Lab 1 - Monte Carlo Methods - Volume of the Library

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University of Massachusetts, Amherst *

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132

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Physics

Date

Apr 3, 2024

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pdf

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6

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Lab 1 - Monte Carlo Methods - Volume of the Library Full Name: Partner’s Full Name: By the end of the lab prep, you should be able to… Know the definition of mean and standard deviation and be able to calculate these quantities for any data set Recognize measurements as continuous, rather than discrete, values. Use a spreadsheet to calculate the result of a function Recognize characteristics of a normal distribution. Know that the number of digits in data representation should be based upon uncertainties and not upon fixed significant figures rules Use the idea of standard deviation to express the number of appropriate digits for any calculation Compare representations of data using significant figures and using uncertainties Describe the difference between statistical and systematic uncertainties By the end of this lab, you should be able to… Categorize an uncertainty as either statistical or systematic Characterize data with a probability distribution based upon mean and standard deviation Critique the limitations of the Gaussian assumption Use a spreadsheet to generate random numbers with both a flat distribution and a normal distribution with a given mean and standard deviation Describe the fundamental principle of Monte Carlo-based error propagation as being based upon pulling values from a probability distribution and putting them in a formula. Use a probability distribution to get possible values Create a spreadsheet to generate the possible values Compute a set of possible results of a formula using a spreadsheet Synthesize the results of those formula results into a single representation of your final measurement University of Massachusetts - Amherst Fall 2023 Physics Department 1/6
Set-up a spreadsheet to propagate errors using Monte Carlo methods for a new set of data and a through a new mathematical formula Overview In this lab, you will be designing a method to measure the height of the library. Once you collect the data, you will be analyzing it using probability distributions and the Monte Carlo Method. In this lab, you will be working in your team of four. However, you will be turning in lab reports as pairs. Part 1 - Measure the Volume of the Library First, you and your lab team will design a method to measure the length, width, and height of the W.E.B. du Bois Library here on campus. The only measuring instrument you will have is a meter stick. You will only measure only the tower of the library. By Ktr101 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17831764 University of Massachusetts - Amherst Fall 2023 Physics Department 2/6
NOTE: You are not being graded on your accuracy. The variations within a team and among teams are the critical focus of this lab! 1. Describe your methods of measuring the dimensions of the library. Once your team has decided on a method of measuring the library, each team member needs to execute the plan individually . Everyone should follow the agreed upon plan as close as possible. Again, you are not being graded on your accuracy. The variation in your results will be critical to the statistical analysis portion of this lab.Try to avoid sharing data with each other until the second part of this lab. WARNING: DO NOT ENTER THE FENCED IN SPACE AROUND THE LIBRARY! THIS IS A RESTRICTED SPACE! 2. Record your team’s measurements and calculate the volume of the library using the dimensions you measured, and record them for the second part of this lab. Record your team’s measurements in the table below: Teammate Length l (m) Width w (m) Height h (m) Volume V (m 3 ) 1 2 3 4 Part 2 - Statistical Analysis You may have learned in previous classes ways of determining uncertainties. A more rigorous method that always works is the Monte Carlo method with which you should be familiar with the prep. This method is the method used in most research today. University of Massachusetts - Amherst Fall 2023 Physics Department 3/6
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