Error Analysis Lab

        This laboratory is designed to introduce you to some of the aspects of error analysis for small data sets that you will need in other laboratories in this course. A more complete and detailed discussion of this topic is given in the chapter on Error Analysis in your laboratory manual (1), which you should read prior to this laboratory.

        In this laboratory you will measure the boiling point of water using an IC (integrated circuit) temperature probe, a semiconductor whose voltage is temperature dependent. The data will be collected using a computer interface and imported into a spreadsheet for analysis. The data will be examined to determine if any of the data should be rejected. The average boiling point and its associated standard deviation and 95% confidence interval will be calculated. The boiling point of water in Butte will also be calculated from the measured barometric pressure. An estimate of the error in the measured barometric pressure will be propagated through to an error in the boiling point. The two values for the boiling point of water will then be compared using Student's t-test.

Data

        The data that you need to collect for this experiment consists of 10 successive measurements as a function of time of the equilibrium boiling point of water under the ambient barometric pressure.  A spreadsheet illustrating the data that needs to be collected and that can form the basis of the data section of the report that you will hand in can be obtained in the file Student_Error_Analysis_Data.xls.   A paper copy of this spreadsheet with your data in it should be handed in with your report.

Calculations

        Individual reports containing the calculations and data analysis for this experiment are to be handed in by each student.  These reports are due at the beginning of the next lab period following this one week experiment.  A detailed listing of the calculations that are expected in this report can be found in the file Error_Analysis_Lab_Report.doc.

(1)    CHEM 337 Physical Chemistry Laboratory Manual, D.A.Coe and F. E. Diebold, 8th ed., Montana Tech, Butte, MT (2004)