The Density of a Metal Cylinder

Your # : _________

PH 4A Thursday Lab
Professor Canales

Date 1/22/03

[FYI, all relevant elements of a formal lab report with EP are included here, however,
this sample does not include the exact order listed and the exact headings, lettering, and
numbering that you are required to show as described in the “LAB REPORT WRITING
CHART”]

ABSTRACT
The density of a metal cylinder was determined by multiple measurements of mass, diameter,
and length. The experimental density of the cylinder is ρ exp = 9.00 g 3 which was compared
cm
to a handbook value of ρ theo = 8.900 g 3 leading to the identification of the material as an
cm
alloy of Brass. The percent discrepancy between these values was 1.1% and error propagation
yielded a smaller percent error of ρ exp of 2 × 10−8% . Thus the discrepancy was outside the
allowed margin of error (percent error) and the experiment was unsuccessful. The likely reason
for the lack of success is because Brass is an alloy or mixture of metals, usually copper and
zinc, and the proportions of each vary. Thus the theoretical density of Brass may have been for
Brass made of different proportions of metals than that of the metal cylinder used.

Revised 8/22/2016
Introduction:
The density of a metal cylinder (made of unknown material) will be determined from
measurements of mass, diameter, and length. The ratio of mass to volume yields the
experimental density and error propagation will be used to determine the successfulness of the
experiment.

Equipment & Images:

Metal Cylinder
Vernier Calipers Balance Scale

(http://www.physics.smu.edu/~scalise/apparatus/caliper/) (http://www.premierscaleservices.co.za/scales.php)

Theory:

The average volume of the cylinder can be calculated using the average radius, r , of the
d
cylinder (where r = ) and the average height, h , of the cylinder as seen in the equation
2
below:

V = πr 2 h (1)

The density of the cylinder is calculated using the equation below:

m m = average cylinder mass

ρ exp = (2) where
V V = average cylinder volume
Substituting (1) into (2):
m
r exp =
p r 2h
The percent discrepancy between the handbook and experimental densities of the metal
cylinder are found using the equation below.

Valuetheoretical − Valueexp erimental

=
% Discrepancy × 100 (3)
Vtheoretical

Revised 8/22/2016
The absolute error in the experimental density of the metal cylinder is found using the exact
differential below:

2 2 2
 ∂r exp    ∂r    ∂r  
δr exp =  δr  +  exp δh  +  exp δm  (4)
 ∂r    ∂h    ∂m  

where δρ exp = random error in experimental density of cylinder

δr = random error in radius of cylinder
δh = random error in height of cylinder
δm = random error in mass of cylinder
The Percent Error in the experimental density was found using the equation below:

δρ exp
% Eρρoρ = × 100 (5)
ρ exp
Procedure:
1. Record the type of metal cylinder you are using (either brass or copper).
2. Use the calipers to measure the height of the cylinder 10 times and the diameter of the
cylinder ten times, making sure to take each measurement at a different place on the
cylinder. Record the 20 measurements in a table and calculate their averages.
3. Measure the mass of the cylinder 5 times using the balance scale. Record the
measurements in a table and calculate their average.

Analysis/Calculations:

Data:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Estimated
Measurement # Average
random error

Diameter (mm) 12.66 12.66 12.66 12.66 12.70 12.70 12.60 12.66 12.66 12.60 12.656 ---------

Radius (mm) 6.33 6.33 6.33 6.33 6.35 6.35 6.30 6.33 6.33 6.30 6.325 δr = ± 0.01

Height (mm) 50.85 50.70 50.65 50.70 50.75 50.75 50.75 50.85 50.83 50.80 50.763 δh = ± 0.01

Mass (g) 57.43 57.41 57.34 57.39 57.41 57.396 δm = ± 0.15

ρ theo = 8.900 g
cm 3
The average radius, height and mass of the metal cylinder are calculated.

