Apparatus:
- Wooden blocks of various sizes
- Ruler that measures to the nearest 0.05 cm
- Scale that measures to the nearest 0.01 g (Dial-o-gram)
Method:
- Obtain two sample wooden blocks of approximately the same size.
- Measure the length, width and height of each block using a ruler that measures to the nearest 0.05 cm. Record results.
- Repeat step four, two times.
- Calculate the average of each dimension for each block. Record results.
- Using the average dimensions, calculate volume of each block. Record results.
- Determine the mass of each block using a scale that measures to the nearest 0.01 grams. Record results.
- Repeat step two, two more times.
- Calculate the average of mass for each block. Record results.
- Repeat the procedure with two other sets of blocks with approximately the same size. (Make sure each set of blocks are identical)
Results:
The average volume of block one in set one was 66.25 cm3 ± 0.05, and the average volume of block two in set one was 65.65 cm3 ± 0.05. These two blocks are approximately the same size. (Table 1) The average mass of block one in set one was 28.56g ± 0.01, and the average mass of block two in set one was 30.98g ± 0.01. These two blocks has 2.42 gram differences. (Table 2) The average volume of block one in set two was 212.90 cm3 ± 0.05, and the average volume of block two in set two was 210.90 cm3 ± 0.05. These two blocks are also close of being the same size. (Table 3) The average mass of block one in set two was 151.04g ± 0.01, and the average mass of block two in set two was 154.78g ± 0.01. These two blocks has a difference of 3.74 grams (Table 4) The average volume of block one in set three was 412.71 cm3 ± 0.05, and the average volume of block two in set three was 413.80 cm3 ± 0.05. Once again, these two blocks have similar volume size. (Table 5) The average mass of block one in set three was 194.44g ± 0.01, and the average mass of block two in set thee was 175.66g ± 0.01. There is a big mass difference between these two blocks. A difference of 18.78 grams.
Conclusion:
Two unidentified wooden blocks of approximately the same size does not have the exact mass. Based on the data table 1, the first set of blocks has approximately the same size, however they both have a difference of 2.42 grams. The second set of blocks has approximately the same size as well, and once again both blocks do not have the exact mass, both blocks have a difference of 3.74 grams. Notice that block two is smaller than block one, but block one has a higher mass than block two. Finally on table 6, it shows there is a huge mass difference between set three block one and two even though they both have the approximately the same size. Set three block one and two have a mass difference of 18.78 grams. This indicates that those blocks are either made from the same wood or made from different woods or something hidden inside of each blocks, following along with the previous sets of blocks. Therefore two unidentified wooden blocks of approximately the same size does not have the exact mass. The source of error is the sizes of the blocks that are provided. Having the exact size of blocks would give efficient results and would give accurate results.
Table 1: The dimensions and volume of the first set of blocks is measured using centimetre.
Table 2: The mass of the first set of blocks is weighed using grams.
Table 3: The dimensions and volume of the second set of blocks is measured using centimetre.
Table 4: The mass of the second set of blocks is weighed using grams.
Table 5: The dimensions and volume of the third set of blocks is measured using centimetre.
Table 6: The mass of the third set of blocks is weighed using grams.
