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Physics is an experimental science

Physics is an experimental science. Experimental Design. Independent variable = the parameter being changed. Examples: time, temperature, pH, salt. Independent variable is expressed on the X axis (horizontal axis).

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Physics is an experimental science

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  1. Physics is an experimental science

  2. Experimental Design • Independent variable = the parameter being changed. Examples: time, temperature, pH, salt. Independent variable is expressed on the X axis (horizontal axis). • Dependent variable = the effect or the result being examined. Examples: distance, velocity, amount of product formed. Dependent variable is expressed on the Y axis (vertical axis).

  3. Experimental Design • Control group = original or “same, old” condition • Experimental or test group = group being subjected to new conditions

  4. Example: The grass is brown. • Independent variable: added water • Dependent variable: green grass • Control group: grass not watered • Experimental group: grass watered

  5. Example: This bottle of milk stinks. • Independent variable: closed or open bottle • Dependent variable: stinky milk • Control group: closed bottle of milk • Experimental group: open bottle of milk

  6. Measurement • Agreed upon • International (“Systeme International”; “SI”) • Unchanging • Available

  7. S.I. • Length: meter • Time: second • Mass: kilogram • Temperature: kelvin (kelvin = degrees Centrigrade plus 273)

  8. Prefixes for powers of 10 • See page 1 of the Reference Table

  9. Scientific Notation • M x 10^n • M is the mantissa • M is between 1 and 10 • n is the exponent

  10. angles • Angles are measured in degrees • Use protractor • Use trigonometry

  11. Accuracy refers to how well a measurement agrees with an accepted value. Perform error analysis to study accuracy. • (measured – accepted)/(accepted) x 100% • Precision describes how well a measuring device can produce a measurement. The limit of precision is ½ of the smallest division of that device. Precision tells you how “tight” a set of measurements are among themselves. • Reliable means BOTH accurate and precise.

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