QUESTIONS:

1 Why are several trials taken for each measurement?

2 What is the smallest part of a mm that can be estimated using the Vernier Caliper? Micrometer
Caliper?
3 Why is the micrometer caliper used instead of the vernier caliper in measuring diameter?
4 Given the data for the various vernier and main scales, determine the indicated readings of each
caliper:

Vernier No. Total No. of Reading on Main Scale No. of the Indicated
Vernier Just before Just after Vernier Reading
Divisions Vernier Zero Vernier Zero Divisions
Coinciding with
a Main Scale
Division
A 10 23 mm 24 mm 8.6
B 15 3.5 in 3.6 in 6
C 25 5.2 in 5.225 in 14
D 50 17.35 cm 17.40 cm 24

1. In any experiments, theres always a difference between the experimental values and the
expected values. To minimized this percent error, multiple trials are conducted. This is meant to
improve the realibility and validity of the experiment. The results of an experiment are only
realiable if multiple trials have yielded similar results.

2. The Vernier caliper

Each division on the vernier scale equals 0.9 of a division on the fixed scale. The part of the
reading from the vernier scale is in tenths of a millimeter, which means that the precision of the
instrument is 0.1 mm or 0.01 cm.
The micrometer caliper is used to make very fine measurements beyond the hundredths of a
centimeter. As its name implies, distances are measured to 0.000001 m or 10-6 m (recall the SI
prefix for an order of magnitude of 6 is micro) which is equal to 0.0001 cm

3. It is recommended to use the micrometer caliper in measuring a diameter of an object

because it produces a more accurate result. The construction of the micrometer is much more
solid and rigid than the Vernier caliper, permitting more precise measurements. . Micrometers
have thimbles to insure consistent pressure is applied to the item being measured while a
verniers jaw pressure is entirely dependent upon the user.

Sources:
http://physics.sierracollege.edu/People/dcalabrese/P2A/Physics%202A
%20Labs/VernierMicrometer.pdf

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/help-regarding-calipers.511344/

CONCLUSION
This lab helped us learn how to make measurements using a caliper and how to use
measurement uncertainties to find the density of the steel ball and compare it with the accepted
value of 7.8*10^3 kg/m^3. Using these uncertainties we can find out whether our measurements
were accurate, precise, and realistic. In our trials we found the average diameter of the ball to
be 1.81 cm and the uncertainty in the diameter was .01cm using the vernier caliper. We took the
average value because our measurements were random. These values were calculated using
excel. With these values we found the volume of the ball to be 3.10 cm^3 with a percent error of
1.6 percent. The final calculation of density turned out to be 8970 kg/m^3 with a percent error of
1.6 percent. The calculated density for the steel ball ended up being within 8 sigma of the actual
value, giving us not a realistic measurement. The value with the vernier caliper was probably a
more accurate measurement than a meter stick for example, but just because the device is
more accurate or precise does not mean that the measurement will be a good one, because our
value for the caliper was with in 8 away. The sources of error in this experiment were either the
caliper was not calibrated correctly or the measurement was not near the center of the ball.

Based on the data, the group members concluded that the micrometer caliper gives more accurate
measurements compared to the vernier caliper

Analysis of Results

In micrometer caliper, some tend to use 2 decimal places only, when it should always be 3 decimal
places since an additional uncertain digit is always added at the end of the circular scale reading.
Errors can result from physical damage to the device, or incorrect testing andsetting, of larger
micrometers in particular. Errors can also be experienced by temperaturevariations. Using a large
micrometer can mean considerable error just from the warmth of the hand. Measuring hot items also
produces errors. Wear is yet another possible sourceof errors. Inaccurate interpretation of a measurement
is possible, with either instrument.Parallax and human errors can creep in. The most common source of
error in Vernier Calipers and Micrometers is ZeroError. When the jaws are closed, the vernier zero mark
must coincide with the zero mark on its fixed main scale. If not, one must note the reading. This reading is
called zeroerror. The zero error is of two types: the positive zero error and the negative zero
error.Positive zero error occurs when the zero on the vernier scale is to the right of the mainscale.
Therefore, the zero correction should be subtracted from the reading which is measured. On the other
hand, Negative zero error occurs when the zero on the vernier scale is to the left of the main scale; thus,
the zero correction should be added from the reading which is measured

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In this experiment, two measuring devices are used: Vernier caliper and micrometer
caliper. Vernier calipers typically allow a user to measure external diameters, internal diameters
as well as depths. Micrometers usually only allow users to measure short lengths or thikness,
and external diameters .The main difference between the Vernier caliper and micrometer is that
the Vernier scale is generally capable of measuring a difference of 0.05mm in the most extreme
cases, while the micrometer scale is capable of measuring a difference as small as 0.01mm
generally. These instruments have its own disadvantages that contributed to the difference from
the expected values.

In vernier calipers, some start their measurement on the edge of the internal jaw instead
on the 0 line. This is one of the factors that the observers did on the experiment. The height of
the metallic cylinder was incorrectly read and it led to the percent error of 4.03% This incorrect
reading affected the result of the theoretical volume since the formula for getting the volume of
the cylinder is : (1)
2
d h
v= 4
where h is height.
 The main disadvantage of Vernier caliper is that the readings are highly dependent on
the operators abilty.The main scale is marked in increments of 1 mm and the Vernier scale is
marked to 0.02 mm increments. Because of this very small increments, most people make
mistakes on reading where the main scale and vernier scale have vertical line alignment.
Some also have errors on the positioning of the object to be measured on the vernier and
micrometer calipers.

Using a Vernier caliper to measure the dimensions of the metallic cube and find its volume
yielded a difference result with a percentage of 2.82%. The metallic sphere was measured using
the micrometer caliper to find its diameter yielded a percentage of 1.55%.