LAB1: STATISTICS/PROBABILITY (TAKE HOME)

Measurements and Instrumentation

Fall 2001

Your name here

Date lab was performed

ABSTRACT

This should be a one paragraph summary of your entire report. This means that everything from your

objectives to results should be briefly addressed. A good abstract also suggests what the results mean. When

laying out this title page, obtain a cover sheet with a window through which the lab title and names above can be

viewed. The abstract will then be seen only when opening the cover.

360568555.doc Page 1 of 11 7/15/2017

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. introduction......................................................................................................................................................3

2. THEORY.........................................................................................................................................................3

3. APPARATUS..................................................................................................................................................3

4. PROCEDURE:...............................................................................................................................................3
4.1 PRACTICE TESTS..........................................................................................................................................3
4.2 ACTUAL TESTS............................................................................................................................................3
4.3 PROCEDURE DETAILS..................................................................................................................................3
5. RESULTS........................................................................................................................................................4

6. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION.........................................................................................................5

6.1 DATA ANALYSIS...........................................................................................................................................6
6.2 STATISTICAL FREQUENCY............................................................................................................................7
6.3 HISTOGRAM CHART.....................................................................................................................................8
6.4 RELATIVE FREQUENCY AND NORMAL DISTRIBUTION CHARTS...................................................................8
6.5 CONFIDENCE INTERVALS.............................................................................................................................9
6.5.1 Confidence interval for the mean.....................................................................................................9
6.5.2 Confidence interval for the standard deviation.................................................................................9
6.6 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS......................................................................................................................9
7. DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................................10
7.1 CONVERGENCE OF THEORY AND EXPERIMENTS.......................................................................................10
7.2 SOURCES OF ERRORS.................................................................................................................................10
8. CONCLUSIONS...........................................................................................................................................10
8.1 CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE EXPERIMENT...................................................................................................10
8.2 CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE SAMPLED SPECIMENS.....................................................................................10
8.3 SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT............................................................................................................10
8.3.1 Suggestions for improvement of the experiment..............................................................................10
8.3.2 Suggestions for improvement in the data reduction........................................................................10
8.3.3 Suggestions for improvement in data interpretation.......................................................................10
9. References......................................................................................................................................................10

360568555.doc Page 2 of 11 7/15/2017

1. INTRODUCTION
This is a paper clip bending experiment (sample size 20). You will start the experiment in class and will continue
it after class. The data to be recorded is the number of bends necessary to break the clip. This will constitute the
statistical data. Based on the statistical data, you will calculate some statistical/probability results.
OBJECTIVES:
This homework explores statistics/probability principles using as an example the paper clip bending test.
TEXTBOOK REFERENCE
Chapter 3, sections 1-5, 10-11, 14

2. THEORY

3. APPARATUS
Paper clips, etc.

4. PROCEDURE:

4.1 Practice Tests

Take a paper clip and bend it backwards and forward until it breaks. During the bending, count the number of
bend reversals. Write down your result. Try another one. Write down your result. If you feel confident that you got
it under control, proceed to the next step.

4.2 Actual Tests

Select 20 paper clips that will constitute your sample. The paper clips are your test specimens. Bend them until
they break. After each specimen breaks, record in Table 1 the number of bends taken to break and any comments
you may have. Then proceed with the next specimen.
Note: Do your entries in pencil. Use an eraser for corrections. Preserve a neat appearance.

4.3 Procedure Details

Give here details of your experimental procedure, i.e., how you performed the experiment, what you did. Give
sufficient information for other people to be able to reproduce your results independently by just reading this
section.

360568555.doc Page 3 of 11 7/15/2017

5. RESULTS

Table 1 Experimental data

(number of bends)Statistical data
Sample #

Comments

Calculate the mean, median, max, min, and standard deviation for your data set.
Mean
Median
Min
Max
Standard Deviation

360568555.doc Page 4 of 11 7/15/2017

6. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
Tips And Suggestions

Calculation of Statistical Quantities

You can perform the calculation of statistical quantities in many ways:
1. Using directly the formulas
2. Using the tabulated values given in the textbook
3. Using statistical functions on your pocket calculators
4. Using the built in statistical functions available in most mathematical software packages. For example,
MS Excel has most of what you need for the analysis required in this homework. Explore and enjoy the
MS Excel Help !!! You will find this much more fun and easier to use.
Importing charts into MS Word
In performing the calculations and drawing the charts, you are encouraged to use MS Excel software or
equivalent. However, your report should be in MS Word, or equivalent. When cutting and pasting from MS Excel
into Word, use Edit\Paste Special\Picture. Do not use direct cut and paste, since this will import the Excel
application file, increase the size of your Word file, and may produce problems. After pasting your picture, right-
select the Format Object dialog box and position the picture In line with the text. (This can be found under
Layout in Word 2000; for Word 97, uncheck the float over text check box in the Position tab).