The experimental density of the cylinder is found from substituting equation (1) into equation
(2) to yield the sample calculation below:

Revised 8/22/2016
 m
r exp =
V
m
r exp =
p r 2h
57.396 g
r exp =
p ⋅ (6.325mm) 2 (50.763mm)
57.396 g
r exp =
6.380 cm 3
r exp = 9.00 g 3
cm
The percent discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical densities of the yellow brass
cylinder are found using equation (3) as seen below:
9.00 g 3 − 8.900 g 3
cm cm
= % discrepancy × 100 = 1.12%=1.1%
8.900 g
cm 3

Finally the absolute error in ρ exp is calculated using equation (4) in the theory with a sample
calculation being shown below:

2 2 2
 ∂r exp    ∂r    ∂r  
δr exp =  δr  +  exp δh  +  exp δm 
 ∂r    ∂h    ∂m  

NOTE: Taking the partial derivatives (shown in the square brackets below) DOES NOT need
to be shown in a formal lab write-up and is only shown here for instructional purposes.

RULE for PARTIAL DERIVATIVES : 

Treat all variables as a constant except for the variable with respect to which you are taking the partial derivative.
 
 
 
 ∂r exp = ∂ r = ∂  m  = m ∂  1  = m ∂ (r −2 ) = −2 m r −3 = − 2m 
 ∂r  2   2 
∂ ∂  pr h  p ∂ r  p ∂ p ph r
exp 3
r r h r h r h
 
 
 ∂r 
 exp = ∂ r exp = ∂  2  = 2 ∂   = 2 ∂ (h −1 ) = 2 (−1 ⋅ h −2 ) = −2 2
m m 1 m m m 
 ∂h ∂h ∂h  pr h  pr ∂h  h  pr ∂h pr pr h 
 
 
 ∂r exp ∂ ∂  m  1 ∂ 
 = r exp =  2 = 2 (m ) = 2 1

 ∂m ∂m ∂m  pr h  pr h ∂m pr h 

Revised 8/22/2016
 2 2 2
 ∂rrr
exp    ∂    ∂  
δr exp =   δ r  +  exp  δ h  +  exp  δ m 
 ∂r    ∂h    ∂m  
substituting the partial derivatives into this equation
2 2 2
  −2 m     − m     1  
yields drddd
exp =  ppp 3
r  +  2 2  h  +  2  m 
 hr    r h    r h  
2 2 2
 −2(57.396 g )    − (57.396 g )    1  
dr exp =  ppp 3  (0.01mm )  +   2 2  (0.01mm )  +   2  (0.15 g ) 
 (50.763mm)(6.325mm)    (6.325mm) (50.763mm)    (6.325mm) (50.763mm)  

dr exp = 8.092 × 10−10 g 3 + 3.141 × 10−12 g 3 + 5.528 × 10−10 g

cm cm cm 3
dr
= 1.365 × 10−9 g
exp
cm 3

The percent error in the experimental density is calculated from equation (5) as seen below:

δρ exp
% Error in ρ exp = × 100
ρ exp
1.365 × 10 −9 g
% Error in ρ exp = cm 3 × 100 = 1.5 × 10 −8 %
9.00 g
cm 3
% Error in ρ exp = 2 × 10 −8 %

Conclusion:
The objective of this lab was clearly met, as the density of a yellow brass cylinder was
determined from measurements of the cylinder’s dimensions and mass. The experimental
density was then compared to the theoretical density of brass. The density of the brass cylinder
was experimentally determined to be ρ exp = 9.00 g 3 , which has a 1.1 percent discrepancy with
cm
the theoretical density of ρ theo = 8.900 g/ cm 3 . The percent error in ρ exp was calculated using
error propagation to be 2 × 10 −8 % . Therefore the percent discrepancy for ρ exp does not lie
within the allowed margin of error ( ±2 ×10−8% ) and the experiment was not successful.
The percent discrepancy might be explained by any of the sources of error listed below:
• The irregularities in the cylinder’s shape due to scratches and dings in the metal, which
cause imprecision in the measurements of the cylinder’s radius and height.
• The likely reason for the lack of success is because Brass is an alloy or mixture of metals,
usually copper and zinc, and the proportions of each vary. Thus the theoretical density of
Brass may have been for Brass made of different proportions of metals than that of the
metal cylinder used.

Revised 8/22/2016