Experiment 1

An ASCII file called "da1000.txt" resides on the Physics 302 web-page. You must down-load the data file into your computer.

1. Use a random number generator in EXCEL (or equivalent) and select from the 1000 data points, blocks of data that contain 10 data points, 25 data points, 100 data points, and 250 data points.
2. Using a spreadsheet, make a frequency distribution of the data in each of the subsets as well as the full data set.
3. Determine the mean and standard deviation for each of the blocks of data using appropriate functions in the spreadsheet.
4. Plot, using the spreadsheet plotting package, a histogram of each distribution.
5. Bring the results to lab next lab period for comparison and discussion.

   Also to do for next lab

6. Go to the library and find the physics journal, "Physics Review". This journal comes in number of flavors such as Physics Review A, Physics Review B, etc. Pick any of the current volumes.
7. Examine each article in a particular volume. Be prepared (since I will randomly call on folks) to answer: What is a typical outline of an article? What are typical section? Is there any difference between articles on theoretical physics and experimental physics? If so, what are they? Prepare notes to discuss for the next lab.
8. See the style guide for American Institute of Physics . What is PACS? Which of the PACS codes define an area of interest for you in physics?