- Information
- AI Chat
Measurement Lab #1 - Lab report
General Physics I (Phys 20700)
The City College of New York
Recommended for you
Preview text
Measurement Laboratory 1 Introduction: The main idea behind this experiment is to refresh our skills in measuring objects and using different units of measurement. The intended outcome of this experiment is to strengthen and fine tune our skills in measuring objects or things. A real world application for this experiment, for example, is measuring the length and width of your new sofa to see if you can fit it through your apartment door. Another example, is measuring a car’s speed, so that the driver can abide by the speed limits set in his vicinity. Procedure: In this laboratory experiment, we performed different measurement exercises. For example, my lab partner and I measured the circumference and diameter of circular objects on our work station, as well as my lab partners’ head. We used a rope and a ruler to measure the circumference of my lab partner’s head. We first wrapped the rope around my lab partner’s head approximately one time and marked the rope with a pen. Then we measured the rope with a ruler to get an exact value for the circumference of my lab partner’s head. Moreover, other measurement exercises consisted of estimating the value of Pi via Google Maps, measuring the length of a fish, and measuring a pendulum’s period of oscillation. Data/ Calculations: Measurement 1: Circular Objects Measurement 2: Toothpicks Measurement 3: Google Maps Measurement 5: Head Size and Heartbeat Questions: 1) Discuss the limitations of these methods for calculating π. Which method was the best? The worst? Are there improvements to be made? One limitation of these methods is that they do not allow for a precise calculation of pi. Because of the lack of advanced tools, etc. we obtain a rough estimate of pi. Moreover, I believe measuring the circular objects at our work station is the best method because it is more precise, with its small shape. The worst method is Google Maps because we are roughly estimating a large area, leading to a less precise calculation. 2) Determine the uncertainty of your density measurement. Next, find an online database that you can use to lookup the density of various woods. Try to match your piece of wood with a known tree. Discuss whether you can be certain of your identification. The uncertainty of my density measurement is 0. My density is 0. The wood matches with a pear tree (0 - 0) the closet. However, I cannot be certain because this wood fits into the ranges of other trees. 3) Based only on your experimental data, can you say how the time for one swing relates to the length of the pendulum? Is there a clear functional dependence? Based on my data, there is a clear functional dependence on the time for one swing and the length of the pendulum. The larger the length of the pendulum, the longer it will take for one swing. My graph in the data/calculations section shows this correlation as well. 4) Is there a correlation between the circumference of someone's head and the time between heartbeats? Would you expect there to be one? No, there is no correlation between the circumference of someone’s head and the time between heartbeats. If you look at the graph I provided in the data/calculations section, measurement 5, you will see that most of the data points in the graph are randomly scattered, showing no pattern or correlation. Conclusion: Concluding the lab, according to my data, there is no correlation between head size and time between heartbeats. However, I did find that there were correlations between the length of a pendulum and the time for one swing, where the larger the length of a pendulum, the longer the time for one swing. Also, there was a correlation for diameter and circumference, where the bigger the diameter gets, the larger the circumference gets as well. I expected these results because I believe head size has nothing to do with time between heartbeats and also diameter and
Measurement Lab #1 - Lab report
Course: General Physics I (Phys 20700)
University: The City College of New York
