Attempting to Measure the Ideal Gas Constant (8/20)
A spreadsheet is the easiest way to carry out the data manipulation we need to convert the diverse information we currently have into usable numbers. Spreadsheets are good for doing repetitive, tedious calculations rapidly, and are pretty much essential for adulting in the world today. I want to walk you through how to analyze your data here, kind of as an introduction to how to use a spreadsheet.
The way they work is that you enter formulas. I want to multiply the weight of a textbook, 22.45N, by the № of textbooks. Instead of typing in each calculation, I selected the first value of "№ of textbooks" with the mouse and then multiplied that by the weight. Note that what gets recorded is the cell number. After you hit enter, you'll see the answer. Highlight the answer and you'll notice that the lower right corner has a small box on it. Grab this and drag it down. It will repeat the calculation for all your data.
I use Microsoft Excel 2016 here, because its what is installed on our school computers. My favorite program is the open source LibreOffice 6, which is available for free. Google Sheets also does a good job. The formula entry is identical in almost all spreadsheets- the only differences are the steps for making a graph. If you ever accidentally drive your time machine at 88mph and are transported back to 1985 you can use VisiCalc on the Apple ][ or Lotus 123 on the IBM PS/2. They're all good.
The only unacceptable spreadsheet program to use right now is the online version of Excel that as of 2019 is part of Office 365. This does not contain the ability to add trendlines or manipulate graphs. Please avoid that or you will be frustrated!
Attempting to Measure the Ideal Gas Constant (8/20)
A spreadsheet is the easiest way to carry out the data manipulation we need to convert the diverse information we currently have into usable numbers. Spreadsheets are good for doing repetitive, tedious calculations rapidly, and are pretty much essential for adulting in the world today. I want to walk you through how to analyze your data here, kind of as an introduction to how to use a spreadsheet.
The way they work is that you enter formulas. I want to multiply the weight of a textbook, 22.45N, by the № of textbooks. Instead of typing in each calculation, I selected the first value of "№ of textbooks" with the mouse and then multiplied that by the weight. Note that what gets recorded is the cell number. After you hit enter, you'll see the answer. Highlight the answer and you'll notice that the lower right corner has a small box on it. Grab this and drag it down. It will repeat the calculation for all your data.
I use Microsoft Excel 2016 here, because its what is installed on our school computers. My favorite program is the open source LibreOffice 6, which is available for free. Google Sheets also does a good job. The formula entry is identical in almost all spreadsheets- the only differences are the steps for making a graph. If you ever accidentally drive your time machine at 88mph and are transported back to 1985 you can use VisiCalc on the Apple ][ or Lotus 123 on the IBM PS/2. They're all good.
The only unacceptable spreadsheet program to use right now is the online version of Excel that as of 2019 is part of Office 365. This does not contain the ability to add trendlines or manipulate graphs. Please avoid that or you will be frustrated!