Logarithmic scale for the Laser Intensity.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of logarithmic scales to represent laser intensity and growth rate data. Participants explore how to convert these values to logarithmic form for better graphical representation, touching on both theoretical and practical aspects of data visualization.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks assistance in converting growth rate and laser intensity values to a logarithmic scale as suggested by their professor.
  • Another participant explains that using logarithmic scales is common among experimenters for clearer data representation and suggests creating a table with logarithmic values for plotting.
  • Multiple replies reiterate the importance of plotting logarithmic values on graph paper and using spreadsheets for convenience, emphasizing that this method can reveal linear relationships in the data.
  • A later reply questions whether to apply the logarithmic transformation only to the final results or to all intermediate calculations leading to the growth rate, indicating uncertainty about the correct approach.
  • Another participant encourages experimentation with different combinations of logarithmic transformations, suggesting that familiarity with spreadsheets can enhance data analysis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the utility of logarithmic scales for data representation; however, there is no consensus on whether to apply the logarithmic transformation to final results only or to all calculations involved in determining growth rate.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with logarithmic transformations and data plotting, indicating potential gaps in understanding the underlying principles or methods for applying these transformations.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or researchers in experimental physics or related fields who are looking to improve their data visualization techniques, particularly in the context of logarithmic scaling.

Amany Gouda
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I drawed a relation between the growth rate of the material to the laser intensity.
After drawing, My professor told me that I must convert both values of the growth rate and the laser intensity to their values in the logarithmic scale.
I don't know how.
May I get a help.
 
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This sort of treatment of data is common amongst experimenters because it presents the data in a more readable graphical form. It looks like gobbledegook when you are not familiar with the process or the reasons for doing it but it is worth getting familiar with it.
Draw up a table of the results with an added column for each variable in which you put the log of the values - simple as that. Plot the values in the two extra (log) columns on ordinary graph paper. Mark the Axis labels "Log(growth rate)" and Log(intensity)" and don't worry about the fact that the actual numbers don't appear to make much sense. It will probably spread the points out nicely, compared with plotting on a linear scale.
Hint: If you can use a spreadsheet then this sort of thing is very convenient as you can easily plot graphs of the combinations of linear and logarithmic scales for each variable. It's very handy to do this sort of thing because it can often show you a straight line for one of the graphs. Get Into Spreadsheets!
 
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sophiecentaur said:
This sort of treatment of data is common amongst experimenters because it presents the data in a more readable graphical form. It looks like gobbledegook when you are not familiar with the process or the reasons for doing it but it is worth getting familiar with it.
Draw up a table of the results with an added column for each variable in which you put the log of the values - simple as that. Plot the values in the two extra (log) columns on ordinary graph paper. Mark the Axis labels "Log(growth rate)" and Log(intensity)" and don't worry about the fact that the actual numbers don't appear to make much sense. It will probably spread the points out nicely, compared with plotting on a linear scale.
Hint: If you can use a spreadsheet then this sort of thing is very convenient as you can easily plot graphs of the combinations of linear and logarithmic scales for each variable. It's very handy to do this sort of thing because it can often show you a straight line for one of the graphs. Get Into Spreadsheets!

print off some log-log and log-linear graph paper...plot your data...straight lines guaranteed
 
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sophiecentaur said:
This sort of treatment of data is common amongst experimenters because it presents the data in a more readable graphical form. It looks like gobbledegook when you are not familiar with the process or the reasons for doing it but it is worth getting familiar with it.
Draw up a table of the results with an added column for each variable in which you put the log of the values - simple as that. Plot the values in the two extra (log) columns on ordinary graph paper. Mark the Axis labels "Log(growth rate)" and Log(intensity)" and don't worry about the fact that the actual numbers don't appear to make much sense. It will probably spread the points out nicely, compared with plotting on a linear scale.
Hint: If you can use a spreadsheet then this sort of thing is very convenient as you can easily plot graphs of the combinations of linear and logarithmic scales for each variable. It's very handy to do this sort of thing because it can often show you a straight line for one of the graphs. Get Into Spreadsheets!
Dear https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/logarithmic-scale-for-the-laser-intensity.883345/members/sophiecentaur.199289/ ,

Thank you for your explanation , it is too easy explanation.
but I was wondering if I should take log to the final results go the growth rate and laser intensity only or I should take the log over all internal calculation to get the growth rate?
Waiting for your answer.
Thank you
 
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Amany Gouda said:
Dear https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/logarithmic-scale-for-the-laser-intensity.883345/members/sophiecentaur.199289/ ,

Thank you for your explanation , it is too easy explanation.
but I was wondering if I should take log to the final results go the growth rate and laser intensity only or I should take the log over all internal calculation to get the growth rate?
Waiting for your answer.
Thank you

If you know the law, connecting variables then you can choose correctly. If not then just try all the combinations. You should seriously consider getting into spreadsheets, over 30 years ago, a colleague urged me to use one ( on a BBC Micro!). They are available everywhere and make it so easy to experiment with data.
Much more use and at least as much fun as a computer game. [emoji4]
 
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