ERIC Number: EJ1074899
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Sep
Pages: 2
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
The Importance of Measurement Data Spacing
Seixas, T. M.; da Silva, M. A. Salgueiro
Physics Teacher, v53 n6 p356-357 Sep 2015
When conducting experiments involving the measurement of physically related quantities, choosing an appropriate spacing for the experimental independent variable is a crucial procedure whose consequences may go beyond data graphical visualization. This is particularly true if the measured quantities are nonlinearly related and experimental errors are nonuniform. In this work, we show that measurement procedures should provide a higher density of data points in the range where experimental errors are larger, to more effectively average out random errors and thus mitigate accuracy errors in parameter determination. Knowing the effective experimental independent variable helps in defining an adequate data spacing.
Descriptors: Measurement, Data, Error of Measurement, Intervals, Predictor Variables, Science Experiments, Scientific Methodology, Measurement Techniques, Accuracy, Educational Practices
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A