# While including a data table for a lab report, the guidelines asked to include an uncertainty value

garnirativ8 2022-10-02 Answered
While including a data table for a lab report, the guidelines asked to include an uncertainty value for each raw data. In this particular lab where we used slotted masses the masses were already given (such as 50g, 200g, etc.). So while recording the masses into the data table, to how many significant figures should I record the uncertainty and for what reason?
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## Answers (2)

Corbin Hanson
Answered 2022-10-03 Author has 10 answers
In general when you are provided with standard masses, and you are not specifically told what the errors in those masses are, then you would assume the errors are negligible.
That is, you can assume the errors in the masses are small enough that the errors in other measurements will dominate. So you can ignore any errors in the masses when calculating the final errors. But read the lab details carefully to make sure you aren't given error information about the masses.
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smetuwh
Answered 2022-10-04 Author has 2 answers
Yes if there is no error in lab mentioned masses then there will be no need to point out that masses.
If there, it is mention to use the masses by candidate him/her self findings then it is necessary to find out the sigficant figure upto the least count (digits) of the instrument that you are using. i.e. For vernier calliper 0.01cm etc.
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