MEASUREMENT – Accuracy and Precision
Experiment No. 1
I. Introduction:
Mensuration is the scientific comparison between the unknown (measurand) quantities
with the known (standard) quantity. The two (2) systems of measurement are: a) the Metric
System known as MKS (meter-kilogram-second) and CGS (centimeter-gram-second, and b)
the English System known as FPS (foot-pound-second). Since mathematics is an
international problem Metric System is referred to SI (System International) for it is easier to
convert. There are two (2) forms of measurement: a) the fundamental quantity, and b) derived
quantity. Fundamental quantities are quantities that are measured directly by a measuring
device like graduated cylinder for volume of liquid, platform balance for mass and meter stick
for distance.
The accuracy of measurement can be compared through the calibration of a certain
device: the smaller the division, the greater the accuracy of the standard.
It is a must that before using a measuring device, zeroing should be done. Zeroing is the
process of checking first the instrument before using it and make adjustments if necessary.
Accuracy and Precision
Accuracy refers to the closeness of the measured value to the true or accepted value of
the measurement. The term precision is used to refer to the closeness of multiple
measurements to each other.
Errors in measurement are broadly ascribed to two categories: systematic and random
errors:
Systematic errors are the result of improper handling of the instrument or a
defective instrument. Random errors are a result of varied factors that are
difficult to isolate (changes in environmental conditions in the laboratory, voltage
fluctuations, parallax etc). The best set of data will ideally be both accurate as
well as precise. If the true value of a particular measurement is known, then an
estimate of the accuracy of the data can be obtained by calculating the percent
error in the data.
Statistical Tools
The mean and standard deviation are the most common statistical tools for data
analysis.
The arithmetic mean is the simple average or sum of a series of numbers divided by the
count of that series of numbers.
Precision is assessed through a statistical measure known as the standard deviation. It
reflects the average amount by which measurements differ from one another. A high
standard deviation signifies low precision, while a low standard deviation indicates high
precision. The standard deviation is calculated using the following formula:
In the above formula: σ is the standard deviation, xi is a data point, and n is the number
of data points.
II. Objectives:
At the end of the activity, the students should be able to:
Compare the accuracy of measuring devices;
Measure the mass density of given samples; and
Differentiate the fundamental quantity from derived quantity.
Use different laboratory apparatus to determine the mass and volume of water.
Compute for the density of water
Compare the accuracy and precision of the laboratory apparatus
III. Materials Needed:
Micrometer Caliper water
Vernier Caliper metal ball
4-sided meter stick block of wood
Graduated cylinder metal cylinder
Triple beam balance Coin
Beaker ( 50 ml) Graduated Cylinder (50 ml)
Volumetric Flash (50 ml)
IV. Schematic Diagram:
Figure1. The Vernier and Micrometer calipers
V. Procedure:
Experiment 1 - A
A. The Thickness of a Coin:
Measure the thickness of a Coin using the micrometer caliper and the Vernier caliper.
Record its reading and convert to meter.
B. The Width of the Table:
A four-sided meter stick has four calibrations with corresponding units of 0-1 in meter; 0-
10 in decimeters; 0-100 in centimeters and the side with 1000 divisions in millimeters.
Using the 4-sided meter stick, measure the width of the table in meter, decimeter,
centimeter, and millimeter and record it on the underlined cells in the table. Apply conversion
for the other blanks in the table, horizontally.
C. The Mass Density, ρ
1. Measure the mass of a metal ball, a metal cylinder and a block of wood with the aid of a
triple beam balance.
2. For the mass of water: Get first the mass of an empty graduated cylinder, then place 20
mL of water. Secondly, measure the mass of the graduated cylinder with water. Record
the mass of water by taking the difference of the first and the second reading.
3. With the aid of the Vernier caliper measure the dimensions required for the metal ball,
metal cylinder and block of wood.
4. Compute for their volumes and mass densities.
5. Compare the experimental value with the accepted value using % Error.
Experiment 1 – B
A. MEASURE THE DENSITY OF WATER USING A 100-ml beaker.
1. Measure the mass of an empty 100-ml beaker.
2. Add 100 ml100ml of tap water to the beaker.
3. Record the volume of the water.
4. Measure of the mass of the beaker with water.
5. Empty the water in the sink.
6. Repeat the steps two more times.
7. Calculate the density of water for each trial, the average density, the standard deviation,
and the percent error.
