Excel has sheets along the bottom - just click on a tab to see a new page, double click on the tab to rename it.
Tools along the top like word ppt / CAD.
If you leave your courser over a button it will come up with a short description of what it is and what it does - click on the "?" to get more directions for use.
Use it just like a calculator - type "=" to calculate something!
Example table for taking data set up in excel:
Each table has equ's entered to calculate averages, StDEV's, friction coef:
Equ's entered into table:
Use big bold font for headings
Add borders to cells, thick borders around Titles.
Center your text in the cells.
Set your precision (the number of decimals displayed) etc.
Don't forget to list the units you are using!
Center your text in the cells.
Set your precision (the number of decimals displayed) etc.
Don't forget to list the units you are using!
Printing:
I like to format everything for the printer right from the start so I don't have to re-size everything later.
Re-size columns and rows so you can easily see data, and so your table is centered on your page:
Clicking on the upper left hand corner highlights all of your cells so you can format everything (like the font size, and precision) together:
Clicking on the upper left hand corner highlights all of your cells so you can format everything (like the font size, and precision) together:
You can also select individual columns and rows to format:
Same thing with columns, just click on a column (A, B, C) instead of a row.
Change the cell color if you want:
Entering equations:
Create a table for your constants, rename the cells
c6→so
c7→vo
c8→ao
Just highlight the cell name, and type a new name into it. When you are referencing this value in your equation, you can now use a variable name, instead of a cell name.
Type in your equations:
Think of it just like typing something into your calculator.
Highlight a cell, start with "=" and tell it what you want to do.
Notice the color coding to keep track of what cells are in your equ.
Once you have an equation in one cell, you can copy it down to the other cells - just select the cell you have, grab the green square in the lower right hand corner, and drag it down.
Cells that you have renamed (like dt) will not change their value when you copy your equation down.
If you did not rename your cell, but you want it to be the same, use dollar signs.
$C$11 - will keep C11 through all calculations.
$C11 will keep "C" the same, but 11 will change to 12, 13, 14 etc. as you copy it.
Cells that you have renamed (like dt) will not change their value when you copy your equation down.
If you did not rename your cell, but you want it to be the same, use dollar signs.
$C$11 - will keep C11 through all calculations.
$C11 will keep "C" the same, but 11 will change to 12, 13, 14 etc. as you copy it.
Note the F4 key is the shortcut for adding dollar signs.
put your curser over the cell name in your equation
Hit F4 once for two dollar signs ($C$11)
Hit F4 again and again for other combinations ($C11, C$11, C11)Graphing Data:
Highlight your entire table (including the titles t(sec), distance (ft), v(ft/sec), etc...put your curser over the cell name in your equation
Hit F4 once for two dollar signs ($C$11)
Hit F4 again and again for other combinations ($C11, C$11, C11)Graphing Data:
Graphs
Insert →Chart→Scatter (xy) chart
Excel creates a default graph with 3 data sets (distance, velocity, and acceleration) all graphed against time.
Let's make three separate graphs, instead of one graph.
Copy the graph to make three graphs:
select graph, Ctrl+C, then Ctrl+V to paste.
Let's make three separate graphs, instead of one graph.
Copy the graph to make three graphs:
select graph, Ctrl+C, then Ctrl+V to paste.
Now we need to get rid of the legends, and add axis labels
x→time
y→distance, vel, acceleration etc.
Just select a graph, and click on the (+) to add axis titles.
Click on the paintbrush too to see editing tools there!
x→time
y→distance, vel, acceleration etc.
Just select a graph, and click on the (+) to add axis titles.
Click on the paintbrush too to see editing tools there!
Label all of your graphs correctly:
For your Mousetrap Car data, you will need to add a trend line to your graph.
Just select your line, right click on it, then select "add trendline"
If you select the trendline, there is a menu to let you display the equation, select what kind of a fit, etc.
When data is not perfect, it is better to calculate Vel and Acc off of a nice smooth trend line. Engineers use trendlines a lot!
Note,
R-squared = the coefficient of determination (a measure of how well the model fits the data). Perfect fit → R-squared = 1.
horrible fit → R-squared = 0
If you want, break your line up into two lines, one that is 0>t>4, and one for 4<t<10. Fit two different lines. times above 4 should fit perfectly to a linear line.
Note: Do you have a different version of Excel?
Just youtube it to figure it out!!
Youtube → search "How to create a graph in Excel 2009" etc.
Think of it like driving cars - once you can drive a Toyota, you can drive a Honda too, the basic ideas in all of the versions are the same, you just have to find where they moved all of the buttons to.
Don't forget to save your work often!
If you forgot your USB drive, just email your work to yourself - save it via email.
