Lab 1 – Measurement and Error

Part 1 – Measuring objects

For this part of the experiment you will measure two objects (a penny and your QCC ID)

1. Measuring Length using a ruler

Goto the following website if you need to refresh your memory on how to measure distance
using centimeter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-FaqT4hqMI

• Measure the Diameter of a penny. Measure the length a width of you QCC ID
• You can use this website https://iruler.net/

Penny QCC ID
Trial Diameter (cm) Length (cm) Width (cm)
1
2
3
Average

2. How to use the Vernier Calipers

• Watch the following video to learn to use the Vernier Calipers –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwW3UHvzcOc
• You can also practice using this website - https://www.stefanelli.eng.br/en/virtual-
vernier-caliper-simulator-05-millimeter/#swiffycontainer_2
• Measure the Diameter of a penny. Measure the length a width of you QCC ID using
the online Vernier Calipers simulator
 Penny QCC ID
Trial Diameter (cm) Length (cm) Width (cm)
1
2
3
Average

3. How to use the Micrometer

• Watch the following video to learn to use the Vernier Calipers –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ARvWwMZX8
• You can also practice using this website - https://www.stefanelli.eng.br/en/simulator-
virtual-micrometer-hundredths-millimeter/
• Measure the Diameter of a penny. Measure the length a width of you QCC ID using
the online Micrometer simulator

Penny QCC ID
Trial Diameter (cm) Length (cm) Width (cm)
1
2
3
Average

4. Triple beam balance

 • Watch the video to learn how to read/use a triple beam balance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAf6HoVK6JI
• You can practice using this website
https://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspDetail&Resource
ID=385

5. Measuring using the Vernier Calipers

• Goto this website and measure the dimensions of the following objects:
http://amrita.olabs.edu.in/?sub=1&brch=5&sim=16&cnt=4

Sphere Cylinder Iron Block Beaker

Trial Diameter Diameter Height Length Width Height Inner Diam. Depth
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
1
2
3
avg

Part 2 – Calculating Error

• Use the data from part 1 section 5.
• Assume the uncertainty for the Vernier Calipers is 0.005 cm
• Calculate the volume with error for the sphere, cylinder and iron block (see the lab
manual).