Spreadsheeting in the name of Science!!!
Objective: To use the Excel Spreadsheet program to create a data table and graph from data obtained from laboratory work.
What is a "spreadsheet"?
Here are "guideline" steps you can follow. Check them off as you go:
_____Use the Start menu to open Microsoft Excel
_____Create a data table that is set up just like the one you used in the absolute zero lab.
_____Fill the data table with your results from the lab.
_____To "neaten up" your data table, highlight all the cells that you used, click on format cells,
choose borders, click on outside and inside (Notice what this does to your data table)
_____To make your graph: Once again, highlight the data table you made. Click Insert,
choose Chart and the "Chart Wizard" window will open.
_____In "Chart Type" choose XY(scatter) click ok
_____In "Chart Source Data" choose columns (While here click on rows to see what it does to the
graph you are making. click next
_____In "Chart Options" fill in these boxes with appropriate words:
_____In "Chart Location" choose as object in sheet 1 click finish
_____On the graph that is made, right click on any data point and choose Add trendline
Choose linear for the type click ok
To extend the trendline….
Double click on the Y-axis
Click the Scale tab
Change the minimum to –300 click ok
Double click on the trendline
Click the options tab
At forecast, change the backward to 1 click ok
To Print
_____Select the graph and print it using the computer room printer. This will only work if you are logged on correctly
IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TODAY:
_____Try right clicking on various things that make up the graph to see what options you have for
formatting. Explore….(if you don't like what you see, click the undo button.
Terms you should know are in bold: right click, undo button, plot area, cells, spreadsheet