Zero Error Weighing Machine Structure
Zero Error Weighing Machine Structure
4 Measurement and
Technique in answering paper 2 section B
1. Figure (i) shows a weighing scale that is used to measure the mass of the fish.
Figure (ii) shows the reading of the scale after the fish is removed.
Figure (a)
Figure (b)
Figure (i)
Figure (ii)
[1]
(b) Calculate the smallest division of the weighing machine shown in diagram above.
[1 kg/ 5 div = 0.2 kg]
[1]
[1]
[1]
[1]
(f) Describe one simple method to avoid the parallax error while taking reading from the ruler. [1]
[observers eye must be perpendicular to the scale of the reading // in line]
[1]
[1]
[1]
Explanation :
The correct position of eye is when pointer and image must be in line //
Image is right behind the pointer// no image can be seen //
no reflection occurs // reflection of the needle not seen
reject : no image]
[1 mark]
(c) The table shows the characteristics of four measuring instruments, P, Q, R and S.
Measuring
Range of
Accuracy of
Relative deviation
Sensitivity
instrument
measurement
reading
P
Until 1 m
0.1 cm
5.1 %
Medium
Q
Until 500 cm
0.1 cm
3.2 %
Medium
R
Less than 10 cm
0.01 cm
1.2 %
High
S
Less than 15 cm
0.05 cm
1.5 %
High
Based on the table above,
(i)
explain the suitable characteristics of the measuring instrument so that it can be used to
measure the thickness of a graph paper.
(ii)
Decide which measuring instrument is most suitable to be taken for research and give
reasons.
[10]
Characteristic of
Explanation
measuring instrument
Range of
measurement is small
Accuracy of the
reading is smaller
Relative deviation is
small
Higher sensitivity
Choice : R
(c) Two groups of student measured the time for 10 oscillation of an pendulum by using different
types of stopwatch. The readings are shown in table below.
Number of
Time for 10 oscillation / s
trial
Group A
Group B
1
8.1
8.24
2
8.3
7.83
3
7.9
8.41
4
8.3
7.96
5
8.3
8.32
(i) Give one example of systematic error and one example of random error in measuring time of
oscillation of the inertia balance?
[3]
(ii) Explain why the reading recorded by two groups of student are different?
[3]
[2]
Suggested answer
(a) (i)
consistency is the tendency for the values of measurement to repeat and concentrates to a
particular value
(ii) accuracy is how close the value of a measurement to the actual value
(b) 1. the jaws are closed and the zero error is recorded.
The zero error is corrected for all the reading taken.
[to reduce random error]
2. parallax error is avoided by taking readings at a position of the eye is perpendicular to the
Scale
[to avoid parallax error]
3. repeat the experiment at different position. Calculate the average value of all the readings.
To reduce random error.