Error Analysis On Excel Questions

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the final error value in Excel for a set of time measurements, first determine the average and standard deviation of the data. The standard deviation can be calculated using Excel's statistical functions, which simplifies the process compared to manual calculations. To incorporate the reaction time into the final error, combine the standard deviation with the reaction time using error propagation principles. Specifically, the total error can be found by taking the square root of the sum of the squares of the standard deviation and the reaction time. This method provides a clear way to express the average time with its associated error.
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Homework Statement



The error part of my physics labs have been takin up a lot of time lately. Anyways, say I have 10 numbers for time measurements like 3.53 s, 5.32 s, 3.57 s, 4.89 s, 3.24 s, etc...
and my reaction time is say +/- 0.20 s. I want to average these 10 values out but I have to associate an error reading like with the final value so for example my final value would like like : avg time = 3.23 +/- 0.13 s.

How would I use Microsoft Excel to find that final error value? I know that I could find the standard deviation but that takes forever on paper, and what/how exactly would I propgate it with my reaction time?


Homework Equations



I think you'd have to use those statistics forumlas on Excel
 
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ok to rephrase it, say I find my standard deviation to be 0.08947 using Excel. My reaction time is 0.20 s and my average value is 1.41 s. How would I incorporate/propogate the rxn time and stnd deviation to find the final +/- error value?
 
The error in your avarage value is given by the standard deviation of the set of measurements divided by the square root of 10 - 1, thus divided by three. Your reaction time is incorporated automatically in the spread of the measurements.
 
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