Name Section Date

Lab Partner(s)

E X P E R I M E N T 2

Experimental Uncertainty (Error)

and Data Analysis
Laboratory Report

1. Least Counts
(a) Given meter-length sticks calibrated in meters, decimeters, centimeters, and millimeters,
respectively. Use the sticks to measure the length of the object provided and record with
the appropriate number of significant figures in Data Table 1.

DATA TABLE 1
Purpose: To express least counts and measurements.

Object Length
m dm cm mm

Actual length
(Provided by instructor after measurements)
Comments on the measurements in terms of least counts:

(b) Find the percent errors for the four measurements in Data Table 1.

DATA TABLE 2
Purpose: To express the percent errors.

% Error
m dm cm mm

Comments on the percent error results:

2. Significant Figures
(a) Express the numbers listed in Data Table 3 to three significant figures, writing the
numbers in the first column in normal notation and the numbers in the second column
in powers of 10 (scientific) notation.

(continued)

25
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E X P E R I M E N T 2 Experimental Uncertainty (Error) and Data Analysis Laboratory Report

DATA TABLE 3
Purpose: To practice expressing significant figures.

0.524 __________ 5280 __________

15.08 __________ 0.060 __________
1444 __________ 82.453 __________
0.0254 __________ 0.00010 __________
83,909 __________ 2,700,000,000 __________

(b) A rectangular block of wood is measured to have the dimensions 11.2 cm 3 3.4 cm 3
4.10 cm. Compute the volume of the block, showing explicitly (by underlining) how
doubtful figures are carried through the calculation, and report the final answer with the
correct number of significant figures.

Calculations Computed volume

(show work) (in powers of 10 notation) ___________________
(units)

(c) In an experiment to determine the value of p, a cylinder is measured to have an average

value of 4.25 cm for its diameter and an average value of 13.39 cm for its circumfer-
ence. What is the experimental value of p to the correct number of significant figures?

Calculations
(show work) Experimental value of p ___________________
(units)

26
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Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Name Section Date
Lab Partner(s)

E X P E R I M E N T 2 Experimental Uncertainty (Error) and Data Analysis Laboratory Report

3. Expressing Experimental Error

(a) If the accepted value of p is 3.1416, what is the percent error of the experimental value
found in 2(c)?

Calculations
(show work) Percent error ___________________

(b) In an experiment to measure the acceleration due to gravity, g two values, 9.96 m/s2
and 9.72 m/s2, are determined. Find (1) the percent difference of the measurements,
(2) the percent error of each measurement, and (3) the percent error of their mean.
(Accepted value: g 5 9.80 m/s2.)

Calculations
(show work) Percent difference ___________________

Percent error of E1 ___________________

Percent error of E2 ___________________

Percent error of mean ___________________

(continued)

27
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E X P E R I M E N T 2 Experimental Uncertainty (Error) and Data Analysis Laboratory Report

(c) Data Table 4 shows data taken in a free-fall experiment. Measurements were made of
the distance of fall (y) at each of four precisely measured times. Complete the table.
Use only the proper number of significant figures in your table entries, even if you
carry extra digits during your intermediate calculations.

DATA TABLE 4
Purpose: To practice analyzing data.
Time t Distance (m) (Optional) t2
(s) y1 y2 y3 y4 y5 y d ( )
0 0 0 0 0 0
0.50 1.0 1.4 1.1 1.4 1.5
0.75 2.6 3.2 2.8 2.5 3.1
1.00 4.8 4.4 5.1 4.7 4.8
1.25 8.2 7.9 7.5 8.1 7.4

(d) Plot a graph of y versus t (optional: with 2d error bars) for the free-fall data in part (c).
Remember that t 5 0 is a known point.
(e) The equation of motion for an object in free fall starting from rest is y 5 12 gt2, where
g is the acceleration due to gravity. This is the equation of a parabola, which has the
general form y 5 ax2.
Convert the curve into a straight line by plotting y versus t2. That is, plot the square
of the time on the abscissa. Determine the slope of the line, and compute the experi-
mental value of g from the slope value.

Calculations
(show work) Experimental value of g from graph _____________________
(units)

28
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Name Section Date
Lab Partner(s)

E X P E R I M E N T 2 Experimental Uncertainty (Error) and Data Analysis Laboratory Report

(f) Compute the percent error of the experimental value of g determined from the graph in
part (e). (Accepted value: g 5 9.8 m/s2.)

Calculations
(show work) Percent error ________________

(g) The relationship of the applied force F and the displacement x of a spring has the gen-
eral form F 5 kx, where the constant k is called the spring constant and is a measure
of the “stiffness” of the spring. Notice that this equation has the form of a straight line.
Find the value of the spring constant k of the spring used in determining the experi-
mental data plotted in the Fig. 2.6B graph. (Note: Because k 5 F/x, the units of k in the
graph are N/m.)

Calculations
(show work) Value of spring constant of
spring in Fig. 2.6B graph ____________________
(units)

(h) The general relationship of the period of oscillation T of a mass m suspended on a

spring is T 5 2p!m/k, where k is the spring constant. Replot the data in Fig. 2.7 so as
to obtain a straight-line graph, and determine the value of the spring constant used in
the experiment. [Hint: Square both sides of the equation, and plot in a manner similar
to that used in part (e).] Show the final form of the equation and calculations.

Calculations
(show work) Value of spring constant of
spring in Fig. 2.7 ____________________
(units)

(continued)

29
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E X P E R I M E N T 2 Experimental Uncertainty (Error) and Data Analysis Laboratory Report

QUESTIONS
1. Read the measurements on the rulers in ● Fig. 2.9, and comment on the results.

Ruler 1 cm
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Ruler 2 cm
0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Ruler 3 cm
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Figure 2.9

2. Were the measurements of the block in part (b) of Procedure 2 all done with the same
instrument? Explain.

3. Referring to the dart analogy in Fig. 2.3, draw a dart grouping that would represent poor
precision but good accuracy with an average value.

4. Do percent error and percent difference give indications of accuracy or precision? Discuss
each.

5. Suppose you were the first to measure the value of some physical constant experimentally.
How would you provide an estimate of the experimental uncertainty?

30
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Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.