Phy 119 General Physics Practical 20182019
Phy 119 General Physics Practical 20182019
Phy 119 General Physics Practical 20182019
Department of Physics
PHY 119/129 General Practical
Instructors:
1. Olayinka, S. A. (Ph.D.)
Email: akinola.olayinka@edouniversity.edu.ng
Phone: (+234) 8062447411
2. Adekoya, M. A
Email: adekoya.mathew@edouniversity.edu.ng
Phone: (+234) 7038891545
Lectures: Tuesday 3.00am – 5.00pm and Fridays 9.00am – 12.00pm for makeup practical
classes
Preamble:
Physics Practical offers a wide range of in-depth experimental investigations into key aspects
of Physics. It has been designed in such a way that will develop some manipulative skills in
handling some physics apparatus. It is an integral part of physics course, which reinforces
some, if not all, the principles, theories and concepts you have learnt in Physics.
However, some experiments are designed to verify known laws while others are designed to
obtain empirical relationships between two or more quantities. In every case, accurate and
methodological observations are necessary and these should be taken with an intelligent
realization of capabilities of the apparatus provided. It is therefore important that the students
should possess a proper background for careful observations, precise measurement and
theoretical knowledge to use the experimental results to their fullest advantage.
The units of records should be carefully written; otherwise the observations would become
meaningless. Graphical presentation of experimental results is usually preferred in Physics
because graphs provide the best means of averaging a set of observations and show
dependence between quantities clearly.
To demonstrate phenomena and laws (that is, to support the theories of physics).
To test hypotheses (to find out if theories are correct).
To measure physical quantities (although it must be allowed that, for most of the
quantities you will be asked to measure, you could more easily look them up in a
book)
To develop manipulative skills (learn how to use measuring devices).
To provide training in the use of apparatus (to make sure that you don’t damage
expensive equipment).
To communicate the results of the experiment or investigation to others (because your
fellow student can benefit from your experience).
To plan, implement, analyze the evidence from, and evaluate experiments (that is, to
complete the requirement of your specification or syllabus).
Prerequisites: Students should be familiar with some basic concepts in elementary Physics
and Mathematics.
Grading: We will assign 10% each for any of the best six practical assignments among the
ten, making 60% and 40% for the final examination.
Textbook: The recommended and referenced textbooks for this class are:
Introduction
Physics Practical offers a wide range of in-depth experimental investigations into key aspects
of Physics. It has been designed in such a way that will develop some manipulative skills in
handling some physics apparatus. It is an integral part of physics course, which reinforces
some, if not all, the principles, theories and concepts you have learnt in Physics.
However, some experiments are designed to verify known laws while others are designed to
obtain empirical relationships between two or more quantities. In every case, accurate and
methodological observations are necessary and these should be taken with an intelligent
realization of capabilities of the apparatus provided. It is therefore important that the students
should possess a proper background for careful observations, precise measurement and
theoretical knowledge to use the experimental results to their fullest advantage.
The units of records should be carefully written; otherwise the observations would become
meaningless. Graphical presentation of experimental results is usually preferred in Physics
because graphs provide the best means of averaging a set of observations and show
dependence between quantities clearly.
To demonstrate phenomena and laws (that is, to support the theories of physics).
To test hypotheses (to find out if theories are correct).
To measure physical quantities (although it must be allowed that, for most of the
quantities you will be asked to measure, you could more easily look them up in a
book)
To develop manipulative skills (learn how to use measuring devices).
To provide training in the use of apparatus (to make sure that you don’t damage
expensive equipment).
To communicate the results of the experiment or investigation to others (because your
fellow student can benefit from your experience).
To plan, implement, analyze the evidence from, and evaluate experiments (that is, to
complete the requirement of your specification or syllabus).
A report that is well written (according to the guidelines given below) and indicates that the
student has been diligent and conscientious in acquiring, analyzing and interpreting the data
will obtain a first class mark of ~ 8/10.
