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