B. MEASURE THE DENSITY OF WATER USING A 100-ML GRADUATED CYLINDER
1. Measure the mass of an empty 100-ml graduated cylinder.
2. Add tap water up to the 100 mL mark.
3. Record the volume of the water.
4. Measure of the mass of the graduated cylinder with water.
5. Empty the water in the sink.
6. Repeat the steps two more times.
7. Calculate the density of water for each trial, the average density, the standard deviation,
and the percent error.
C. MEASURE THE DENSITY OF WATER USING A 100- mL volumetric flask
1. Measure the mass of a 100 mL volumetric flask.
2. Add tap water up to the 100 mL mark.
3. Record the volume of the water.
4. Measure of the mass of the graduated cylinder with water.
5. Empty the water in the sink.
6. Repeat the steps two more times.
7. Calculate the density of water for each trial, the average density, the standard
deviation, and the percent error.
VI. Data and Results: (Please refer to the other sheet)
VII. Sample Computations:
2 3
πd h πd m
V wood =l w t V cylinder = V sphere = ρ=
4 6 V
|Experimental Value− Accepted Value|
% Error= ×100 %
Accepted Value
VIII. Questions/Analyses:
1. Which is more accurate to use, micrometer caliper or Vernier caliper?
2. Using the 4-sided meter stick, which calibration is the most accurate using meter as a
unit of distance?
3. In this experiment, list the fundamental quantities and the derived quantities.
4. Why Metric System is called SI?
5. A landowner holds 4.0 acres of rice field and a livestock area of 30.0 perches by 4.5
perches ( 1 acre = 40 perches x 4 perches; 1 perch = 16.5 ft; 1m = 3.28 ft). What
is the total land area in:
a) acre b) square feet c) square meter
6. A certain material has a mass density of 12.3 g/cc. What is its value in Kg/m3?
IX. Conclusion:
Name: __________________________ Date Performed: _____________
Course/Section: __________________ Date Submitted: _____________
Group No. _________ Instructor: __________________
MEASUREMENT – Accuracy and Precision
Experiment No. 1 A
I. Data and Results:
A. Thickness of a Coin:
Micrometer caliper _______________ mm ______________ m
Vernier caliper ___________________ cm ______________ m
B. Width of the Table:
Mm Cm Dm M
mm _______
cm _______
dm ________
m ________
C. Mass density, ρ of objects:
Metal ball: diameter: _________ cm
Metal cylinder: diameter: ________ cm height: ________ cm
Wood: length: _______ cm width: _______ cm height: _____ cm
SAMPLE MASS VOLUME EV AV % ERROR
(g) (cc) (g/cc) ρ (g/cc)
Water 1.0
Metal ball
Metal cylinder
Block of wood 0.8
Name: __________________________ Date Performed: _____________
Course/Section: __________________ Date Submitted: _____________
Group No. _________ Instructor: __________________
MEASUREMENT – Accuracy and Precision
Experiment No. 1 B
A. Density of water using different instruments.
A. Density of water using the beaker:
Trial Mass of Mass of beaker Mass of Volume of Density of Water
Beaker with water (g) Water (g) Water (mL) (g/ml)
(g)
1
2
3.
Average Density
Standard Deviation
% Error
B. Density of water using the graduated cylinder:
Trial Mass of Mass of Mass of Volume of Density of Water
Graduated graduated Water (g) Water (mL) (g/ml)
Cylinder cylinder with
(g) water (g)
1
2
3.
Average Density
Standard Deviation
%Error
C. Density of water using the volumetric flask:
Tria Mass of Mass of Mass of Volume of Density of
l Volumetric volumetric Water (g) Water (mL) Water
Flask flask with (g/ml)
(g) water (g)
1
2
3.
Average Density
% Error
SD
D. Density of wooden block.
Trial Mass of Length (cm) Width Thickness Volume Density of
wooden (cm) (cm) (cm3) Wooden Block
block (g) (g/cm3)
1
2
3.
Average Density
SD
% Error
