Over Due Update

It has been since Saturday morning that I posted anything of substance. Let's recap the first part of this week.

• Monday - a short quiz was given to assess your understanding of significant figures and and why they are important and how/why they are used in calculations. Please make up the quiz if you have not taken it yet. We also discussed the formal lab report as it related to the Density of Pennies Lab. You were given a copy of a lab report that showedd the good points of what you should strive for in a formal lab report and also some "do not do" parts that will cost you points in later formal lab reports. Use it as your guide as we do lab reports throughout the year.
• Tuesday - we discussed graphing and introduced the use of the graphing calculator as a tool for the class. We went over how to enter data in the calculator, set up a plot (graph), and performed a linear regression on the data. We discussed how the values in a linear regression can be used for density determination and accuracy of density determination.
• Wednesday - we continued with the discussion of the linear regression and its use. We introduced the concept of the correlation coefficient (r^2) and a tool for rating consistency of data. You were given a worksheet (Data Analysis Worksheet) that needs to be completed for tomorrow. It requires you to apply the concepts discussed in class of using the information from a linear regression and graph to assess consistency and accuracy of data. You will not be held accountable for the operation of a calculator this semester (you will 2nd semester), but you will be held accountable for your ability to analyze data. Please have the six questions to the Data Analysis Worksheet answered for tomorrow.

Tomorrow (Thursday, 9/2) we will go over the Analysis Worksheet and I will be collecting it. We will breifly discuss your first assessment (test) of the semester, which will be given on Friday. It will be a lab practical. You will be asked to find the density of a material and you will be expected to follow all procedures/rules for measurement and calculations. Your ability to determine the actual density will be graded, so you must be accurate in your measurements. We will start a new packet tomorrow. Expect a major unit exam next week.