Name

Period

Date

Using the Balance Lab

 

OBJECTIVE

 

INFO

o           How close a measurement is to the actual value.

á             precision

o           How close repeated measurements are to one another.

o           How many significant digits a measurement has.

 

MATERIALS

 

DATA

 

PROCEDURE

  1. Zero out balance.
  2. Each person will mass out the 10 nickels.

á             Don't look at anybody's measurement.

  1. Record value in data table.
  2. Reset all sliding masses to zero.

 

CALCULATIONS

  1. your average mass of single nickel    = _____ g

á             experimental value, EV

  1. class average for single nickel                    = _____ g

á             target value, TV

  1. percent discrepancy                                                                 = _____ %

 

CONCLUSION

  1. Was your percent discrepancy large or small?
  2. Explain possible reasons for your discrepancy.