Labwork Statistics help: Average of averages

In summary, the speaker has conducted an experiment and has collected a lot of data. Each data point consists of ten repetitions and requires video analysis. The analysis calculates the velocity between frames, and to determine the value for one repetition, an average with a standard deviation must be calculated. Then, to find the value for the data point, the average of the ten averages is taken. The speaker's concern is finding the errors for each data point, as they are calculated from ten values with their own standard deviations. They ask for help in determining the final standard deviation for each point.
  • #1
tixi
4
3
Homework Statement
Find the relationship between velocity and air resistance (experimentally, this is a lab course exercise)
Relevant Equations
F=mg, F(air)=1/2 p v^2 C(D) A
I have done the experiment, and have a lot of data. For each data point (we have five), we did ten repetitions, for which we need to do video analysis. The analysis works frame by frame and gives a velocity between each frame. So, to get the value of one repetition, we already need to calculate an average that has a standard deviation. THEN, to get the value for that data point, we need to find the average of these ten averages (which we can do since the number of data is the same for every point so they shouldn't be weighted). My issue here is finding the errors. How do I find the final standard deviation for a point that is calculated from 10 values which also all have some standard deviation?

Thank you in advance!
 
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  • #2
First, are you saying the object is already expected to be at terminal velocity before the first frame?
If so, why do the two-stage averaging? Just pool them and take one average. That said, doing it in two stages should produce much the same result. You understand how to find standard error of the mean?
If not, you first need to deduce the terminal velocity in each run.
 

1. What is the purpose of calculating the average of averages in labwork statistics?

The purpose of calculating the average of averages in labwork statistics is to determine the overall average of a set of data points that have already been averaged. This can help to identify trends and patterns in the data and provide a more accurate representation of the data as a whole.

2. How is the average of averages calculated?

The average of averages is calculated by taking the sum of all the averages and dividing it by the total number of averages. This results in a single value that represents the overall average of the data.

3. Is the average of averages a reliable measure of central tendency?

Yes, the average of averages is a reliable measure of central tendency as it takes into account all the data points and provides a more balanced representation of the data compared to just taking the average of the original data set.

4. Can the average of averages be affected by outliers?

Yes, the average of averages can be affected by outliers, just like any other measure of central tendency. Outliers can significantly impact the overall average, so it is important to identify and handle them appropriately in the data analysis process.

5. When is it appropriate to use the average of averages in labwork statistics?

The average of averages is most commonly used when dealing with multiple sets of data that have already been averaged. It can also be useful when comparing different groups or categories within a larger data set to determine the overall average for each group.

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