To obtain higher marks a student must demonstrate that he/she has contributed more than was
required by the scripts and has mastered some or all aspects of the experiment. In this respect,
there is greater expectation for the level of understanding attained by students, who will be
expected to do more background reading, to expand on the physics concepts mentioned in the
scripts, and to present the experiment in a wider context.
Read the instructions thoroughly once. Do not worry if you do not understand every
aspect of an experiment initially.
Identify the pieces of apparatus and familiarize yourself with them.
Try some test measurements to get a feel for the experiment.
If there are still some points you feel you need to understand more clearly before
taking the data, ask a demonstrator. This should not be a substitute for thought – the
demonstrator will expect you to have thought about the problem.
Graph Plotting
Frequently, a graph is the clearest way to represent the relationship between the quantities of
interest. There are a number of conventions to be noted as enumerated below:
A graph indicates a relation between two quantities, x and y, when other variables or
parameters have fixed values. Before plotting points on a graph, it may be useful to
arrange the corresponding values of x and y in a table.
Choose a convenient scale for each axis so that the plotted points will occupy a
substantial part of the graph paper, but do not choose a scale which is difficult to plot
and read, such as 2cm to represent 5 units or 1cm represents 3 units.
Label each axis to identify the variable being plotted and the units being used. Mark
prominent divisions on each axis with appropriate numbers.
Identify plotted points with appropriate symbols, such as crosses, and when necessary
draw vertical or horizontal bars through the points to indicate the range of uncertainty
involved in these points.
Often there will be a theory concerning the relationship of the two plotted variables. A
linear relationship can be demonstrated if the data points fall along a single straight
line. There are mathematical techniques for determining which straight line best fits
the data, but for the purposes of this lab it will be sufficient if you simply make a
rough estimate visually.
The straight line should be drawn as near the mean of the all various points as is
optimal. That is, the line need not precisely pass through the first and last points.
Instead, each point should be considered as accurate as any other point (unless there
are experimental reasons why some points are less accurate than others). The line of
best fit should be drawn so that the number of data points above will be
approximately equal to the number of data point below it and the points should be
randomly distributed along the line. (For example, not all points should be above the
line at one end and below at the other end).
Data Recording
The accuracy of every experiment is as good as the accuracy achieved in data record from the
experiment. In order to minimize errors associated with data recording, the following points
should be noted:
Most graphs in Physics practical are Straight line graphs (linear graphs) and sometimes we
have non-linear graphs, which can be transformed into linear graphs for easier interpretation.
The general equation of a straight line (linear graph) is given by
(1.1)
where x and y are the independent and dependent variable respectively, m and c are constants
representing slope/gradient and intercept respectively. Linear Graph with zero and c intercept
are shown in Figure 1.1.
Y-axis Y-axis
y mx c
y mx
X-axis X-axis
Figure 1.1 – Sketch of Linear Graph with zero and c intercept respectively.
If and
(1.2)
(1.3)
A summary page at the start of the report showing the results and conclusions
An introduction
A brief outline of the method / theory behind the experiment
The raw data and any derived data including errors
A proper error analysis of the derived results, including the error presented as a
percentage and the largest/most significant error identified
Easy to follow examples of all calculations
Any graphical interpretations of the data including error bars
Any line fit results and interpretations of graphs
A conclusion that includes derived numbers quoted to a sensible number of decimal
points
Answers to any questions asked in the script should be given. It is up to you how
these appear in the report
Error Analysis
A measurement of a physical quantity is unlikely to yield exactly the true value. An estimate
of the size of the likely difference between the true and measured value is important if
significant conclusions are to be drawn from the result. Since the true value is not known, the
most likely size of the error on the measured value must be estimated and quoted along with
the result.
Types of Error
Uncertainty in a measurement can arise from three possible origins: the measuring device, the
procedure of how you measure, and the observed quantity itself. Usually the largest of these
will determine the uncertainty in your data. There are two basic different types of error which
are systematic and random errors.
