MAE 3005 LAB 3

Uncertainty in mass, volume and density

Abstract
Finding the composition of U.S. pennies.

Dr John Adams

Contents
Objective.................................................................................................................................................................1
Procedure ...............................................................................................................................................................1
Apparatus ...............................................................................................................................................................1
Theory.....................................................................................................................................................................2
Data/Results ...........................................................................................................................................................3
Part 1 - Coins.......................................................................................................................................................3
Part 2 - Mass .......................................................................................................................................................3
Part 3 Volume ..................................................................................................................................................3
Questions................................................................................................................................................................4
More data/results...................................................................................................................................................5
Part 4 Density ..................................................................................................................................................5
Calculations ............................................................................................................................................................5
Composition .......................................................................................................................................................5
Accuracy .............................................................................................................................................................5
More questions ......................................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................................................6
Discussion ...............................................................................................................................................................6
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................6

Objective
The objective of this lab is to determine the composition of pennies minted pre-1982 and from 1982-onwards.

Procedure
See manual. No alterations necessary.

Apparatus
10 pre-1982 pennies
10 1982-on pennies

MAE 3005 Measurements Lab

electronic balance
rule

electronic caliper
graduated cylinder

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Lab 3

Theory
2
2

Volume

= ( )

Uncertainty

()2 = ( ( ) ) + ( )
2
2

True values for the compositions are [1]

Composition (fraction)
Copper (Cu)
Zinc (Zn)
0.95
0.05
0.025
0.975

Date
Pre 1982
1982 - present

Density calculation

= density in g/cm3

where

m = mass in g
V = volume in cm3 (note that 1 cm3 = 1 mL)
1

Uncertainty

()2 = ( ) + ( 2 )

Density of metals [2]

Cu

Composition

% Cu
100

Cu +

% Cu
100

= fraction of Cu,

Let

8.960 g/cm3

% Zn
100

Zn

7.133 g/cm3

then

1 =

Zn
% Zn
100

= fraction of Zn

= Cu + (1 ) Zn

Zn
Cu Zn

=
Uncertainty

MAE 3005 Measurements Lab

)
Cu Zn

()2 = (

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Lab 3

Data/Results
Part 1 - Coins
1.

Pre-1982 coins = 10
1982-on coins = 10

Part 2 - Mass
2.

Mass using a single coin.

Single coin mass ( 0.05 g)

3.

Pre-1982
3.1

1982-On
2.5

Pre-1982
31.0
3.10

1982-On
24.9
2.49

Pre-1982
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.3

1982-On
1.2
1.1
1.3
1.2

18.5
18.5
18.5
18.5

18.9
18.5
18.7
18.7

349 136
0.35 0.14

330 138
0.33 0.14

Mass using average of 10 coins.

Mass of 10 coins ( 0.05 g)

Average mass of 1 coin ( 0.005 g)
Part 3 Volume
4-7.

Volume using a rule and averaging 3 coins.

Thickness ( 0.5 mm)

Average thickness ( 0.5 mm)

Diameter ( 0.5 mm)

Average diameter ( 0.5 mm)

Volume (mm3)
Volume (cm3)

MAE 3005 Measurements Lab

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Lab 3

8-10.

Volume using a rule and 10 coins together.

Height of 10 coins ( 0.5 mm)

Average height ( 0.05 mm)

Pre-1982
14.8
1.48

1982-On
14.5
1.45

Length of 10 coins ( 0.5 mm)

Average diameter ( 0.05 mm)

190.2
19.0

190.1
19.0

420 14
0.42 0.02

411 14
0.41 0.02

Pre-1982
1.49
19.06

1982-On
1.47
19.06

425 1.4
0.425 0.002

419 1.4
0.419 0.002

Volume without coins ( 1 mL)

Volume with coins ( 1 mL)
Difference ( 2 mL)
Average volume of 1 coin ( 0.2 mL)

Pre-1982
66.2
70
3.8
0.38

1982-On
40.0
43.9
3.9
0.39

Volume (cm3)

0.4 0.2

0.4 0.2

Volume (mm3)
Volume (cm3)
11-12. Volume using electronic calipers and a single coin.

Height of 1 coin ( 0.005 mm)

Diameter of 1 coin ( 0.005 mm)
Volume (mm3)
Volume (cm3)
13-15. Volume by displacement of water

Questions
1. Mass measurement using 10 coins has the least uncertainty
as the resolution of the balance is averaged over the 10 coins used.
2. Mass measurement using 1 coin has the most uncertainty.
3. Volume measurement using the calipers has the least uncertainty
as the resolutions of the caliper is much better (finer measurement) than using the rule.
4. Volume measurement using displacement of water has the most uncertainty
(due to poor resolution of graduated cylinder).

MAE 3005 Measurements Lab

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Lab 3

More data/results
Part 4 Density
Density calculated using most imprecise measurements

Density using most imprecise measurements

(g/cm3)
Density using most precise measurements
(g/cm3)

Pre-1982

1982-On

7.8 3.9

6.3 3.1

7.29 0.04

5.94 0.03

Pre-1982
0.4 2.1
0.09 0.02

1982-On
Negative value
Negative value

Calculations
Composition

Composition using most imprecise measurements

Composition using most precise measurements
Accuracy

Percentage error for pre-1982 = 70 % (for the most precise estimate)

This is very poor accuracy.

More questions
5.

The true value of the composition for pre-1982 lies outside the experimental range. 0.95 [0.07, 0.11].
The experimental value is too small, indicating that the measured density is too small.
This could indicate that the measured mass was too small or the measured volume was too large.
The true value of the composition for 1982-on also lies outside the experimental range, since the
experimental result was negative.
The experimental value is too small, indicating that the measured density is too small.
This could indicate that the measured mass was too small or the measured volume was too large.

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Conclusion
The measured density for pre-1982 coins was 7.29 0.04 g/cm3 for the most precise measurements.
The measured density for 1982-on coins was 5.94 0.03 g/cm3 for the most precise measurements.
The calculated composition for pre-1982 coins was (9 2) % for pre-1982.
The calculated composition for 1982-on coins gave a negative result.

Discussion
The precision in this experiment was very high due to the good resolution of the instruments used, and also due
to the ability to average over a large number of coins.
The accuracy of this experiment was very poor, with the true values lying outside of the experimental range for
both set of coins.
A large source of error in the volume of the coins is that the thickness is measured at the edge, which is raised.
This causes the volume measurements to be too large and the density to be too small.
To improve the accuracy, a very large number of coins (100) should be used with the volume measured by
displacement using a graduated cylinder with much greater resolution.
One must be careful to avoid creating bubbles when placing the coins in the water, as these will also add to the
measured volume of the coins.
The error in the mass is likely to be insignificant in comparison to the error in the volume, so no improvement in
the method is necessary. However, averaging over 100 coins would increase the precision.

Bibliography
[1] "United States Mint," [Online]. Available:
http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/fun_facts/?action=fun_facts2.
[2] "National Instite of Standards and Technology," [Online]. Available: http://physics.nist.gov/cgibin/Star/compos.pl.

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Lab 3