MODULE I

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES I

Activity 1 Measurements:
Micrometer and Vernier
Caliper

Activity 2 Uniformly Accelerated

Motion

Activity 3 Free Fall

Activity 4 Newton’s 2nd Law of

Motion

Module I
 2

MODULE I

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES I

 INTRODUCTION

This module presents the laboratory activities I of the subject

ENSC 102L. Activities for measurements using micrometer and vernier
caliper, uniformly accelerated motion, free fall and newton’s 2nd law
of motion.

ctivi OBJECTIVES

After studying the module, you should be able to:

1. Study and compare measurements using a micrometer and a

Vernier caliper.
2. Compute and verify accelerations in uniformly accelerated
motion.
3. Solve velocity, time, distance, and acceleration.
4. Compare experimentally the computed value “g” to that of the
theoretical value.
5. Study Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion using its application – Atwood’s
Machine
6. Determine and identify the mass, weight, velocity, time, distance,
acceleration and force.

 DIRECTIONS/ MODULE ORGANIZER

There are four laboratory activities in the module. Read each activity
thoughtfully and conduct the experiment then answer the learning activities
at the end of the module to find out how much you have benefited from it.
Work on these activities carefully. Date of submission and how will be
submitted will be posted in the Google classroom or group chat.
All activities required can be printed or copied in a coupon bond.
Solutions/answers will be handwritten. Write all in upper case letter except
those that need to be written in lower case like formulas.
On the paper, write first your family name then your first name on
the blank provided fill up and then affix your signature over printed name
on the right bottom part (all pages).
Attachment in every activity (if applicable): Picture the materials
used, take documentation during the conduct of the activities and put it in a
separate sheet.
In case you encounter difficulty, contact or message your
instructor/professor through messenger or cellphone no. 09186205795.
Good luck and happy reading!!!

Module I
 3

Name&Section:_______________________________Date:______Score:____
ENSC 102L Code:_________ LA#1 Instructor: Engr. Mary Jean C. Armiendo

Activity 1

 Measurements: Micrometer
and Vernier Caliper

Objective:

To study the principles of measurement using the micrometer and

vernier caliper.

Theory:

Measurement – consists of comparing the item being measured with a

standard unit of measurement.

The Micrometer Caliper

The micrometer caliper is an instrument used for very precise

measurements of external dimensions. The object to be measured is placed
between the anvil and the spindle. The thimble is then rotated to advance
the spindle until the object is gripped gently between the two jaws of the
caliper. The ratchet is used to tighten up the grip by the same amount each
time and thus avoid using too much force.

The caliper consists of a fixed main scale on the sleeve and a

movable auxiliary scale on the thimble. The auxiliary scale is circular and
has 50 divisions. One revolution of the thimble moves the spindle by half a
millimeter. This implies that the distance between adjacent lines on the
thimble corresponds to 0.01 mm.

Micrometer Caliper

Module I
 4

The main scale has 25 main divisions etched on the sleeve or barrel,
which is located along the trunk of the micrometer caliper. The distance
between the lines is 1.0 mm. Thus, the maximum reading possible is 25 mm.
The lines just below the main divisions divide the upper lines such that the
distance between an upper line and an adjacent lower line is 0.5 mm.

How to use the micrometer caliper:

1. Check the zero position of the caliper. A properly calibrated micrometer

caliper must have the main and auxiliary scales simultaneously giving a
zero reading when the jaws (the anvil and the spindle) of the caliper are
completely closed. In case of error, add the correction (may be either
positive or negative) to every reading.

2. Place the body to be measured between the anvil and the spindle.
Rotate the thimble until the object is gripped gently between the two
jaws of the caliper. Turn the ratchet slowly until it clicks several times.
This prevents an error due to varying degrees of tightness of the jaws.

3. Read the main scale and the circular scale. Refer to the examples below.

Example # 1:

Main scale reading: 7.00 mm

Circular scale reading: + 0.435 mm

7. 435 mm

Final reading

Converted to cm: 0.7435 cm

Example #2:

Main scale reading: 6.50 mm

Circular scale reading: + 0.203 mm

6. 703 mm

Final reading

Converted to cm: 0.6703 cm

Module I
 5

Example #3:

Main scale reading: 7.00 mm

Circular scale reading: + 0.224 mm

7. 224 mm

Final reading

Converted to cm: 0.7224 cm

The Vernier Caliper

The vernier caliper consists of a fixed part with a main engraved

scale and a movable jaw with an engraved Vernier scale.
The main scale is calibrated in inches on the upper part and
millimeters on the lower part. The lower calibration has a maximum of 200
divisions with each division equal to one mm.
The vernier scale usually has 10 major divisions. The least count of
the caliper is the smallest value that can be read directly from a vernier
scale.

For example, if the least count indicated on the caliper is 0.05 mm and its
vernier scale has 20 divisions, each division corresponds to a 0.05 mm. This
means that the vernier scale divides one division on the main scale into 20
subdivisions. When the jaws are closed the zero line or index of the vernier
scale coincides with the zero line on the main scale. When the jaws are
opened, the fraction of the main scale division that the vernier scale has
moved is determined by noting which vernier divisions coincides with a main
scale division.

Vernier Caliper

Module I
 6

How to use the vernier caliper:

The vernier caliper measure lengths, outer and inner diameters, and
internal depths with the use of its outside jaws or calipers, inner calipers,
and depth gauge respectively. To measure the width of a small rectangular
block, open the movable jaw and place between the outside jaws the block
to be measured. Close the jaws on the object and do the following steps to
get the reading:

1. Observe where the zero line or index of the vernier scale falls on the
main scale. For example, the figure below shows the zero line of vernier
scale just after the 21 mm mark of the main scale. Thus, the main scale
reading is 21 mm.

2. Note the line on the vernier scale that coincides on the main scale. In
the figure below, the vernier division marked “1” coincides exactly with
a line on the main scale. This division is the second from the zero line. If
the least count of the vernier is 0.05 mm, this means that two divisions
correspond to 0.05 mm x 2, which is equal to 0.1 mm. So, the scale
marked “1” in the vernier coinciding with the main scale corresponds to
a 0.1 mm reading.

3. Obtain the final reading by adding the main scale reading obtained in
number 1 and vernier scale reading in number 2. That is:
Main scale reading: 21.0 mm
Circular scale reading: + 0.1 mm
21.1 mm

Final reading
Or 2.11 cm

Apparatus/Materials:

Rectangular Block, new 1 peso coin, ID Card, Ruler, Vernier Caliper,

Micrometer Caliper

Procedure:

A. Volume of a Rectangular Block

1. Measure the length (L), width (W), and thickness (T) of the
rectangular block using a ruler.
2. Calculate the volume (V) of the block by multiplying the length,
width and height using the rules of significant figures for
multiplication. (Volume of a rectangular block = L x W x H)
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 using a vernier caliper. Tabulate the results.

Module I
 7

B. Volume and Surface Area of a Coin

1. Measure the diameter (D), and the thickness or height (H) of a coin
using a ruler.
2. Calculate the volume (V) and the area (A) of the coin using the rules
of significant figures for multiplication. ( ( )
where is the radius of the
cylinder.)
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 using a vernier caliper and a micrometer caliper.
Tabulate the results.

C. Perimeter and Thickness of an ID Card

1. Measure the thickness (T) of three identical ID cards using a vernier

caliper. Divide the reading by three to get the thickness of one ID
card.
2. Repeat the above procedure using a micrometer caliper. Tabulate the
results.
3. Measure the length (L), and width (W) of an ID card using a ruler.
4. Calculate the perimeter of the card by adding twice the length and
twice the width using the rules of significant figures for multiplication
( ).

Data Sheet:

A. Volume of a Rectangular Block

Instrument L W T V
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm3)
Ruler
Vernier
caliper

B. Surface Area and Volume of a Coin (new 1 peso coin)

Instrument R H A V
(cm) (cm) (cm2) (cm3)
Ruler
Vernier
caliper
Micrometer
caliper

Module I
 8

C. Perimeter and Thickness of an ID Card

Thickness Thickness
of three ID of one ID L W Perimeter
Instrument cards card (cm) (cm) (cm)
(measured) (calculated)
(cm) (cm)
Ruler
Vernier
caliper
Micrometer
caliper

*Since the maximum length that the micrometer caliper can measure is only
2.5 cm, use the value obtained using the vernier caliper. Be sure to
maintain the accuracy of each instrument as reflected by your decimal
places. Observe the correct number of significant figures in your
calculations.

Sample Computations:

Module I
 9

QUESTIONS:

1. Indicate the number of significant figures in the following:

_____ a. 50 students
_____ b. 24 hours/day
_____ c. 230 kg
_____ d. 7.80 m
_____ e. 100,480 cm
_____ f. 0.0025 cm3

2. Perform the indicated operations for the following measured values:

a. 4.0659 cm x 3.81 cm =

b. 378.2 m – 56 m =

c. 0.005 mm + 8.25 mm + 127.3 mm =

d. 9.70 x 108 m/s 1.5 s =

3. Solve the following problems:

a. A rectangular paperboard measures 8.7 cm long, 4.3 cm wide and

1.75 mm thick. Find the volume of the paperboard in cubic
centimeter.

b. What is the volume of a cylinder whose radius measures 10.29 mm

and has a height of 6.28 cm? Express the unit in cubic centimeter.

4. Specify the measuring instrument (meter stick, vernier caliper, and

micrometer caliper) that is appropriate in measuring the following:

_______________ a. radius of an ordinary ring

_______________ b. depth of a small can
_______________ c. thickness of a credit card
_______________ d. diameter of a small spherical metal ball
_______________ e. height of a table

Module I