1.3 Formal Data Tables and Sample Calculations

When producing a formal table to generate your graph, some of the columns may be exactly the same as your raw data table. Others will be the result of calculations made from your raw data. Any entry in your formal table that is the result of a calculation must include an explanation of the column and a sample calculation. For instance, in your formal table it is unnecessary to include each of the trials from your raw data. You can, if appropriate, include the average of your trials for a given data entry, which will reduce the total number of entries in your table. Since you are going to use the average of your three trials for the time for ten swings, you must explain how this column is calculated and show a sample calculation.

A proper sample calculation section should appear on the same page as the formal data table if possible. Each column in your formal data table that is not raw data collected in the laboratory will be the result of some calculation. Sometimes these calculations are simple and other times they are fairly complex. Regardless of how simple the calculation that yields a column in your data table might be, it must be explained with a sample calculation. As in the example on this page, the sample calculation starts with an explanation of the calculation to be performed. It should then include an equation that describes the calculation. After the equation, sample data (including units) should be substituted into the equation. Finally, the result of the calculation, including units should be stated. Remember to designate which sample calculation goes with which column in your data table.

The data table shown here has three columns. The first column, mass, is the same as the raw data. In other words it is actually data. The second and third columns are the result of calculations using your data. As such, they are not actually data even though they are based on your data. These columns therefore require you to explain how they were created and to provide sample calculations.

Note that the second column, Average Time for 10 Swings, has an * next to it. Likewise the third column, Period, has a ** next to it. These will be used to identify them as columns that are the result of calculations. Always include sample calculations and explanations for any column in your table which is the result of a calculation, no matter how simple.