On error analysis of my practical

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on error analysis in a practical experiment aimed at calculating the speed of light using an LED, oscilloscope, and fiber optics. The results include multiple time measurements for varying lengths of fiber optics, with the average times calculated. The main question revolves around the appropriate application of the Least Squares Method (LSM) for error calculation, specifically whether to use a uniform error for all y-values or individual errors for each time measurement. The conclusion emphasizes that since the gradient represents the speed of light, the graph should ideally be a straight line.

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[Urgent]On error analysis of my practical

Homework Statement


well, the aim of the practical is to calculate the speed of light using LED, oscilloscope and varying fiber optics cable.

i have my results as follows :

L /m t1 t2 t3 t4 t5 t6 t7 t8 t9 t10 taverage

5.00 (28 30 28 28 28 28 28 28 30 28) 28.4

10.00 (60 62 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60) 60.2

15.00 (76 76 78 76 76 76 76 76 76 76) 76.2

20.00 (102 100 102 102 102 102 102 102 100 102) 101.6

The equation used is [tex]c = n \frac{\lambda}{t}[/tex]

We are to plot a graph of L versus time.

The problem now is calculating the error of y.

Do we use

Least Square Method( where [tex]\sigma_i = \sigma[/tex]) OR
Least Square Method( Where each y, has its own [tex]\sigma_i[/tex])

We know that L is the y-axis in this case, however no multiple values of L has been taken. So every y, has the same [tex]\sigma[/tex]. However, time has been taken mutiple times, do we use LSM(Where each y, has its own [tex]\sigma_i[/tex]) on it? But time is the x-axis in this case.

So what should i use or do?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
 
Last edited:
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Anyway, since gradient is speed of light, the graph has to be a straight line.
 

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