Purpose: To get familiar with electronic spreadsheets by using them in some simple applications.
Equipment: Computer with EXCEL software.
Introduction: For this lab we wanted to become familiarize with Excel since our labs expect us to collect data and using spreadsheets is a great way to keep our data collected and organized.
Procedure: 1. We started by opening the Excel software, then created a simple spreadsheet that calculates the values of the following function:
f (x) = A sin( Bx + C )
Our initial values given were
A= 5
B=3
C=(pi)/3
We placed our given values at the right side of the spreadsheet.
F(x) = A sin ( Bx+ C ) = $C$1*SIN(($E$1*A2)+$L$3)
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Our Given Constants
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Cell Designation
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A
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Amplitude
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5
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C1
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B
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Frequency
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3
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E1
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C
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Phase
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(pi)/3
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G1
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x
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Radians
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From 0-10 increments of 0.1
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Columns A
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After the data generated look presentable we then copied the data to the clipboard by highlighting the contents of the two columns and using EDIT/COPY from the menu bar. We then printed out a copy of our spreadsheet, as well as a spreadsheet formulas by using CTRL~
We then opened Graphical Analysis and copied our data onto the program. This allowed the program to graph the data we provided. Then we highlighted a portion of our graph, and using ANALYZE/CURVE FIT from the menu bar we picked the function
A*sinc (Bx + C) +D
to match the function we expected our data to match.
We repeated the process for a spreadsheet that calculates the position of a freely falling particle as a function of time.
Rf= ½ aΔt^2 + V0Δt + ri = (0.5*$G$4)*((A2)^2)+($H$4*A2)+$I$4
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Our Given Constants
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Cell Designation
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A
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Acceleration of gravity
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9.8 m/s^2
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G4
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B
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Initial Velocity
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50 m/s
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H4
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C
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Initial Position
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1000 m
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I4
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Δt
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Time increment
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0.2 sec (from 0-10 sec)
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Columns A & D
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Results:
Given
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Results
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Given
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Results
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A=5
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5
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A= -9.8
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-4.9
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B=3
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3
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B= 50
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50
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C= (pi)/3
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1.407
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C= 1000
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1000
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Conclusion: In this lab we learned how to manipulate our data so we are given a more precise reading when it comes to graphing, and organization. It was difficult at the beginning especially when we made errors by not putting the information in the correct column. By making the spreadsheet we were able to move that information into a different program, which we then used to get our constant, without having to do any calculations by hand. This method is helpful since we could also use it as a way to verify that our calculation are correct if we had tried to do the calculations by hand.