Systematic Error
Systematic error or systematic errors always bias results in one specific direction. Your result
will consistently be too high or too low. An example of a systematic error follows. Assume
you want to measure the length of a table in cm using a meter stick. But suppose the meter
stick has been manufactured incorrectly or the stick is made of metal that has contracted due
to the temperature in the room, so that the stick is less than one-meter long. Clearly all the
calibrations on the stick are smaller than they should be. Your numerical value for the length
of the table will then always be too large no matter how often or how carefully you measure.
Another example might be reading temperature from a mercury thermometer in which a
bubble is present in the mercury column.
Systematic errors are usually due to imperfections in the equipment, improper or biased
observation, or by the presence of additional physical effects, you did not take into account.
(An example might be an experiment on forces and acceleration in which there is friction in
the setup and it is not taken into account!)
In performing experiments, try to estimate the effects of as many systematic errors as you
can, and then remove or correct for the most important. By being aware of the sources of
systematic error beforehand, it is often possible to perform experiments with sufficient care to
compensate for weaknesses in the equipment.
Random Error
In contrast to systematic error, random errors are unbiased - meaning it is equally likely that
an individual measurement is too high or too low. Random uncertainty means that several
measurements of a quantity will not always come out the same but will spread around a mean
value. The mean value will be much closer to the “real” value than any individual
measurement.
From your everyday experience you might now say, "Stop! Whenever I measure the length of
a table with a meter stick I get exactly the same value no matter how often I measure it!" This
may happen if your meter stick is insensitive to random measurements, because you use a
coarse scale (like mm) and you always read the length to the nearest mm. But if you would
use a meter stick with a finer scale, or if you interpolate to fractions of a mm, you would
definitely see the spread. As a general rule, if you do not get a spread in values, you can
improve your measurements by using a finer scale or by interpolating between the finest scale
marks on the ruler.
Consider the following example. Ten people measure the time of a sprinter using
stopwatches. It is very unlikely that each of the ten stopwatches will show exactly the same
result. You will observe a spread in the results. Even if each started their watch at exactly the
same time (unlikely) some per-sons will have stopped the watch early, some of them late. But
if you average the times of the ten stop watches, the mean value will be a better estimate of
the true value than any individual measurement, since the effects of the people who stop early
will compensate for those who stop late. In general, making multiple measurements and
averaging can reduce the effect of random uncertainty.
The error in reading a scale, for example on a ruler or on an analog meter, can arise from a
number of sources:
Parallax Error: If the line of sight is not at right angles to the scale, a gap between the object
being measured (the pointer in the case of the meter) and the scale will cause an error. This
can be reduced by careful alignment of the eye, a process aided in better quality meters by a
mirror built into the scale so that the pointer and its image can be lined up to ensure the scale
is viewed at right angles.
Zeroing Error:Most instruments have the provision to set the reading to zero when zero
input is present. If the instrument is not correctly zeroed, actual reading will be offset by the
offset of the zero. This offset can be measured and a correction applied but it is good practice
to always zero the instrument so that the reading can be used without correction.
Back lash Error: While measuring a physical quantity there may be an error due to wear and
tear in the instruments like screw gauge or spherometer (instrument for measuring the
curvature of a surface) due to defective fittings. Such an error is called back lash error and
can be minimized in a particular set of measurements by rotating the screw head in only one
direction.
End Correction: Sometimes the zero marking of the metre scale may be worn out. Unless
we are careful, this will lead to incorrect measurements. We must therefore compensate for
this by shifting our reference point.
Observational: These arise due to errors in judgment of an observer when reading a scale to
the smallest division.
Environmental: These arise due to causes like unpredictable fluctuations inline voltage,
variation in temperature etc. They could also be due to mechanical vibrations and wear and
tear of the systems. There could be a random spread of readings due to friction say, wear and
tear of mechanical parts of a system.
