| |
| |
Preface to the fourth edition | |
| |
| |
Preface to the first edition | |
| |
| |
| |
The object of practical physics | |
| |
| |
| |
Statistical Treatment of Data | |
| |
| |
| |
Introduction to errors | |
| |
| |
| |
The importance of estimating errors | |
| |
| |
| |
Systematic and random errors | |
| |
| |
| |
Systematic errors | |
| |
| |
| |
Treatment of a single variable | |
| |
| |
| |
Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
Set of measurements | |
| |
| |
| |
Distribution of measurements | |
| |
| |
| |
Estimation of [sigma] and [sigma subscript m] | |
| |
| |
| |
The Gaussian distribution | |
| |
| |
| |
The integral function | |
| |
| |
| |
The error in the error | |
| |
| |
| |
Discussion of the Gaussian distribution | |
| |
| |
Summary of symbols, nomenclature, and important formulae | |
| |
| |
Exercises | |
| |
| |
| |
Further topics in statistical theory | |
| |
| |
| |
The treatment of functions | |
| |
| |
| |
The straight line--method of least squares | |
| |
| |
| |
The straight line--points in pairs | |
| |
| |
| |
Weighting of results | |
| |
| |
Summary of equations for the best straight line by the method of least squares | |
| |
| |
Exercises | |
| |
| |
| |
Common sense in errors | |
| |
| |
| |
Error calculations in practice | |
| |
| |
| |
Complicated functions | |
| |
| |
| |
Errors and experimental procedure | |
| |
| |
Summary of treatment of errors | |
| |
| |
Exercises | |
| |
| |
| |
Experimental Methods | |
| |
| |
| |
Some laboratory instruments and methods | |
| |
| |
| |
Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
Metre rule | |
| |
| |
| |
Micrometer screw gauge | |
| |
| |
| |
Measurement of length--choice of method | |
| |
| |
| |
Measurement of length--temperature effect | |
| |
| |
| |
The beat method of measuring frequency | |
| |
| |
| |
Negative feedback amplifier | |
| |
| |
| |
Servo systems | |
| |
| |
| |
Natural limits of measurement | |
| |
| |
Exercises | |
| |
| |
| |
Some experimental techniques | |
| |
| |
| |
Rayleigh refractometer | |
| |
| |
| |
Measurement of resistivity | |
| |
| |
| |
Absolute measurement of the acceleration due to the Earth's gravity | |
| |
| |
| |
Measurement of frequency and time | |
| |
| |
| |
The Global Positioning System | |
| |
| |
Exercises | |
| |
| |
| |
Experimental logic | |
| |
| |
| |
Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
Apparent symmetry in apparatus | |
| |
| |
| |
Sequence of measurements | |
| |
| |
| |
Intentional and unintentional changes | |
| |
| |
| |
Drift | |
| |
| |
| |
Systematic variations | |
| |
| |
| |
Calculated and empirical corrections | |
| |
| |
| |
Relative methods | |
| |
| |
| |
Null methods | |
| |
| |
| |
Why make precise measurements? | |
| |
| |
| |
Common sense in experiments | |
| |
| |
| |
Preliminary experiment | |
| |
| |
| |
Checking the obvious | |
| |
| |
| |
Personal errors | |
| |
| |
| |
Repetition of measurements | |
| |
| |
| |
Working out results | |
| |
| |
| |
Design of apparatus | |
| |
| |
| |
Record and Calculations | |
| |
| |
| |
Record of the experiment | |
| |
| |
| |
Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
Bound notebook versus loose-leaf | |
| |
| |
| |
Recording measurements | |
| |
| |
| |
Down with copying | |
| |
| |
| |
Diagrams | |
| |
| |
| |
Tables | |
| |
| |
| |
Aids to clarity | |
| |
| |
| |
Some common faults--ambiguity and vagueness | |
| |
| |
| |
Graphs | |
| |
| |
| |
The use of graphs | |
| |
| |
| |
Choice of ruling | |
| |
| |
| |
Scale | |
| |
| |
| |
Units | |
| |
| |
| |
Some hints on drawing graphs | |
| |
| |
| |
Indicating errors | |
| |
| |
| |
Sensitivity | |
| |
| |
| |
Arithmetic | |
| |
| |
| |
Arithmetic is important | |
| |
| |
| |
Computers | |
| |
| |
| |
Calculators | |
| |
| |
| |
Ways of reducing arithmetical mistakes | |
| |
| |
| |
Checking algebra | |
| |
| |
Exercises | |
| |
| |
| |
Writing a paper | |
| |
| |
| |
Introduction | |
| |
| |
| |
Title | |
| |
| |
| |
Abstract | |
| |
| |
| |
Plan of paper | |
| |
| |
| |
Sections of paper | |
| |
| |
| |
Diagrams, graphs, and tables | |
| |
| |
| |
Instructions to authors | |
| |
| |
| |
Clarity | |
| |
| |
| |
Good English | |
| |
| |
| |
Conclusion | |
| |
| |
Appendices | |
| |
| |
| |
Evaluation of some integrals connected with the Gaussian function | |
| |
| |
| |
The variance of s[superscript 2] for a Gaussian distribution | |
| |
| |
| |
The straight line--the standard error in the slope and intercept | |
| |
| |
Comment on the dependence of m, c, and b | |
| |
| |
| |
The binomial and Poisson distributions | |
| |
| |
Binomial distribution | |
| |
| |
Poisson distribution | |
| |
| |
| |
The x[superscript 2] distribution--test of goodness of fit | |
| |
| |
Introduction | |
| |
| |
Derivation of x[superscript 2] distribution | |
| |
| |
The function P[subscript n](x[superscript 2]) | |
| |
| |
Degrees of freedom | |
| |
| |
Test of goodness of fit | |
| |
| |
Worked examples | |
| |
| |
Comments | |
| |
| |
| |
SI units | |
| |
| |
Names and symbols | |
| |
| |
Decimal factors | |
| |
| |
Relation to c.g.s. units | |
| |
| |
Definition of the SI base units | |
| |
| |
| |
Values of physical constants | |
| |
| |
| |
Mathematical tables | |
| |
| |
Values of the Gaussian function and the Gaussian integral function | |
| |
| |
Values of x[superscript 2] for given v and P | |
| |
| |
Solutions to exercises | |
| |
| |
Some useful books | |
| |
| |
References | |
| |
| |
Index | |