Lab 1A: Density Blocks

The purpose of this lab was to see if my partner and I could find the mass of a solid block with <2% error when given the density (Density=Mass/Volume) of a block and a ruler, which had measurements for every tenth of a centimeter going up to the thirtieth centimeter. 

The lab wasn't a difficult one to complete. To start out, a block of any material was given to us, as well as the block's density. Since we were supposed to find the mass of the block, and the mass of an object is equal to the density multiplied by the volume, we had to find the volume. In order to find the volume, we used the ruler provided to us in order to find the dimensions of the block. Once the dimensions were found, they were multiplied together, resulting in the volume of the block. That product and the density of the block were multiplied by each other to result in an experimental mass. Then, the block was put on a scale and the mass taken from that was compared to the experimental mass. The way it was compared was by a formula for finding how disparate the two masses were in terms of percentages, where the experimental mass is subtracted from the actual mass, and then the solution to that is divided by the actual mass, and then is multiplied by 100 in order to find the actual percentage. If the % error was greater than 2%, the teacher gives you a block of a different size, and you do the entire process over again until the % error is less than 2%.

It took three attempts before the % error was less than 2%. The first try was the hardest, with the values 39.8 grams (experimental mass) and 36.2 grams (actual mass) having a 10% difference between them. The second attempt was closer, with the masses 94.4 grams (experimental) and 96.8 (actual) only having a 2.5% difference. The third attempt was where my partner and I were able to complete the lab, with the masses 39.0 grams and 39.3 grams (experimental and actual, respectively), only having a mere 0.76% difference between them.

So, in the end, the purpose of the lab was accomplished. My partner and I were able to fulfill the requirements, as well as gain some knowledge along the way. The most important thing that I learned was that in order to really accomplish this lab successfully, you have to measure everything to a tee, as well as eye some values out to a further decimal place (i.e. On a ruler like ours, you would estimate the hundredth decimal place even though the only certain values from the ruler go out to the tenth decimal place) so you can try to be as accurate as possible. Some possible failings of this lab would be that the values, if not measured correctly enough, would lead to failure. So, as a result, when you eye the hundredth decimal place, you want to be as sure in those values as you can be so that you don't have to do the lab again. And, in the future, if I were going to do this lab again, I would want to see what a ruler with centimeters to the hundredth decimal place would do for increasing the accuracy of the experimental mass.