360568555.doc Page 5 of 11 7/15/2017

6.1 Data Analysis
Use the data recorded in Table 1 to create a table of ranked data (Table 2). Count and enter the cumulative number
of occurrences at each repeated level. (For example, if 4 samples broke after the same number of bends, say, 14
bends, count them in increasing sample order as 1, 2, 3, 4.)
Table 2 Ranked data
Sample #
of bends)Statistical data (number

of occurrencesCumulative number

Comments

360568555.doc Page 6 of 11 7/15/2017

360568555.doc Page 7 of 11 7/15/2017
 (Number of bends)Statistical class 6.2
Table 3

(number of occurrences)Statistical frequency

360568555.doc
Cumulative frequency
Statistical frequency
Statistical Frequency

Relative frequency

Cumulative relative frequency

Page 8 of 11
Comments

7/15/2017
6.3 Histogram Chart
Draw a histogram of statistical frequency vs. number of bends to break.

Figure 1 Statistical frequency (number of occurrences) vs. statistical class (number of bends to break)

6.4 Relative Frequency and Normal Distribution Charts

Draw a histogram of relative statistical frequency vs. number of bends to break Superpose the curve representing
the normal distribution with same mean and standard deviation.

Figure 2 Sample relative frequency and normal distribution with same mean and standard deviation.

360568555.doc Page 9 of 11 7/15/2017

6.5 Confidence Intervals
Calculate the confidence interval of using the mean and the standard deviation values found in your experiment as
representative of population mean and standard deviation. Assume (though not entirely correct) that your
sample can be considered a large sample.

6.5.1 Confidence interval for the mean

Assume that the sample mean, x , determined in your experiment, is going to be used to represent the population
mean, . Give the 95% confidence interval.

6.5.2 Confidence interval for the standard deviation

Assume that the sample standard deviation, Sx, determined in your experiment, is going to be used to represent the
population mean, . Give the 95% confidence interval.

6.6 Interpretation of Results

Use the results from Table 2 to enter data in Table 3 and calculate the statistical frequency and the cumulative
frequency. Because you have integer values, the statistical classes have integer labels. For example, the class
containing all the samples that broke after, say, 12 bends, will be labeled 12. (If you were using non-integer
values, you would have to label the bin 11.5<i<=12.5)

360568555.doc Page 10 of 11 7/15/2017

7. DISCUSSION
Discuss the main findings from your experiment.

7.1 Convergence of Theory and Experiments

Comment on how well does the experimental data fit the theoretical model, i.e., the normal distribution. Highlight
the salient feature of your results (good features and bad features).

7.2 Sources of Errors

List the probable sources of uncertainty in this lab. Explain how each factor may affect the results and list them in
terms of significance.

8. CONCLUSIONS

8.1 Conclusions about the Experiment

Tell if the experiment was or was not conducted with professionalism and if the data collected during the
experiment should or should not be credible.

8.2 Conclusions about the Sampled Specimens

Conclude if the sampled specimens behave or do not behave in accordance with expectations.

8.3 Suggestions for Improvement

All these suggestions listed below are highly valuable to the future experimentalists. Be generous in your
suggestions.

8.3.1 Suggestions for improvement of the experiment

Give suggestions about how to improve the experimental procedure and the collection of samples. Explain how
would the experiment be conducted better, given a second chance.

8.3.2 Suggestions for improvement in the data reduction

Give suggestions for improvement of the data reduction process. Suggest software or algorithms that might be
useful to future researchers, if you know of can think of any.

8.3.3 Suggestions for improvement in data interpretation

Suggest better and more effective ways of data interpretation, if you know, or can think of any.

9. REFERENCES

360568555.doc Page 11 of 11 7/15/2017