x 0.01
Length of the 3.6 cm 3 cm 3.63 cm
block = 0.03 cm

6 x 0.01
Breadth of the 2.3 cm 6 cm 2.36 cm
block = 0.06 cm

1 x 0.01
Thickness of the 1.1 cm 1 cm 1.11 cm
block = 0.01 cm

2 x 0.01
Inner Diameter 3.5 cm 2 cm 3.52 cm
of the Beaker = 0.02 cm

5 x 0.01
Depth of the 5.1 cm 5 cm 5.15 cm
Beaker = 0.05 cm

3 x 0.01
Diameter of the 2.6 cm 3 cm 2.63 cm
Cylinder = 0.03 cm

6 x 0.01
Length of the 3.7 cm 6 cm 3.76 cm
Cylinder = 0.06 cm
DATA TABLE 2

Object Diameter (cm) Radius (cm) Volume (cm3)

2.1
Sphere 2.1 cm = 1.05 cm 4.85cm³
2

DATA TABLE 3

Object Diameter (cm) Depth/Length (cm) Volume (cm3)

Beaker 3.52 cm 5.15 cm 49.1 cm3

Cylinder 2.63 cm 3. 76 cm 20.43 cm³

DATA TABLE 4

Object Length (cm) Breadth (cm) Thickness (cm) Volume (cm3)

Iron Block 3.63 cm 2.36 cm 1.11 cm 9.5091 cm3

COMPUTATIONS (volume calculation)

Sphere Beaker Cylinder Iron Block

4 V = πr2h V = πr2h V=L∙W∙H
V = 3 πr³
4 V = π ∙ (3.52/2)2 ∙ V = π ∙ (2.63/2)2 ∙ (3.76) V = (3.63) ∙ (2.36) ∙ (1.11)
V = π(1.05cm)³ (5.15)
3
V ≈ 20.42628 V = 9.5091 cm3
V = 4.84905cm³ V = 50.1167
V ≈ 20.4 cm³ V ≈ 9.51 cm3
V ≈ 4.85cm³ V ≈ 50.1 cm3

QUESTIONS

1. Compare the accuracy of a ruler and a vernier caliper. Which do you think is more
accurate? Why? -- A vernier caliper is more precise and accurate than a regular ruler.
With a vernier caliper, there are additional reliable scales during measurement unlike
with the ruler wherein people have no choice but to eyeball the scale. The vernier caliper
is far more reliable because there is a higher measurement error when rulers are used.

2. How many significant figures can we draw out of using the vernier caliper? (based on the
experiment) -- Based on the experiment, the first four significant figures can be read
using the vernier caliper.
 3. What are the possible sources of error in using a vernier caliper? (if you could perform
the experiment in real life) – One should be knowledgeable about the proper usage of
the vernier scale, from the computation and interpretation. Otherwise, the measurements
will be inaccurate.

4. If a set of measurements is very accurate, is it also very precise? If a set of

measurements is very precise, is it also very accurate? Explain your answer. – The
concept of accuracy and precisions are not dependent on each other. A set of
measurement can be both very accurate and precise but this is not always the case.

CONCLUSION
The vernier caliper is far more reliable than the ruler. This instrument can be use to test the
accuracy as well as the precision of measurements of a certain object. Measurements up to four
significant figures may result from using this certain tool.

PROOF

Sphere (Diameter)

Iron Block (Length)

Iron Block (Breadth)

Iron Block (Thickness)

Beaker (Inner Diameter)

Beaker (Depth)

Cylinder (Diameter)

Cylinder (Length)