Aim: To record the length of three different objects with different measuring instruments

1. Lab #1: Discussion, Error and Precaution, Conclusion
Discussion
The lengths of a glass prism, stool, beaker, copper wire and metal pin were made using 3 measuring
instruments.The accuracyof the instruments(how close the readings are to the 'true' value) could not
be determinedasnotrue valuesof the quantitiesbeingmeasuredwere given.The instrumentswith the
greatest precision (intention to make observations with the greatest possible x aptitude) were the
verniercalipersbecausetheywere abletomeasure quantitiestotwosignificantfigures. The meter rule
had the leastprecisionas it only made measurements to one significant figure. The micrometer screw
gauge was the most sensitive (had the largest response to unit change in input) as its scale would
experience the most graduations for a fixed length amongst the 3 instruments. Finally the meter rule
had the greatest range (interval between minimum and maximum values able to be measured) being
100cm but was also the least sensitive instrument.
It was necessarytotake repeatedreadingsof the measuredquantitiesinorderto eliminate uncertainty
or random error. However, parallax error was hard to avoid when measuring the stool as the point on
the scale was way higher than my line of sight. As seen in all except one of the readings, the
consistencies in the measurements show that these readings were very precise.
In measuringthe thicknessof the beaker, the difference between the external and internal diameters
was needed to be divided by 2 so that the final result would not represent the thickness of two sides,
but one only.
The results obtained were as expected with the stool, the largest object having the greatest overall
measurement with the strand of copper wire having the least.
Sources of Error
 Parallax Error: a parallax errorwas experiencedwhentakingthe lengthof the stool because of
the stool’selevatedpositionandthe pointonthe scale beingabove myline of sight.However,it
was soonrealizedandcorrected.
 There wasa bitof uncertaintyinreadingthe micrometerscrew gauge whenmeasuringthe
widthof the strand of copperwire.
Precautions
 To avoidparallax error,I made sure that all my readingswere made ateye level,withone eye
whichwasusedfor throughout.
 To avoiduncertainty,repeatedreadingsof the quantitieswere recorded.

2. Conclusion
The lengthsof the instrumentsthatwere tobe measuredwere recordedsuccessfully.