# Data Analysis in lab rapports and explorations

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Data Analysis

In the Diploma Programme  one is required to do some kind of exploration in Physics. Here one mostly do 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. The few following pages are mainly about that criteria.

The aim is to find how the errors in the measurement propagates to the final 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

$A=(1.5\pm 0.2)B+3.3\pm 0.4$

This means that we most likely have a best fit within those error limits.The errors usually indicates 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 sill be provided in the end.

Up a level : IB Physics
Previous page : Pre DP, Mechanics and Electronics
Next page : Data analysis 1, linear relations, proportionalitiesLast modified: May 1, 2018 @ 16:01