Which is more accurate?

Question

Linear measurement volume or water displacement volume. Why?

the object is a small copper cylinder

Answer 1

They are both accurate but i think it would depend on what you are trying to get the volume of. if you are trying to get volume of a rock that does not fit a normal geometric shape then water displacement would be easier as well as more accurate beacuse if i used linear measurement i might have to aproximate. also why use water displacement for a cube? but alas here is something else to consider what if its a large object can you find a measureable water source to displace (eg. if the object was as large as your home.) hope that this helped some and helped you understand this a little better

Answer 2

I would think volume displacement would be more accurate assuming you have a good graduate cylinder that will hold the object. If both fluid displacement in the cylinder (a linear measurement) and dimensional measurement of the copper cylinder are of equal precision and accuracy, the single measurement is always better, since the errors of two measurements will add (if truly random, by the sqrt of the sum of the squares of the measurement errors). On the other hand, linear measuring instruments (precision calipers) can have a high degree of precision and accuracy, probably exceeding anything to measure displacement volume. Then again, underwater weighing (of the copper cylinder) can be done very accurately and is a form of displacement volume measurement. There are too many variables to make a general answer.