Preface to the Second Edition |
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xi | |
Preface to the First Edition |
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xiii | |
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1 Introduction to Experimentation |
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1 | (8) |
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1.1 Overview: The Importance of Experiments in Science and Engineering |
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1 | (1) |
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1.2 Stages of a Typical Experiment |
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2 | (2) |
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1.3 Documenting Your Work |
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4 | (4) |
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8 | (1) |
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2 Characteristics of Experimental Data |
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9 | (15) |
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2.1 Overview: What Are the Important Features of Experimental Data? |
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9 | (1) |
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9 | (3) |
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12 | (2) |
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2.4 Uncertainties in Values Obtained through Measurement |
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14 | (1) |
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15 | (5) |
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20 | (2) |
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22 | (1) |
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23 | (1) |
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3 Graphical Presentation of Data |
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24 | (35) |
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3.1 Overview: The Importance of Graphs |
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24 | (1) |
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24 | (9) |
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33 | (15) |
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48 | (4) |
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52 | (1) |
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53 | (6) |
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4 Dealing with Uncertainties |
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59 | (26) |
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4.1 Overview: What Are Uncertainties? |
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59 | (2) |
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4.2 Uncertainty in a Single Measurement |
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61 | (2) |
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4.3 The Best Estimate of a Quantity Obtained through Repeat Measurements: The Mean |
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63 | (7) |
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4.4 Systematic and Random Errors |
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70 | (4) |
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4.5 Combining Uncertainties |
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74 | (7) |
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4.6 Selection and Rejection of Data |
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81 | (1) |
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82 | (1) |
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82 | (3) |
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5 Statistical Approach to Variability in Measurements |
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85 | (26) |
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5.1 Overview: Estimating Uncertainties with the Aid of Statistics |
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85 | (1) |
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5.2 Variance and Standard Deviation of Repeated Measurements |
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85 | (4) |
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5.3 Uncertainty in the Best Estimate of the True Value Obtained through Repeat Measurements: Standard Error of the Mean |
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89 | (2) |
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5.4 Displaying the Values Obtained from Repeated Measurements: The Histogram |
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91 | (10) |
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5.5 Combining Uncertainties When Measurement Errors Are Uncorrelated |
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101 | (2) |
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5.6 Continuous and Discrete Quantities |
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103 | (3) |
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106 | (1) |
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106 | (5) |
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6 Fitting a Line to x-y Data Using the Method of Least Squares |
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111 | (28) |
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6.1 Overview: How Can We Find the Best Line through x-y Data? |
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111 | (1) |
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6.2 The Method of Least Squares |
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112 | (9) |
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121 | (8) |
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6.4 How Well Does the Line Fit the x-y Data? The Linear Correlation Coefficient, r |
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129 | (2) |
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131 | (1) |
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132 | (7) |
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7 Report Writing and Presentations |
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139 | (29) |
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139 | (1) |
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7.2 A Scientific or Technical Report |
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139 | (21) |
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160 | (3) |
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163 | (4) |
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167 | (1) |
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8 Using Excel to Present and Analyse Data |
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168 | (17) |
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8.1 Overview: Spreadsheets for Data Analysis |
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168 | (1) |
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169 | (6) |
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8.3 Built-In Statistical Functions |
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175 | (4) |
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8.4 Visualising Data Using a Spreadsheet |
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179 | (2) |
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8.5 Other Features Offered by Excel |
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181 | (3) |
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8.6 Alternatives to Spreadsheets |
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184 | (1) |
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184 | (1) |
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9 Computer-Aided Data Capture |
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185 | (12) |
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9.1 Why Use a Computer to Assist in Data Capture? |
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185 | (1) |
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186 | (1) |
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9.3 Signal Conditioning: A Little Electronics Goes a Long Way |
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187 | (3) |
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9.4 The Analogue to Digital Converter |
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190 | (1) |
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9.5 Data Acquisition, Processing and Analysis Options |
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190 | (6) |
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196 | (1) |
Appendix 1 Degrees of Freedom and the t Distribution |
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197 | (3) |
Appendix 2 Propagation of Uncertainties Where Errors Are Uncorrelated |
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200 | (2) |
Solutions to Exercises and Problems |
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202 | (16) |
Further Reading |
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218 | (2) |
References |
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220 | (1) |
Index |
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221 | |