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Data Analysis
In the Diploma Programme, one is required to do some kind of exploration in Physics. Here one mostly does some experiment to figure out how some physical quantity A relates to some other physical quantity B. To get the highest grade
The report shows evidence of full and appropriate consideration of the impact of measurement uncertainty on the analysis.
as is stated in the Physics Guide, first assessment 2016. In the new guide, First Assessment 2025, we can read ”
The recording and processing of data shows evidence of an appropriate consideration of uncertainties.
The few following pages are mainly about those criteria.
The aim is to find how the errors in the measurement propagate to the conclusion. If we, for example, find that a linear model fits our data rather well, then the natural question is -how well?
We may for example find that
This means that we most likely have a best fit within those error limits. The errors usually indicate an error of plus/minus one standard deviation.
The procedure to find these limits that will be described here is not what a real scientist would do, but it is good enough at this stage. A short description of a more formal method will be provided in the end.
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