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Pre-Lab Density Calculation Report

The pre-lab assignment details the calculation of the density of a cylinder, which is determined to be 7.8 g/cm³, indicating it is likely made of brass. Measurements taken include mass, length, and diameter, with calculated means and uncertainties provided. The vernier caliper reading is noted as 21.60 mm.

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15 views4 pages

Pre-Lab Density Calculation Report

The pre-lab assignment details the calculation of the density of a cylinder, which is determined to be 7.8 g/cm³, indicating it is likely made of brass. Measurements taken include mass, length, and diameter, with calculated means and uncertainties provided. The vernier caliper reading is noted as 21.60 mm.

Uploaded by

rowanlamaa
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Pre-labs assignment

Student Name: Simwanza Sinvula


Student Number: 225055775
Physics Group: B
Date: March 11, 2025
1. Density Calculation and Material Identification
A cylinder has a length of 3.23 cm, a diameter of 1.75 cm, and a mass of 65.3 g.
To determine its density, we first find its volume using the formula:

V = 3.1416 × (D/2)^2 × L

V = 3.1416 × (1.75/2)^2 × 3.23

V = 7.80 cm³

Now, we calculate density:

p = m/V = 65.3 / 7.80 = 8.37 g/cm³

Since brass has a density of about 8.4-8.7 g/cm³, the cylinder is likely made of brass.

2. Vernier Caliper Reading


The vernier caliper reading is 21.60 mm.

3. Measurement Data
A series of four measurements were taken for mass, length, and diameter:

Mass (g): 20.6, 20.5, 20.6, 20.4


Length (cm): 2.68, 2.67, 2.65, 2.69
Diameter (cm): 1.07, 1.05, 1.06, 1.05
Mean Standard Deviation Standard Error
Mass (g) 20.53 0.095 0.048
Length (cm) 2.67 0.017 0.0085
Diameter (cm) 1.06 0.009 0.0045
4. Density and Its Uncertainty
Using the mean values, we calculate density:

p = 20.53 / [3.1416 × (1.06/2)^2 × 2.67]

p = 7.8 g/cm³

To find the uncertainty in density:

Final result: Density = 7.8 ± 0.2 g/cm³

5. Significant Figures in Density Calculation


Since the uncertainty (±0.2) has one significant figure, the density must be rounded to match, keeping two

6. Final Conclusion
The cylinder's density is 7.8 g/cm³, suggesting it is likely brass. The final answer has two significant
figures because of the uncertainty.
The vernier caliper reading was 21.60 mm.

This concludes the pre-lab assignment.

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