Lab 1.18

Table 1 - Indirect MeasurementTrialVolume (CM3)Diameter (CM)175 cm3 11.34 cm5.67 cm 283 cm3 12.17 cm 6.085 cm .713 cm
Table 2 - Direct MeasurementTrialM&M Thickness (CM)10.64220.74130.683
Table 3 - Calculated AveragesMethodCalculated Average Thickness (cm)Indirect (from Table 1).728 cm Direct (from Table 2).689 cm
Questions:
1. When you performed Step 2 of the procedure, you actually made a cylinder of M&Ms. The cylinder was rather "smushed," and the height of the cylinder was the thickness of an M&M. Recall that the equation for the volume of a cylinder is V = (3.14)r2h.
A. Rearrange the equation for "h." Show your work.
(V)/(3.14r2)=h
B. Using the data from Table 1 and your equation, calculate the average thickness (height) of an M&M for each trial. Record your calculated values in Table 1. Hint: Students often forget that they must use the radius, and not the diameter, in the equation. Copy Table 1 into the assignment.

75=(3.14)(5.672)h
75=100.95h
.743 cm=h
83=(3.14)(6.0852)h
83=116.265h
.713 cm =h
C. You now have two values for the thickness of an M&M in Table 1. Determine the average M&M thickness using these values and record your value in Table 3.
D. You have just determined a value for the thickness of an M&M using the indirect method. What makes this method "indirect"?
The method is indirect because the value was determined through calculations, not actual measurements(direct).
2. When Step 4 of the procedure was performed, a vernier caliper was used to measure the thickness of an M&M.
A. Using the data from Table 2, calculate the average M&M thickness and record your value in Table 3. Copy Table 2 and Table 3 into the assignment.
B. You have just determined a value for the thickness of an M&M using the direct method. What makes this method "direct"?
This method is “direct” because it was directly measured; it was determined by a vernier caliper, not calculations.
3. Which method (indirect or direct) yields the "best" value for the average thickness of an M&M from the package? Explain the reasons for your choice.
The direct method yields the best value for the average thickness of an M&M from the package because the measurements were taken directly. With determining a measurement through calculations, there is always the possibility of one of the other measurements being off thus leading to an inaccurate calculation.

.743 cm Radius (CM)M&M Thickness (CM)