ACCURACYANDPRECISION-JuniataCollege.docVIP

Accuracy and Precision in the Determination of the Density of Water PA State Standards Addressed: 3.4.10.A Explain concepts about the structure and properties of matter. 3.4.12.A Apply concepts about the structure and properties of matter. Quantify the properties of matter by applying mathematical formulas. 3.7.10.B Apply appropriate instruments and apparatus to examine a variety of objects and processes. Explain the need to estimate measurements within error of various instruments. Introduction: Mass and volume are extrinsic properties which depend on the quantity of a substance. Density, which is the ratio of mass to volume (D=m/V), is an intrinsic property. The density of a substance is a constant and is characteristic of the substance. Therefore, density can be used to aid in the identification of a substance. However, the density of a substance may vary with its temperature. In this lab the mass and volume of water will be measured, and the density of the water will be calculated. This value will be compared to the accepted density of water at the relevant temperature. The accuracy and precision of the measurements will also be determined. Accuracy refers to the closeness of a measurement to the true or accepted value, while the precision refers to the repeatablility of a measurement. Multiple trials of each method will be done to determine the precision. In this experiment, two instruments will be used to measure the mass: a top loading balance, and an analytical balance. Four different instruments will be used to measure volume: a beaker, a graduated cylinder, a glass pipet, and an automatic pipet. Guiding Questions: Which combination of instruments will be the least accurate? Why? Which combination of instruments will be the most accurate? Why? Which combination of instruments will be the least precise? Why? Which combination of instruments will be the most precise? Why? Equipment/Materials: 30 mL beaker deionized water 250 mL beaker 1