Physics lab on calculation of copper density using different equipment

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PHYSICS LABS-2

In this experiment I calculated the density of copper, using my knowledge of the propagation of errors I was able to arrive on a fairly accurate answer. The primary objective of this experiment was to use our prior knowledge of uncertainties to come to the most accurate conclusion to the density of the metal in the given wire.

My research question was to estimate the density of the metal in the particular wire.

I was given a small piece of copper wire, string, a micrometer screw gauge, a ruler, a weighing balance. The theory behind this was that, using the given instruments we could calculate the diameter, weight and length of the wire. This in turn would give me the density.

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I started the experiment by measuring the diameter of the wire, using the micrometer screw gauge. Before starting the measurement I checked for an error in the screw gauge. My gauge had a 0.002 cm positive error, which I had to subtract from my readings. I put the wire in the clamp of the gauge and tightened it, then I took note of the reading on the circular scale. I repeated this four more times (to get an accurate answer), then subtracted 0.002cm from each of the reading and then took an average of all the readings giving me the ...

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