Theory When preforming an experiment using the scientific process one of the most essential components is comparing theory to actual measurements. This relies on the accuracy and uncertainty of the measurement itself. If an actual measurement proves the theory wrong it you must know the uncertainty so you can try to figure out where the error took place. Uncertainty can arise from a few different areas; they are statistical variation, measurement precision, or systematic error. Systematic error is in most cases human error like not measuring the experiment with proper tools or failing to account for external factors before performing the experiment. On the other hand statistical variation and measurement uncertainty cannot be avoided in
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First we took sixteen pennies and put them in a cup. Next the pennies were shaken up and dumped out on the table, and then we counted the number pennies that landed on heads. Those steps were repeated nine times. When the experiment was done data was taken and recorded in excel. The second part of the experiment tested for measurement precision. First we took and took a block of wood and measured all of its dimensions. Using these values we were to find the area, volume, and density of the block of wood. We also calculated the maximum area, volume, and density using the uncertainty values that we were …show more content…
The dimensions were 30.2cm by 8.4cm by 3.7cm and the uncertainty of the ruler was .1 cm. the weight of the block came out to be 534.8 grams with and uncertainty of .1 grams. Then using the formula length x width the area of the block of wood was calculated to be 253.68 cm^2. The volume was then calculated using the formula length x width x height and that came out to be 938.62 cm^3. Lastly the density was calculated using the formulas mass/volume and that was 569.77 kg/m^3. Then using the uncertainties provided the maximum area, volume, and density using the same formulas as before. Those values were 257.55 cm^2, 978.69 cm^3, and 546.55 kg/m^3. Next the uncertainty was calculated by subtracting the max from the measured value of the area, volume, and density. Those values were 3.6 for area, 25.3 for volume, and 10.8 for density. After that the percent uncertainty was calculated by using the formula 100(uncertainty)/(original value). The values for area, volume, and density are 1.53, 4.23, and 4.09. The expected percentage was then calculated by adding up the percentages from the dimensions used in calculating the quantity. For area the expected was 1.52, the volume 4.23, and for density 4.29. Finally I found the expected uncertainty buy using the formula (original value)*(expected percentage uncertainty)/100. The values for area, volume, and density
First we took sixteen pennies and put them in a cup. Next the pennies were shaken up and dumped out on the table, and then we counted the number pennies that landed on heads. Those steps were repeated nine times. When the experiment was done data was taken and recorded in excel. The second part of the experiment tested for measurement precision. First we took and took a block of wood and measured all of its dimensions. Using these values we were to find the area, volume, and density of the block of wood. We also calculated the maximum area, volume, and density using the uncertainty values that we were …show more content…
The dimensions were 30.2cm by 8.4cm by 3.7cm and the uncertainty of the ruler was .1 cm. the weight of the block came out to be 534.8 grams with and uncertainty of .1 grams. Then using the formula length x width the area of the block of wood was calculated to be 253.68 cm^2. The volume was then calculated using the formula length x width x height and that came out to be 938.62 cm^3. Lastly the density was calculated using the formulas mass/volume and that was 569.77 kg/m^3. Then using the uncertainties provided the maximum area, volume, and density using the same formulas as before. Those values were 257.55 cm^2, 978.69 cm^3, and 546.55 kg/m^3. Next the uncertainty was calculated by subtracting the max from the measured value of the area, volume, and density. Those values were 3.6 for area, 25.3 for volume, and 10.8 for density. After that the percent uncertainty was calculated by using the formula 100(uncertainty)/(original value). The values for area, volume, and density are 1.53, 4.23, and 4.09. The expected percentage was then calculated by adding up the percentages from the dimensions used in calculating the quantity. For area the expected was 1.52, the volume 4.23, and for density 4.29. Finally I found the expected uncertainty buy using the formula (original value)*(expected percentage uncertainty)/100. The values for area, volume, and density