SFL1013-Techniques in Physics Laboratory

COURSE CODE: SFL1013

SEMESTER 2 SESSION 2021/2022

Laboratory 1A - An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

LECTURER’S NAME PUAN MAHIZAH BINTI ISMAIL

GROUP NUMBER GROUP 5

LECTURE GROUP GROUP E

NAME ID NUMBER

KHAIRUNNAZIHA BINTI MD E20211028956

TAHIR
NURNADHIRAH BINTI E20211028824
SHAHRULLAYANI
NUR AISYAH BINTI MOHD E20211028937
JAILANI
YASMIN BINTI MOHD AZWANI E20211028964

NUR AMIRAH AQILA BINTI E20211028820

MOHD MAZID

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 Lab 1 – An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

Laboratory 1A
An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

L1.1 OBJECTIVES
These activities are aimed to:
1. Introduce the students to commonly used measuring instruments in physics laboratory.
2. Enable the students to identify the smallest unit of each instruments.
3. Enable the students to identify and write the value of uncertainty, DX, that is
associated to the measuring instrument and to the measurement itself, DY.
4. Develop the basics experimental skills including handling of measuring devices, taking
measurements, using appropriate instruments.

L1.2 APPARATUS
Most of the apparatus are virtual equipments. The equipment can be obtained from the given
website. The apparatus are:
▪ Thermometer
▪ Ammeter
▪ Voltmeter
▪ Vernier Calliper
▪ Micrometer Screw Gauge
▪ Spring scale
▪ Protractor

L1.3 INTRODUCTION

Measurement is a science process skill that students are expected to master quite early in their
education. Rules for recording measurements are simple. The measuring device determines
the precision (decimal place) or uncertainty of instrument (± Dx) to which the measurements
are recorded. Record what the device allows you to know for sure and write the reading
uncertainty (± Dy) associated with it. Your reading is reported as:

Reading = y ± Dy

where y = best estimate and Dy = reading uncertainty

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L1.4 MEASUREMENT
General Instruction:
1. Each measurement taken should be accompanied with a photo/photo as evidence. All
measurements are considered incorrect if not supported by any evidence.

2. The instructions below are just a guideline only. You need to submit a complete lab
report.

3. Deadline: Refer to the announcement and submit through Myguru.

A. Vernier Calipers
Procedure
1. Go to the link below:
http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=1&brch=5&sim=16&cnt=4

2. Study and learn how to use the simulation.

3. In this activity, you need to measure the diameter of a cylindrical body.

4. Click on Simulator (the icon is shown in the diagram below) in the website.

5. Find the following:

(a) The Smallest Scale of the Vernier Calipers: Dx = ___0.1cm_______________

±0.002cm
(b) Reading Uncertainty: Dy = __________________

6. Does the instrument have the zeroth error, if yes, what is the value?

(a) Does the instrument have the zeroth error? ___yes_____________

(b) Zeroth error value: ____+0.01cm__________________

7. Record the measurement below (if there is a zeroth error, you have to make some
adjustment on your reading).

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 Lab 1 – An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

Measurement = (reading from main scale + reading from vernier scale (add with
zeroth error or subtract with zeroth error)

Use the simulation and record the measurement below:

Cylinder

Length = ____3.58cm_________ ± ______0.01cm___________

3.5+ (9×0.01cm)
=3.59cm

Corrected reading
3.59 - (+0.01)
= 3.58cm

Diameter = ____2.26cm_________ ± _____0.01cm____________

2.2+ (7×0.01cm)
=2.27cm

Corrected reading
2.27- (+0.01)
=2.26

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B. Micrometer Screw Gauge

1. Go to the link below:

http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=1&brch=5&sim=156&cnt=4

2. Study and learn how to use the simulation.

3. In this activity, you need to measure (a) the thickness of a given glass plate and (b)
the diameter of a lead shot .

4. Click on Simulator (the icon is shown in the diagram below) in the website.

5. There are two types of the micrometer screw gauge in the simulation; (i) with LC =
0.005mm and (ii) with LC = 0.01mm. What does LC = 0.005mm and LC = 0.01mm
mean?

