University of West Florida
Department of Physics
PHY 2053L
University Physics I Lab
Section: 81419

Lab Report Number: 1

Lab Title:
Meaning of Measurement

Name:

Group Members:

Date: 8/27/2014

PURPOSE:
Learn the basics of measurement and statistical analysis in context of volume and density. EQUIPMENT:
Three different geometric solids: 1 identified as white cylinder, 1 identified as brass-colored cylinder, 1 identified as silver-colored sphere.
Meter stick (wooden, displaying measurements in cm)
Analog scale (zero-ed prior to experiment)
Manual caliper
Digital caliper (zero-ed prior to each measurement)

PRINCIPLE:
This lab is intended to reinforce the importance of using proper techniques to attain precise measurements. It further demonstrates that reliability of results from different measuring devices. In this experiment, the most rudimentary measuring tool was the meter stick followed by the manual caliper and then the digital caliper.
Measuring each object five times should reinforce the different interpretations of team members as well as the variance between the different tools used to measure the objects.
In addition to measuring the length, width and height of each object, the mass was attained through the use of an analog scale. While a digital scale would have shown a more precise measurement, the analog scale was a more appropriate tool with the meter stick and manual caliper as the significant figures produced by each are more comparable.
After measurements are taken, the volume of each object can be calculated. The volume formula for the 2 cylindrical objects is: = 2 ℎ. The volume formula
4
for the sphere is: = 3 3 .
After calculating volume for each object, the density of each was calculated by dividing mass by volume ( = /).

PROCEDURE:


Identify objects to be evaluated and tools to be