Study Guide 1 for PHY1503 Physics Practical Work 1 Study Guide 1 Data Processing and Laboratory Procedure.CONTENTS
Page
Contents iii
Introduction 1
Study Unit 1: What to expect from this module 11
1.1 Introduction
...
Study Guide 1 for PHY1503 Physics Practical Work 1 Study Guide 1 Data Processing and Laboratory Procedure.CONTENTS
Page
Contents iii
Introduction 1
Study Unit 1: What to expect from this module 11
1.1 Introduction 11
1.2 The soft drink experiment 12
1.3 Instructions for the soft drink experiment 14
1.4 Your report on the soft drink experiment 15
1.5 Model report on the soft drink experiment 18
1.6 What was that all about? 23
Topic 1 Measurements and errors 25
Study Unit 2: Units and significant figures 28
2.1 Units 28
2.2 Significant figures 33
2.3 Rounding off 36
2.4 Significant figures in calculations 37
2.4.1 Multiplication and division 37
2.4.2 Addition and subtraction 39
2.5 End note 40
Study Unit 3: Single variables 41
3.1 Measuring a single variable 41
3.2 Arithmetic mean 45
Study Unit 4: A case study 48
4.1 Two students experimenting 48
4.2 Frequency distribution 49
Study Unit 5: Precision and accuracy 55
5.1 Precision and accuracy 55
5.2 Types of errors 56
5.2.1 Systematic errors 56
5.2.2 Random errors 58
5.3 Accuracy of the apparatus 60
Study Unit 6: Repeated measurements 64
6.1 Distribution of repeated measurements 64
6.2 Relative frequency distribution: normalisation 65
6.3 Limiting frequency distribution 69
6.4 Histogram 70
6.5 Sturge’s rule 71
6.6 Continuous distribution 76
CONTENTS
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Study Unit 7: Evaluating the precision of a measurement 79
7.1 Precision of a measurement 79
7.2 Range 79
7.3 Standard deviation 81
Study Unit 8: Normal distribution 88
8.1 Shape of the normal distribution 88
8.2 Characteristics of the normal distribution 89
Self-evaluation Test 1 99
Assignment questions and problems of Topic 1 104
Topic 2 Interpretation of results 111
Study Unit 9: Standard error 111
9.1 Best estimate of the true value: the mean 112
9.2 Best estimate of precision: adjusted standard
deviation 112
9.3 Accuracy of the mean value: standard error of
the mean 113
9.4 Concluding the matter of errors 116
9.5 Significant figures in experimental results 117
Study Unit 10: Combinations of measurements and errors 124
10.1 Combining errors 124
10.2 Sum and difference 126
10.3 Scale factor 127
10.4 Linear combination 127
10.5 Product and quotient 127
10.6 General product 128
10.7 Exponents 128
10.8 Natural logarithms 129
10.9 Logarithms 129
10.10 Summary 130
Study Unit 11: A case study revised 142
11.1 Two students again 142
Self-evaluation Test 2 144
Assignment questions and problems of Topic 2 150
Topic 3 Graphs 155
Study Unit 12: Graphs in experimental work 155
12.1 Introduction 155
12.2 Purpose of graphs in experimental work 157
12.3 What have we learnt from Prof Onestone? 162
12.4 Plotting a graph 162
CONTENTS
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Study Unit 13: Straight line graphs 168
13.1 Why straight line graphs? 168
13.2 Equation of a straight line 169
Study Unit 14: Relationships between variables 177
14.1 Types of variables 177
14.2 Linearising equations 178
14.3 Equations of the form ܻ ൌ ݇ܺ 182
14.4 Equations of the form ܻ ൌ ݇݁ି 184
Study Unit 15: The best straight line 186
15.1 Introduction 186
15.2 Principle of least squares 186
15.3 Linear regression 188
Study Unit 16: Hints on how to plot graphs 196
16.1 Hints 196
16.2 Example 197
16.3 Error-bars 200
Self-evaluation Test 3 202
Assignment questions and problems of Topic 3 208
Topic 4 Planning an experiment and writing a report 214
Study Unit 17: Planning an experiment 215
17.1 Introduction 215
17.2 Preparation 215
17.3 Preliminary experiment 215
17.4 Recording measurements 216
17.5 Analysis of the data 217
17.6 Drawing conclusions 217
17.7 Reporting the experiment 217
Study Unit 18: Writing a scientific report 218
18.1 Nature of a scientific report 218
18.2 Scheme of a scientific report 219
18.3 A model report 222
Appendix A: Exponents and logarithms 230
Appendix B: Greek alphabet 232
Appendix C: Physical constants and conversion factors 233
Appendix D: Microcomputers for data analysis 234
Appendix E: Information about the laboratory session 236
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