27211 - Physical Experimentations 1

Course contents

tatistics and data analisys

1. Introduction

2. Probability: sum and product of random events, product theorem, total probability, Bayes theorem, repeated proofs theorem.

3. Distribution laws: distribution function, probability within a range, probability density, numerical characters of random variables, moments and their generating function, parallel axis theorem, chebyshev inequality.

4. Distributions of several random variables (r.v.): 2 r.v. and their moments, N r.v. and their moments.

5. Transformation of random variables: linear transformations, error propagation.

6. Common distribution functions: Bernoulli, Binomial, Multinomial, Large number law, Poisson, Uniform, Normal (Gaussian), Central limit theorem.

7. Sampling: estimate, rules for a good estimate, sampling a normal distribution: chi-squared.

8. Maximum likelihood (ML): general behaviours, ML fitting, weighted mean.

9. Statistical tests: general behaviours, normal test for means, Student t-test for means, Fisher F-test for variances, chi-squared test for comparison between experimental data and theory.

10. Mechanical measures: length, time, mass

11. Elettrical measures: radioactivity

12. Optical measures: introduction to geometrical optics, focal length of both convergent and divergent lens, measures on optical sistems.

 

THE FREQUENCY TO 5 LABORATORY EXPERIENCES IS REQUIRED

Readings/Bibliography

Reference Textbooks

1. Zavatti F.:Appunti di Esperimentazioni di Fisica I, 2004. Dispensa da integrare con Brandt e Ventsel.
   
2. Zavatti F.:Prove di Laboratorio, 2004. Dispensa
   
3. Brandt S.:, Data Analysis: Statistical and Computational Methods for Scientists and Engineers, 1999, Springer-Verlag, New York. Capitoli 3-8 escluso il 5.
   
4. Ventsel E., Teoria delle Probabilità, 1983, Edizioni MIR. Prime 80 pagine.
   

More readings

1. Cicchitelli G.:Probabilità e Statistica, 1994, Rimini, Maggioli Editore.
   
2. Cicchitelli G., Pannone M.A.: Complementi ed esercizi di Statistica descrittiva ed inferenziale, 1994, Rimini, Maggioli Editore.
   
3. Cametti C., Di Biasio A.: Introduzione all'elaborazione dei dati sperimentali, 1994, Roma, CISU. Molto simile al Brandt.
   
4. Vicari G., Levi R.:Calcolo delle probabilità e statistica per ingegneri, 1997, Bologna, Società Editrice Esculapio
   

Laboratory Textbooks

1. Valdrè G., Valdrè U.: Misure e complementi di fisica, 1998, CLUEB, Bologna.
   
2. Pancini E.: Misure ed apparecchi di Fisica, Roma, Libreria Eredi Virgilio Vaschi.
   
3. Cortini G., S. Sciuti,S.: Misure ed apparecchi di Fisica, Roma, Libreria Eredi Virgilio Vaschi.
   

Teaching methods

Front lessons and use of the laboratory for 5 weeks (1 day per week, in the afternoon). Short instruction to draw scientific graphs by a computer.

Assessment methods

Oral examination accessed only after 5 laboratory experiments have been completed. During examination, capability to create connection among different parts of the course and application to practical problems of statistical algorithms will be considered.

Teaching tools

A tablet PC, which allows free-hand writing with several colours and pen tickness, is used in association with a screen projector. This solution allows also the visualization of html pages, power-point slides and plots. Lessons can be saved and stored on disk and re-distributed, if necessary.

Links to further information

http://tikal.bo.astro.it/

Office hours

See the website of Franco Zavatti