Basic Concepts of Data and Error Analysis

Book excerpt: This introductory textbook explains the concepts and methods of data and error analysis needed for laboratory experiment write-ups, especially physics and engineering experiments. The book contains the material needed for beginning students, e.g., first year university students, college students (enrolled on a certificate or diploma course) and even A-level students. Nevertheless, it also covers the required material for higher year university laboratories, including the final year. Only essential concepts and methods needed for the day-to-day performance of experiments and their subsequent analysis and presentation are included and, at the same time, presented as simply as possible. Non-essential detail is avoided. Chapter five is a stand-alone introduction to probability and statistics aimed at providing a theoretical background to the data and error analysis chapters one to four. Computer methods are introduced in Chapter six. The author hopes this book will serve as a constant reference.