Using Statistical Data and Graphs

Jan. 8, 2012 - 5th Meeting of Physics 101.1 Lab

In today's class, we reviewed the different ways to represent statistical data. We studied the different types of Graphs: Pie Chart, Bar Graph, and The Scatter Plot (X and Y graph). We also conducted a little experiment to apply our knowledge of these graphs. These statistical tools are very important in organizing and presenting data not only to the instructor, but also to the viewers of the work.

Let me get started with the Pie Chart. These graphs are very useful in representing data as percentage of a whole. Here is an example of a Pie Chart of my Daily Time Allotment:

Here is the data used:

       Daily Time Allotment          Time (Hours) 

Studying                              7 

Watching TV                       1 

Surfing the Internet               5 

 Eating                                  3 

 Sleeping                               8 

 Others                                  3  

Next, we studied the way to make a Bar Graph. This is used to represent polls, numbers, and votes into statistical graph. Here is an example of a Bar Graph of the favorite colors of students:

Here is the data used:

       Favorite Color      No. of Students 

 Red                  22 

 Blue                  15 

 Green                11 

Black                 6 

Pink                   2  

This is the first part of our lecture. I will be posting another blog that will emphasize the use of scatter graphs on some physics experiment. I am hoping to recieve the data that we recorded from the activity: the measurement of free-fall motion. -Bartz, 2012