An Introduction to Experimental Physics

Understanding, designing and conducting experiments is at the heart of science. This text introduces the fundamental principles on which physicists should build a thorough experimental approach to their discipline.

List of examples

v

(2)

Preface

vii

1 What experimental science is about

1

(12)

Strengths of the method

2

(1)

Problems in applying the method

3

(1)

Experimental skills

3

(1)

Experimental design

4

(1)

Collection of data

4

(2)

Analysis of data

6

(7)

2 Writing about experiments

13

(16)

3 Design of experiments

29

(16)

Introduction

29

(1)

Steps along the way

30

(1)

General discussion

30

(3)

Good use of time in experiments

33

(12)

4 Measuring the experimental variables

45

(20)

Introduction--a general experimental system

45

(1)

Characteristics of equipment

46

(6)

Units

52

(1)

Examples of measurement of nuclear radiation

53

(12)

5 Analysis of data

65

(38)

Single experimental variable, repeated N times

65

(10)

Weighting of data--introduction

75

(2)

Two experimental variables

77

(2)

Fitting data to a straight line

79

(6)

Combination of errors

85

(7)

Correlated variables

92

(2)

Use of random numbers

94

(3)

Goodness of fit

97

(6)

6. Models

103

(10)

Introduction

103

(10)

Appendices

113

(12)

1 Uncertainty on the line of least squares fit

113

(4)

2 Coefficient of linear correlation r

117

(2)

3 Books you might enjoy reading

119

(2)

4 Programs discussed in text

121

(4)

Program 4.1: DICE

121

(1)

Program 4.2: REACTIM

122

(1)

Program 4.3: WLSF

122

(1)

Program 4.4: GAUSS

123

(2)

Index

125

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An Introduction to Experimental Physics

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials