Balance lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Balance - Lab Report Example Record the reading The Centigram Balance, which gives a reading of 2.3 on weighing the copper slug directly, has a sensitivity of 0.1 grams, whereas the Electronic Balance which gives a reading of 2.999 for the same slug has a much higher sensitivity of 0.001g. It is important to use the same slug for both instruments to make sure that any disparity in the readings is due to the instrument being used and not because of a difference in the mass of the copper slug being measured. The Electronic Balance has a higher accuracy. This is further proved by the value obtained for average mass of a copper slug using an Electronic Balance. This value, 2.980, is very close to the reading 2.989 which was obtained when a copper slug was measured on the Electronic Balance using weight difference method. The Electronic Balance, due to its high sensitivity and accuracy is more reliable for measurement of small masses. The Centigram on the other hand has a much lower accuracy and sensitivity and is thus unsuitable for small masses. Weighing by difference is different from weighing directly because it involves taking two readings and then subtracting the two to get a value for the mass that has to be measured. Weighing by difference gives more accurate results because when the readings are subtracted then any zero error due to wrong calibration of the instrument will be removed from the final reading. In case of weighing a mass directly if the instrument contains a zero error it will show up in the reading obtained which will then be inaccurate. Conclusion: This experiment establishes that the use of an Electronic Balance as opposed to a Centigram Balance and the use of weighing by difference technique as opposed to weighing directly produce more accurate