Scale Reading Errors: The scale can only be read to some accuracy which depends on how
finely the scale is engraved. A conservative rule of thumb is assumed the scale can be read to
a half of the smallest division. However, a fifth of the smallest interval can often be achieved.
In practice, you make a judgment based on your use of the particular instrument tempered
with experience and common sense. A digital scale can be read ± 1 in the least significant
digit displayed provided the reading is stable. As for analogue instruments there will be a
zeroing error.
Calibration Errors: The accuracy of the reading of every instrument, analogue or digital,
will depend on the calibration. Manufactures will usually supply details of the accuracy of the
calibration of the instruments at the point of manufacture. A data sheet from the manufacturer
with this information should be available close to the equipment in the laboratory. Unless told
otherwise in the instructions, you can assume the calibration is correct. However, possible
calibration errors should not be ignored if you have to do any trouble-shooting on the data.
Calibration errors may take the form of an overall multiplicative constant. Instruments will
often have some internal adjustment to set this. More commonly, calibration errors will
manifest themselves as small deviations around the marked scale due, for example, to the
quality of construction of the instrument. These can be accounted for by calibrating the scale
against an (expensive) standard instrument. If this is advisable, the instructions will tell you.
Upper Bound
Most of our measuring devices in this laboratory have scales that are coarser than the ability
of our eyes to measure see fig. 2.1.
Fig. 2.1: Meter Stick.
For example, in fig. 2.1 above, where we are measuring the length of an object against a
meter stick marked in cm, we can definitely say that our result is somewhere between 46.4
cm and 46.6 cm. We assume as an upper bound of our uncertainty, an amount equal to half
this width (in this case 0.1cm). The final result can be written:
For data in which there is random uncertainty, we usually observe individual measurements
to cluster around the mean and drop in frequency as the values get further from the mean (in
1
both directions). Find the interval around the mean that contains about 2/3 of the measured
points: half the size of this interval is a good estimate of the uncertainty in each measurement.
Example:
The mean of these six values is 10.0. The interval from 9.75 to 10.2 includes 4 of the 6
values; we therefore estimate the uncertainty to be 0.225. The result is that the best estimate
of the quantity is 10.0 and the uncertainty of a single measurement is 0.2.
For inherently random phenomena that involve counting individual events or occurrences, we
measure only a single number N. This kind of measurement is relevant to counting the
number of radioactive decays in a specific time interval from a sample of material, for
example. It is also relevant to counting the number of Lutherans in a random sample of the
population. The (absolute) uncertainty of such a single measurement, N, is estimated as the
square root of N. As an example, if we measure 50 radioactive de-cays in 1 second we should
present the result as 50 ± 7 decays per second. (The quoted uncertainty indicates that a
subsequent measurement performed identically could easily result in numbers differing by 7
from 50.)
Percentage Error
The actual error is the amount by which the experimental value differs from the true value.
For example, if a man measures the length of a rope to be 3m instead of 3.2m. The actual
error in the measurement is 0.2m.
Actual Error
Then, the relative or fractional error = (2.1)
True Value
Actual Error
In general, Percentage Error = 100% (2.2)
True Value
Percentage Difference
This involves comparing two results or measurements, that is, we intend to find the
percentage difference between the two.
Deviation
Percentage difference = 100% (2.3)
Average Value
Uncertainties
The accuracy with which a given measurement can be made is increased by obtaining the
average of a number of independent readings. If M is the mean value of the individual
reading and d is the average of the deviations from the mean, then the measured quantity is
recorded as:
d
Percentage uncerta int y 100% (2.5)
M
A set of measurements of the same quantity free of systematic errors will typically show a
distribution about the true value. The best estimate of the true value of the quantity will be
given by the mean of these readings:
xi
Mean: x (2.6)
N
where N = number of readings
2
xi x
Standard error on a single reading: n1 (2.7)
N 1
1
Multiple readings reduce the error on the mean by the factor
N
xi x
2
n 1
Standard error on the mean: x (2.8)
N N 1 N
Error in Slope
The standard Error in slope may be estimated from the points by the formula
4w
Error in slope (2.9)
nR
where R xmax xmin , n=number of points and w= distance drawn parallel to y-axis
Experiment 1 - Measurement
Aims
To learn how to make measurements of length with a meter stick, a Vernier caliper
and a micrometer.
