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Department of Physics
Cotton University

Instructions for Practical

Class XI
 EXPERIMENT NO. 1: USE OF VERNIER OR SLIDE CALLIPERS

Aim of the Experiment:

Use of Vernier callipers

i. to measure the diameter of a small spherical/cylindrical body.

ii. to measure the dimensions of a given regular body of known mass and hence find its
density.
iii. to measure the internal diameter and depth of a given beaker/calorimeter and hence
find its volume.

Theory:
Principle of Vernier:
Let n divisions of the vernier scale coincide with (n-1) divisions of the main scale,
ie.
n Vernier scale divisions (VSD)= (n-1) Main scale divisions
���
1 VSD = MSD where MSD is the value of the smallest main scale
�
division.
Now, Vernier Constant (VC) of the vernier is the smallest distance that can be
measured by the vernier calliper. In other words it is a measure of the least count of the
instrument. It is measured as the difference between the value of 1 main scale division
and value of 1 vernier scale division.
VC = 1 MSD – 1VSD
���
VC = 1 MSD - �
MSD

��� �
� VC = �1 � �
� MSD =
�
MSD

Observed reading:
Observed reading = MSR +VSD × VC
Where MSR is the reading on the main scale to the left of the zero of the vernier
scale and VSD is that smallest division on the vernier scale which coincides with any
division of the main scale when the object to be measured is placed between the two
jaws of the vernier calliper. VSD by itself does not have any unit because each vernier
division is smaller than the conventional metre or inch scales. Each vernier division
acquires a unit only when it is multiplied by the vernier constant.

Instrumental Error:
The instrument is said to possess Instrumental Error if the zero of the main scale
does not coincide with the zero of the vernier scale when the jaws are in contact.
Instrumental Error can be either positive or negative.
 If the zero of the vernier scale is to the left of the main scale when the two jaws are
in contact then the error is negative. If x divisions of the vernier scale coincides with
the main scale zero, then

Instrumental Error (IE) = ���� � �� × V C

If the zero of the vernier scale is to the right of the main scale when the two jaws are
in contact then the error is positive. If x divisions of the vernier scale coincides with
the main scale zero, then

Instrumental Error (IE) = � × V C

Corrected reading:

Corrected Reading = Observed Reading - IE

Experiment No. 1(i):
To measure the diameter of a small spherical/cylindrical body.
Apparatus and materials required:
1. vernier callipers
2. a spherical body,
3. a cylinder.

Theory:
Observed diameter = MSR+VSD x VC
Corrected diameter = Observed diameter – Instrumental Error

Experimental Data and Results:

Vernier Constant:
Value of 1 smallest main scale division (MSD) = ...................
10 vernier scale division (VSD) = 9 MSD
�
1 VSD = MSD
��

Vernier constant (VC) = 1 MSD – 1VSD

�
= �1 � � MSD = 0.1 MSD = ...............
��

Instrumental Error = ....................

 Table for determination of average diameter of a sphere

Particulars Sl Direction MSR VSD VSR = VC × Total diameter Mean IE Mean

No in cm VSD in cm diameter in in corrected
‘a’ in cm ‘a+b’ cm cm diameter
‘b’ in cm
Diameter 1 st �r
1 2 nd �r
3rd �r
1 st �r
2 2 nd �r
3 rd �r
1 st �r
3 2 nd �r
3 rd �r

Mean diameter of sphere = ............................

 Table for determination of average diameter of a cylinder

Particulars No. of Direction MSR VSD VSR =VC × Total Mean IE Mean
Observation in cm VSD diameter diameter in in corrected
‘a’ in cm in cm cm cm diameter
‘b’ ‘a+b’ in cm

Diameter
1 st �r
1
2 nd �r

1 st �r
2
2 nd �r

1 st �r
3
2 nd �r

Mean diameter of cylinder = ............

Experiment 1(ii):
Use of vernier callipers to measure dimensions of a given regular body (a cube) of
known mass and hence to find its density.
Working Formula:
Volume of a cube= L × B × H
Where L = Length, B =Breadth and H = Height of the cube.
���� ����
������� � �
������ �� ���

Experimental data and results:

Vernier Constant:
Value of 1 smallest main scale division (MSD) = ...................
10 vernier scale division (VSD) = 9 MSD
�
1 VSD = MSD
��

Vernier constant (VC) = 1 MSD – 1VSD

�
= �1 � � MSD = 0.1 MSD = ...............
��

Instrumental Error = ....................

Mass of the given cube = ..................
 Table for determination of volume of a cube:

Particulars No. MSR VSD VSR =VC × VSD Total reading Mean IE Mean
of obs. in cm in cm in cm reading in in corrected
‘a’ ‘b’ ‘a+b’ cm cm reading
in cm
1

Length L 2

Breadth B 2

1
Height H
2
3
Calculation of density:
Volume = L × B × H = ..................
Mass = ..................
���� ����
Hence ������� � � = ..................
������ �����
Experiment 1 (iii)
Use of vernier callipers to measure internal diameter and depth of a given
beaker/calorimeter and hence find its volume.

Apparatus and materials required:

1. a beaker or a calorimeter
2. Vernier callipers
3. kitchen balance

Working formula:
Internal Volume of a beaker/calorimeter
�
� � �� � �
�

Where D is the internal diameter of the beaker/calorimeter and H is its internal

depth.

Experimental data and results:

Vernier Constant:
Value of 1 smallest main scale division (MSD) = ...................
10 vernier scale division (VSD) = 9 MSD
�
1 VSD = MSD
��

Vernier constant (VC) = 1 MSD – 1VSD

�
= �1 � � MSD = 0.1 MSD = ...............
��

Instrumental Error = ....................

 Table for determination of internal volume of a beaker/calorimeter

Particulars No. Direction MSR VSD VSR =VC × Total reading Mean IE Mean corrected
of obs. in cm VSD in cm reading in cm reading
‘a’ in cm ‘a+b’ in cm in cm
‘b’
Depth H
1

Internal
diameter D 1st �r
1
2 nd �r

1st �r
2
2 nd �r

�
Volume = �� � � =
�
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