Physics Lab 1: Measurements and Analysis PDF

Physics Lab#1 : Measurements and Analysis Intro: Accurate measurements are important in many different areas of specialization. To build a house one must accurately measure boards, to bake a cake one must accurately measure ingredients. To carry out research a scientist must not only be able to gen...

Physics Lab#1 : Measurements and Analysis Intro: Accurate measurements are important in many different areas of specialization. To build a house one must accurately measure boards, to bake a cake one must accurately measure ingredients. To carry out research a scientist must not only be able to generate good data, he must be able to process and present that data in such a way that communicates it’s integrity. This requires good measurements. Only then can data be used to test the predictions of a hypothesis To understand measurements one must understand the concepts of accuracy and uncertainty. Every measurement must be discussed in terms of accuracy and uncertainty. For example if I say the bed weighs 20 plus or minus 2 kilograms, it means that the bed could weigh as little as 18 kg or as much as 22 kg. Numbers are only different if their uncertainties do not overlap. 20 kg is an average value. The plus or minus 2 is the uncertainty range. In this experiment we will generate data that can be used to calculate a third quantity, using a simple technique. We will then determine an average value then use the average value to find the average deviation and then the percent deviation. Objective: The objective of this experiment will be to learn to perform measurements and express them with the proper level of uncertainty. We also want to learn how to make conclusions from data. Additionally we will test the accuracy of our technique by comparing a measured quantity with the true value. Approach: We will determine the accuracy by comparison of the average value with the true value. We will determine value of a hypothetical quantity “C” by determining experimentally a quantity “A” given a predetermined quantity “B”. A will be determined 5 times and will be used to generate 5 values for C. Then an average value for “C” will be determined along with it’s average deviation and percent deviation. The percent difference will be determined using the theoretical value for “C” Required Materials; N/A Dry Lab Experimental Procedures:Dry Lab Acquire A and B data from the end of the power point and use the equation there to calculate “C” Transfer out “B” amount of substance to measuring device.  Measure “A” and record in lab book. Repeat steps 1 & 2 four times. For each “A” calculate “C” using the equation in the power point. Determine average “C” by dividing 5 determine the deviation for each ‘C” by subtracting the avg C from each individual C. Determine the avg deviation by dividing sum deviations by 5 Determine the percent deviation by dividing the average deviation by the average C and multiplying by 100. Determine the % percent difference by ……. (meas C- theoretical C)/theoretical x 100 Results : Present Key data along with any observations. Conclusions: Make conclusions about the two sets of data.