Significant Figure Lab

Introduction:

Each pair of stations is measuring the same thing: Stations 1 and 2 measures volume, stations 3 and 4 measure mass, and stations 5 and 6 measure length.

Ideally, the measurements should be the same, varying only in the number of significant figures that are appropriate for each measuring tool. As a result, most of the grading for this lab is not in the absolute value of the measurements but in the number of decimal places used to write the measurements. Make sure your students are clear on how to properly write the correct number of significant figures for a measured value before setting them loose.

Estimated time to complete lab:

This lab goes quickly. Three to five minutes for each lab station should be sufficient time to complete the questions before rotating to the next station.

Equipment Required:

Station 1:

· One 50 mL graduated cylinder (1 mL graduations)

· Three disposable pipettes

· Three pen caps (large marker caps work best)

· 100 mL water in a beaker

Station 2:

· One 10 mL graduated cylinder (0.1 mL gradations)

· Three disposable pipettes (should be identical to station 1)

· Three pen caps (should be identical to station 1)

· 100 mL water in a beaker

Station 3:

· Five pennies

· Five large paper clips

· One digital balance

Station 4:

· Five pennies

· Five large paper clips (identical to station 3)

· One triple-beam balance

Stations 5:

· One pad of Post-it™ notes at each station

· Five large paper clips at each station

∙ A ruler that is divided into centimeters

Stations 5:

· One pad of Post-it™ notes at each station

· Five large paper clips at each station

∙ A ruler that is divided into millimeters

The stations in this lab are paired: Stations 1 and 2 are paired, as are 3 to 4 and 5 to 6. All equipment in the paired stations should be identical. For example, the paper clips in stations 5 and 6 should be from the same box.

Safety Concerns:

There are no safety issues in this lab. While goggles are not required, it is not a bad idea to use this lab as a means of getting the students in the habit of wearing them.

Clean Up Concerns:

There are no clean up issues in this lab.

What Can Go Wrong:

· It may not be a bad idea to review the use of a triple-beam balance before starting this lab. Some students will need the tutorial before starting station 4.

· The objects being measured in this lab frequently get lost. The equipment list takes this into account, but be ready to produce more replacements if you doing this lab with more than one class in a day.

Student Lab Sheet as a Word Document:

click here to download file

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