To learn to make dimensional analysis calculations between English and SI systems
of measurements.
To understand the relationship between the construction of a measuring instrument
and the precision of the measurements made with it.
Become familiar with elementary statistical treatment of data.
Introduction
Since the end of the meter stick or ruler may be worn or damaged, start the
measurement at an intermediate mark.
When you make a measurement with the meter stick or ruler place the device on edge.
This will reduce parallax errors. (Parallax errors are sight errors made by viewing the
device from a flat position).
Estimate your measurement to the nearest 0.5 mm. The last digit of your
measurement, which is an estimate, should be 0 or 5.
Vernier Calliper
The Vernier calliper consists of two SI scales and two English scales as shown in the figure
3.2 below.
The fixed scales have a jaw at one end. The SI fixed scale is divided into cm and mm. The
fixed English scale is divided into inches and 8ths of inches.
The moving scales (Vernier) are attached to the moving jaw that slides across the fixed scale.
The moving SI scale is divided into ten divisions and the moving English scale is divided into
8 divisions.
To use the calliper, separate the jaws, place the object to be measured between them, and
close the jaws firmly.
Centimeters and tenths of cm are read on the fixed scale. Hundreds of cm is read on the
moving scale.
Inches and 8ths of inches are read on the fixed scale and 64thof inch are read on the moving
scale.
Lower Jaws
Upper Jaws
Depth Gauge
Fixed SI scale
Moving SI scale
Procedure:
1. Meter Stick
Measure the width of your laboratory table and record this measurement to the nearest
0.5 mm.
Repeat the measurement but start the measurement at a different mark on the meter
stick.
Make a third measurement, this time from the opposite end of the table.
Record your data in the Tab.3.1 provided.
2. Meter Stick
Measure the length, width, and thickness of the block furnished by the instructor.
Make each measurement three times.
Record all of your data in the Tab.3.1 provided.
Average the measurements.
Use the average values and calculate the volume of the block.
3. Ruler (English System)
Measure the length, width, and thickness of the block furnished by the instructor.
Make each measurement three times using the English scale.
Average the measurements.
Record all of your data in the Tab.3.1 provided.
Use the averages to calculate the volume of the block.
Ruler
Length of Block
Width of Block
Thickness of Block
Volume of Block
4. Vernier Calliper
Make three measurements of the length (height) and diameter (internal and external)
of the cylinder furnished by the instructor.
Record your measurements in the Table 3.2 provided.
Average the measurements.
Calculate the volume of the cylinder (V=πr2h)
5. Micrometer
Begin by closing the micrometer gently to observe the zero reading. If the reading is
off zero, ask the instructor to adjust the micrometer or record your zero error.
Open and close the micrometer a few times to get a “feel” of how it operates. Open
the micrometer and try to read it at a random position.
Place a piece of wire between the anvil and the spindle of the micrometer.
Close the micrometer on the wire using the ratchet.
Read the micrometer to the nearest thousandth of a mm and record your measurement
as diameter in Tab.3.3 provided.
Convert your measurement of diameter to cm and record the value in Tab.3.3
provided.
In a similar manner measure and record the diameters of other wires of different
gauges.
Consult the “Properties of Copper Wire” table provided for the “true” gauge diameter.
Calculate absolute and relative errors for each wire and record these in the table
provided.
6. Comparative Precision
Measure the dimensions of the block provided successively with the meter stick,
Vernier calliper, and micrometer, using each instrument to its described precision.
Record your measurements in the Tab.3.4 provided.
Calculate the volume of the block using measurements from each measuring device
and record these in Tab.3.4 provided.
Compare the precision.
Questions: