Michelle Cheng

Bryan Zheng
Period 7
September 9, 2013
Uncertainty in Measurement Lab

Procedure:
1. Wrap the string around the widest part (circumference) of the foam ball.
2. Mark the end of the string where the circumference ends with a Sharpie.
3. Measure the marked portion of string with a ruler, estimating to the nearest 0.01
centimeter.
4. From the circumference of the foam ball, calculate the radius of the foam ball.
5. From the radius of the foam ball, calculate the volume of the foam ball.
6. Zero the triple beam balance.
7. Find the mass of the foam ball using the triple beam balance, estimating to the nearest
0.01 gram.
8. Calculate the density of the foam ball by dividing the mass of the ball by its volume.
Results Table:

Table III
Mass (g) Circumference (cm) Radius (cm) Volume (cm
3
) Density (g/cm
3
)
foam
ball
9.09 24.10 3.836 236.4 .0385

Observations:

The foam ball was relatively light. It was pure white except for an circled A on its surface in
sharpie marker. The ball was not a perfect sphere as there was a circular dent on its surface.

Calculations:

Radius:
C = 2r
24.10cm = 2r
2 2
3.836cm = r






Precision/percent uncertainty:
Circumference:
Estimated digit 100 = percent uncertainty
Measured value
.01cm 100 = .0415%
24.10cm


Mass:
Estimated digit 100 = percent uncertainty
Measured value
.01g 100 =. 1100%
9.09g

Volume:
V = 4r
3

3
V = 4(3.836cm)
3
3
V = 456.45cm
3
3
V = 236.4cm
3


6a)
In Part III, a ruler and a triple beam balance were used. First, the ruler was used to
measure the circumference of the foam ball. The rulers smallest division was 1 millimeter, thus
the estimated digit would be .1 millimeters. However, since density is in centimeters cubed, not
millimeters, the measurement used was in .01 centimeters. This is adequate for the quantity being
measured because the percent uncertainty is extremely low. When calculated, the measurement is
found to have a .0415% uncertainty, which is acceptable (see calculations).
The triple beam balance is divided into .1grams, causing the estimated digit to be
.01grams. When the estimated digit is divided by the measured value of 9.09grams, the result is a
.1100% uncertainty, which is also acceptable (see calculations).

6b)
Three likely sources of error relevant to this lab included not measuring the balls true
circumference, the loose ends of the string, and the part of the Sharpie mark measured. When
trying to wrap the string around the circumference of the foam ball, we tried to see where the
widest part of the ball lay and bring the string up or down according to where we thought this
was. However, if we had measured around an area close to, but not precisely at the balls widest
part, we would have found a circumference smaller than its actual value. This smaller
circumference would have led us to calculate smaller a smaller radius for the ball, and from that
radius, a smaller volume value. When ultimately dividing by volume to determine density, the
density we calculated would have been greater than the actual density, as dividing a smaller
dividend creates a larger quotient.
Another possibly source of error were the loose ends of the string we used to measure the
foam ball. Some of the loose ends were longer than others, and when we did find the length of the
Density:
D = mass
volume
D = 9.09g
236.4cm
3
D = .038g/cm
3

string, we simply measured to its longest end. However, if the distance from one of the shorter
loose ends was a more accurate representation of the balls circumference, we would have
measured a circumference greater than the actual one. A greater circumference results in a greater
radius and volume, but when the mass is divided by volume to obtain density, the calculated
density value is larger than the actual value, as dividing by a larger dividend results in a smaller
quotient. A third source of error could have been what portion of the Sharpie marking was
considered the end of the circumference. The marking had its own width, and we just measured
to the midpoint of its width, potentially skewing our data by presenting the balls circumference
as greater or less than its actual value. For instance, if the circumference was supposed to be
measured only until the very beginning of the mark, our circumference measurement would be
too large, resulting in a smaller density. If the circumference was meant to be measured until the
end of the marking, our circumference measurement would be too small, resulting in a greater
density.