Experimental Measurements: Precision, Error and Truth

This practical laboratory handbook provides a solid understanding of the random experimental errors that physicists and engineers encounter, and develops the skills necessary for presenting experimental results accurately and thoroughly. Using a ``common sense'' approach, it introduces basic experimental techniques before introducing theoretical concepts. Beginning with a hypothetical situation of the different results obtained in a simple experiment performed by two students, it clarifies and expands upon the basic ideas arising from this discussion. Succeeding chapters link practical application with underlying theory, such as the principle of least squares. Also discussed is the meaning of correlation and the ``best'' straight line linking two sets of measurements, and maximum likelihood and the Chi-squared hypothesis test. Includes an analysis of the binomial model for combining random processes used to derive the Gaussian and Poison distributions. Contains end-of-chapter exercises.