graphs

(alternate title: how to make pretty graphs in vpython) I am happy. Finally, I can use the visual module in python (vPython.org) and plotting with Matplotlib. Maybe this isn't such a big deal for many of you, but for me, it never worked until now. In the past, I blogged about plotting in vpython vs. matplotlib. My conclusion was that it was easier in vpython, but prettier in matplotlib. So, why not just use matplotlib? There are a couple of things that make vypthon very attractive. Vectors. Vpython has a built in vector class (or function - I don't know what I am talking about). There…
After judging the science fair last week, I would like to revisit my tips for you the science fair participant. Warning number 1 Some of the things I say here might go against what your teacher has told you. I am not sure what you should do in this case. Your teacher gives you a grade and I am just some dude on the internet. Proceed at your own risk. Oh, and maybe you are a teacher. I think that is great that you are seeking more tips for your students. However, note that I have not read any science fair rules. I am merely thinking about science fair projects from a science viewpoint.…
SW Notes: This post was begun a few weeks ago...you know, in the break between semesters. But I've been delayed and delayed in getting it done, and today is a day of metaphorical desk-clearing. So I'm just going to put it up now, half complete and let you all finish discussing it in the comments section. The scene: My car insurance office Insurance agent: You work at Mystery U.? You're on break now for a couple weeks, right? ScienceWoman: Well, sort of. Classes start back up in mid-January, but there's lots of work to be done before then. Insurance agent: Oh. That scene is hardly unique in…
In a [previous post](/dotphysics/2008/09/basics-making-graphs-with-kinematics-stuff-part-ii/), I talked about how to plot kinematics data with a spread sheet and how to fit a quadratic function to the data. In the back of my head I remember "Don't trust Excel". I seem to recall someone claiming that Excel did not do a proper fit. To test this, I collected some data and used several methods to fit the data: MS Excel's built in function fitting Using the spread sheet (Excel) to manually calculate the best fit parameters Vernier's Logger Pro (version 3.6.1) Plot 0.997 - http://plot.micw.eu…
**pre-reqs**: [kinematics](http://scienceblogs.com/dotphysics/2008/09/basics-kinematics.php) *I don't think you need [part I of this](http://scienceblogs.com/dotphysics/2008/09/basics-making-graphs-with-ki…) if you don't want* So, you still want to make a graph with that kinematics data? You think that graphs on paper are too barbaric? Well, if you are ready, you can use a spreadsheet. But be careful. If you don't know what you are doing, you can cause some damage (much like flying a 747 after reading a blog about it). Spreadsheets allow you to do a couple of things. make pretty graphs…
**pre reqs:** [kinematics](http://scienceblogs.com/dotphysics/2008/09/basics-kinematics.php) Suppose there is some experiment in which you throw a ball up and collect position and time data (with video analysis). What do you do with this data? Your instructor told you to make a graph, but how do you do that? Here is the fictional data you (or I) collected: ![data2](http://scienceblogs.com/dotphysics/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/data2.jpg) Here is the text file with the data if you want to reproduce the graphs I make here [kinematics data](http://scienceblogs.com/dotphysics/kinematics_data.…
Much of scientific communication consists of throwing up a graph and then explaining it. There are some basic procedures for doing this, many of which were probably ignored by the speaker at your most recent department seminar. Don't be that mumbledy jerkface who never explains the numbers on his or her unintelligible axes! I suggest that you use the following graphic prompt to practice giving talks in the style of your adviser, department chair, or another charmingly be-mannerism'd colleague: Reload the page to get a new one.