Experiment: Physics and Measurement

Data

Block #	K	G	F	P	10	M
Trial #	1	2	3	4	5	6
Length (cm)	7.55	3.60	3.55	7.50	7.75	7.30
Width (cm)	7.35	3.60	3.70	7.35	10.15	7.50
Thickness (cm)	4.30	5.90	5.50	3.65	3.85	4.25
Mass (kg)	.0824	.03872	.03890	.16108	.17726	.09665

Analysis

1.

Trial	1	2	3	4	5	6
Volume (cm3)	238.	76.5	72.2	201.	303.	233.

2. The textbook's experiment was different from what we did. We didn't measure one wooden block over and over. Instead, we used many different ones. As a result, number 2 can't be answered. However, it's obvious that multiplying inaccurate numbers can result in a huge discrepency between the real, and calculated value.

3. The initial height that the blocks fell was not long. It was as tall as three forths of a experimenter, and it made the blocks fall quickly. Then, the short amount of time brings a trouble. It's because experimenters could make mistakes using stop watch. The mistake could change the whole result by significant amount. In short, the values aren't 100% reliable.

    However, the result does show that the blocks are falling in similar amount of time. Most of them are surprisingly falling at the same time. The others are falling at the similar time, but the values are slightly different in our data.

    This slight differences can also mean that heavier blocks cost more time to fall than lighter blocks. Validity of the values aren't high, so it's hard to conclude.

4.

    x - axis : distance
    y -axis : time
    < Detail >

Trial #	Distance (m)	Time (s)
1	1	.41
2	1	.41
3	1	.41
4	1	.56
5	1	.50
6	1	.56

Conclusions

5.

Trial	1	2	3	4	5	6
Ratio (kg/cm3)	0.000346	0.000506	0.000539	0.000801	0.000585	0.000415

The ratio is density. Although all wooden blocks were made from same material, their density varies in our data.

6. An experimenter dropped the wooden block according to the rhyme from the one who held the stop watch. 

"one, two, three, four!"

The two experimenters could be bad at rhymes, so this might cause an error.

Meanwhile, the one who held stop watch could click it later or sooner than reality.

This might be another reason.

Also, while measuring the blocks, experimenters confidently recorded estimated values, as well. In this process, subjectivity might come in, and it could lead to an error.

7. The suggested exercise may reduce personal errors. It may be more accurate than experiments with a single measurer. However, this doesn't solve all problems. The problem occurs because it's human that measures the time. However fast the reaction time is, there is still a reaction time. In short, an average value doesn't mean an accurate value.