Activity No.

2
Precision in Measurements

Objective: To determine how precision varies with different measurements.

Procedure:

I. Data collection and calculation of sample statistics.

1. Determine the weight of a ten-peso coin using an analytical balance. Make five (5)
trials. The members of the group should take turns in making the measurement.
Tabulate your results and calculate the mean, standard deviation and coefficient of
variation of the data obtained.

2. Repeat number 1 above using a five-peso coin, two-one-peso coins and four
twenty-five centavo coins

3. Repeat numbers 1 and 2 using a triple beam balance instead of an analytical

balance.

4. Determine the temperature of water fresh from the faucet by collecting the water
in a 400-mL beaker and then immersing a mercury thermometer into the water.
Make three (3) trials with the different members of the group taking turns. Use
freshly collected water each time. Again, tabulate your results and calculate the
mean, the standard deviation, and the coefficient of variation.

5. Make 10 mL of water using a volumetric pipet and weigh the amount of water by
draining it into a 30-mL beaker that has been tared in an analytical balance.
Repeat five (5) times with the members taking turns. Tabulate your results and
calculate the mean, the standard deviation, and the coefficient of variation.

6. Determine the volume of a marble through water displacement using a 100-mL

graduated cylinder. Repeat three (3) times each time wiping dry the stone using
cloth or tissue paper. Tabulate the result sand calculate the mean, standard
deviation, and coefficient of variation.

7. Measure the length of a cut rubber band provided to each group using a ruler. Do
these five (5) times. Try your best that the rubber band is not stretched. Tabulate the results
and calculate the mean, the standard deviation, and the coefficient of variation.
 II. Interpretation of results.

Compare the variabilities or precisions of the above measurements using their standard
deviations and their coefficients of variation. Rank them in the order of decreasing
precision. Which measurement is most variable? Which one is the least variable?

What is the better basis for comparing precision - standard deviation or coefficient of
variation? Why?

Identify the sources of variation in each case and see if these would explain the
magnitudes of the variabilities observed.

N 1. Nina Grace Carangcarang Date performed:

A 9/26/2021
M 2. Maria Shanelle Wynne B. Estrada Date submitted:
E 9/30/2021
S
3. Score:

4. Instructor’s Initial:
M.

Activity No. 2
Precision in Measurements

i. Objective (s)
To determine how precision varies with different measurements

ii. Materials and Apparatus

• Coins

• Marble/stone

• Cloth/tissue

• Rubber band
 • Ruler

• Triple beam balance

• Graduated cylinder

• Beaker

• Thermometer

• Volumetric pipet

iii. Procedure

iv.Results and Discussion

Weight of coins in grams using Analytical Balance (ab) and Triple Beam Balance (tb).

Ten pesos Five pesos 2-One pesos 4-25 centavos

ab tb ab tb ab tb ab tb

Trials 1 8.0158 8.015 7.3253 7.325 12.5719 12.572 14.5284 14.528

2 8.0179 8.017 7.3262 7.326 12.5714 12.571 14.5289 14.529

3 8.0158 8.016 7.3255 7.325 12.5721 12.572 14.5278 14.528

4 8.0198 8.019 7.3247 7.325 12.5718 12.572 14.5281 14.528

5 8.0132 8.013 7.3258 7.326 12.5715 12.571 14.5289 14.529

8.0165 8.016 7.3255 7.3254 12.57174 12.5716 14.52842 14.5284
Mean
1.35×10^-5 2.24^-7 1.775×10^-7 1.73×10^-7 1.58×10^-6 1.36×10^-7 1.54×10^-7 1.73×10^-7
Std. Deviation
2.28×10^-2 2.28×10^-2 1.42×10^-6 2.36×10^-8 1.257×10^-5 1.082×10^-6 1.06×10^-6 1.20×10^-6
Coeff of Var

Temperature Mass of Volume of Length of

of water 10.0mL water marble rubber band

Trials 1 28.0 0C 10.1011 g 3.5122 g 3.59cm

2 28.50C 10.1025 g 3.3562 g 3.58cm

3 28.5 0C 10.0021 g 3.9842 g 3.60cm

 4 27.5 0C 10.0651 g 3.9872 g 3.57cm

5 28.0 0C 10.1023 g 3.3622 g 3.61cm

28.1 10.07 3.64 3.59
Mean
0.42 0.04 0.32 0.02
Std. Deviation
1.41% 0.43% 8.83% 0.44%
Coeff of Var

v. Conclusion

Based on the results, the volume has the highest variability or precision. The least variable is
height, and then followed by the temperature, length and mass. It is consistent with their
standard deviation and coefficients of variance. It is preferable to use the coefficients of
variance as your basis for greater precision. as the standard deviation is typically proportional
to mean and this makes comparing the overall precision easier. The source of variation could be
technical, such as when the equipment may produces wrong data or by the observer who
makes an errors or lacks of expertise, which affects the result.