Dealing with Scientific Data in Google Sheets

This second spreadsheet (given below), which has some interactive features (yellow cell which can be changed), has you examine data to decide if it has curvature (nonlinear). This introduces residuals to aid in the analysis. We will also examine random error or the addition of scatter in the data as well.

This spreadsheet has some practice tabs and has you investigate if random error can mask curvature!

The third spreadsheet (below) develops an interactive simulation, which allows you to examine the behavior of a mathematical model. This is building a spreadsheet simulation. Here we are going to examine a cubic polynomial where we can adjust the coefficients, a, b, c, and d and visualize behavior. Introduce some advanced items such as the use of the check box as an off-on switch to turn a reference cubic equation on and off the graph.

Why build a spreadsheet simulation? See the over 250 examples that allow numerical experimentation: click here

How about some more bells and whistles for simulations? The fourth spreadsheet that examines radioactive decay, a classical exponential decay, builds a multivariable simulation that uses checkboxes, data validation to set cell limits and get a dropdown menu, and a vlookup table. It also shows how to add random error using a RANDBETWEEN function and the error from background counting radiation.