Least count of the micrometer screw gauge is 0.01mm and 0.005mm

__________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

6. For this activity, select LC = 0.01 mm. Then complete the following.
(a) The Smallest Scale of the Micrometer Screw Gauge: Dx = _____________.
0.01mm

(b) Reading Uncertainty: Dy = _±_0.01mm______________

7. Determine the zeroth error = _______-0.01__mm________________

8. Is it negative or positive zeroth error? ___________negative __________

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 Lab 1 – An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

9. Record the measurement below (if there is a zeroth error, you have to make some
adjustment on your reading). Show your steps clearly:
Measurement = (reading from main scale + reading from vernier scale (add with
zeroth error or subtract with zeroth error)

(a) Lead Shot: Diameter = _____6.25mm_________ ± ____0.01__mm___________

5.5+ (76×0.01mm)
=6.26mm

Correct reading
6.26- (-0.01mm)
=6.25mm

(b) Glass plate: Thickness = ___1.84mm_________ ± ______0.01mm__________

1+ (85×0.01)
=1.85mm

Correct reading
1.85-(-0.01mm)
=1.84mm

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 SFL1013-Techniques in Physics Laboratory

C. Thermometer
Procedure
1. Go to the link below:
http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=73&brch=7&sim=33&cnt=4

2. Study and learn how to use the simulation.

3. In this activity, you need to measure and then determine the melting point of an
organic compound.

4. Click on Simulator (the icon is shown in the diagram below) in the website.

5. (a) The Smallest Scale of the Thermometer: Dx = ___0℃__________.

(b) Reading Uncertainty: Dy = ___±1℃_______________

6. You will measure the melting point of compound 1. It can be done by selecting the
compound from the ‘Select the compound’ drop down list as shown in the diagram
below. Then, click on the 'Start' button.

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 Lab 1 – An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

7. Then turn on the burner by clicking on the ‘Knob’ of the burner as shown in the diagram
below. The temperature begins to rise.

8. Record the measurement below.

(a) The temperature at which the compound starts melting, t1

t1 = ___120__ ℃_ ___________ ± _____1℃____________

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(b) The temperature at which has completely melted, t2

± _______0.5℃__________
t2 = _____124℃_________

9. The melting point is given as:

𝑡( + 𝑡)
𝑡! "#$%&’ =
2

10. Calculate the melting point, tmelting using formula in (9) and report your answer below.

tmelting = ____122℃__________

D. Spring scale
Procedure
1. Go to the link below:
http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=1&brch=1&sim=2&cnt=4

2. Study and learn how to use the simulation.

3. In this activity, you need to measure the mass and weight of several objects.

4. Click on Simulator (the icon is shown in the diagram below) in the website.

5. (a) The Smallest Scale of the spring balance (for measuring mass): Dx =
_0.1kg______.

(b) Reading Uncertainty: Dy = ____±1______________

6. (a) The Smallest Scale of the spring balance (for measuring weight): Dx =
_0.05N_____.

(b) Reading Uncertainty: Dy = ____1N______________

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7. Use the simulation and record the measurement below.

(a) Cylinder: mcylinder = ______170g________ ± ____0.1g_____________

Wcylinder = ______1.7N________ ± ______1N___________

(b) Stone: mstone = ______70g________ ± ______0.1g___________

Wstone = ______0.7N________ ± _____1N____________

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E. Ammeter and Voltmeter

The diagram below shows the measurement of current and volt

age using ammeter and voltmeter

Load

1. (a) The Smallest Scale of the Ammeter: Dx = ____0.02A_________.

(b) Reading Uncertainty: Dy = __±0.1A________________

2. (a) The Smallest Scale of the Voltmeter: Dx = ___0.1V__________.

(b) Reading Uncertainty: Dy = ____±1.0V______________

3. What is the measurement of the ammeter.

I = ____100A__________ ± ______0.1A___________

4. What is the measurement of the voltmeter.

V = ___2.8V___________ ± ______1.0A___________

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Lab 1 – An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

Answer Sheet

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SFL1013-Techniques in Physics Laboratory

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Lab 1 – An Introduction to Measuring Instruments

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 SFL1013-Techniques in Physics Laboratory

Voltmeter
The Smallest Scale , Dx Dx = _____________ ____
and Reading Uncertainty,
Dy. Dy = __________________

What is the measurement I = ______________ ± _________________

of the ammeter.

What is the measurement V = ______________ ± _________________

of the voltmeter.

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