Curve Fitting
About
Topics
- Polynomials
- Error Analysis
Description
With your mouse, drag data points and their error bars, and watch the best-fit polynomial curve update instantly. You choose the type of fit: linear, quadratic, cubic, or quartic. The reduced chi-square statistic shows you when the fit is good. Or you can try to find the best fit by manually adjusting fit parameters.
Sample Learning Goals
- Explain how the range and uncertainty and number of data points affect correlation coefficient and chi squared
- Describe how correlation coefficient and chi squared can be used to indicate how well a curve describes the data relationship
- Apply understanding of Curve Fitting to designing experiments
Keywords
For Teachers
Teacher Tips
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Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ). |
Teacher-Submitted Activities
Title |
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Authors | Level | Type |
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Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein | UG-Intro HS |
Lab Demo HW |
Curve Fitting: How well does the curve describe the data? (Inquiry Based) |
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Trish Loeblein, Mike Dubson | HS UG-Intro |
Lab |
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS |
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Trish Loeblein | HS | Other | |
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? |
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Sarah Borenstein | MS | Other | |
PhET Sims Aligned to the Chemistry Curriculum |
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Julia Chamberlain | HS UG-Intro |
Other | |
PhET Simulations Aligned for AP Physics C | Roberta Tanner | HS | Other | ||
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment | Elyse Zimmer | MS HS |
Other | ||
Moteur en PhET | Bernard Lacour | Other | Lab | ||
Line of best fit activity | Dave Dalton | HS | HW Lab |
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커브 핏팅 SIM 사용 설명서 | Wha Kuk Lee | UG-Adv HS UG-Intro |
Lab Demo HW |
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Simulações no Ensino de Fisica | Carla Tavares | HS | Guided MC Other HW Lab Discuss Demo |
Translations
Related Simulations
Software Requirements
Windows | Macintosh | Linux |
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Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8.1/10 Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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OS X 10.9.5 or later Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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Macromedia Flash 9 or later
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Credits
Design Team | Third-party Libraries | Thanks To |
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