Physics307L F09:People/Franco/Franco's Speed of Light
Speed of Light Lab Summary
The speed of light in vacuum is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second according to wikipedia[[1]]. Our estimated measurement was 352,261,684 meters per secondSJK 22:36, 6 October 2008 (EDT)
As we discussed today, the number of figures (digits) you'd use on your measurement is a lot less, and will be determined by the precision of your uncertainty. You're actually missing the uncertainty too. This will come from your linear fit (as we also saw in class today). It's very important to report results with uncertainty estimates
. The 17 % difference could be explained due, to many things: the lab was not done in a vacuum, or there could be instrument failure, or old instruments could have defects and give altered data, or there were not a sufficient amount of data points taken, or inaccuracy in human error such as taking measurements, etc. SJK 22:36, 6 October 2008 (EDT)
I don't know what these last two sentences mean?
Over the setup and the procedure, those are correct in method. They were mediated by Koch and Aram.
If I were to do the lab over again, I would take more data points, and have several sets of data. I would have the LED come closer to the PED, then have it go away. With that I would compare the two, and maybe even have another set. I would take the average slope of the two- far to close, close to far. I would ensure that the data that is held constant to be constant. I would ensure that the equipment works correctly. Overall, I would make the experiment as precise as possible.
