Use of Software & Tools (OCR A Level Physics) : Revision Note

Use of Software & Tools

• The use of electronic software and tools is increasingly used in classroom experiments

• These improve accuracy and remove sources of uncertainty such as human error

Spreadsheets

• Graph plotting and data analysis software, such as Microsoft Excel, can be an invaluable tool

• Spreadsheets provide a very effective way of processing data, particularly when the amount of data is large

Data Loggers

• Electronic data loggers are more accurate, quick and reliable than manual logging

• They can take multiple readings per second and present the data as a graph or table in real-time

Cameras

• Cameras can be used to take photos in experiments that happen too quickly to read a scale

• A camera can be used to take a photo burst as the experiment happens

• The scale can then be read from the photos afterwards

• If the time each photo is taken is known, or if the frame rate is known, then properties such as velocity can be calculated