Determining the mass of one paperclip

 20 Points

Name:__________________________      Date:____________        Period:______

Write your determination of the mass of one paper clip right here:__________

Objectives:  Compare the results obtained by 2 different methods of obtaining the mass of a single item.

                  Be able to properly use a triple beam balance.

You need a balance, a piece of wax paper, and 5 paper clips.

The correct method to determine the mass of any object is as follows:

    1.    Set the balance to zero.

    2.    Determine the mass of a single sheet of wax paper.  Write it down.

    3.    Place the item(s) or substance being massed on the paper.

    4.    Determine the mass of the paper and the item(s).  Write it down.

    5.    Subtract the mass of the paper from the mass of the paper and the item(s).  This is your result.

          Write the mass of the paper here:___________

Now determine the mass of a single paper clip, using the following two methods:

1.                    Take a single clip and weigh it five times. Write the results in the table below. 

             Average the results as shown.

2.    Take five paper clips and weigh them.  Divide the result by five.  Write the result below.  Compare the results.  Are they the same?

3.    Which of the two methods above do you think is the most accurate?

4.    Write the Instructor's value for a paper clip.  How did he obtain it?

5.    How much did you miss this actual value by?  Subtract your value from the actual value to find out.

6.    What percentage error is this?  Divide the value computed in 5 by the actual value in 4.

7.    Finally, determine the mass of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 paper clips.  Write the results in the table below.  

           Create a line chart of the data.  Put the number of clips on the X-axis, put the mass on the Y-axis

           Attach the chart to this paper.