Integration of Digital Technology and Computer Data Analysisinto an Introductory Physics Laboratory

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Digital technology has revolutionized the way scientists approach the measurement and the analysis of experimental data. Today's laboratory instruments are capable of digitizing complex detector responses, produce instant numerical readouts, and transfer the information to a computer for further processing and permanent storage. Once loaded into a computer, these datafiles can be accurately compared to theoretical expectations with relative ease using commonly available commercial software. While such procedures are currently the norm in most research or industrial laboratories, they are often ignored in introductory physics laboratories where many aspiring science students gain their first and often last chance to study experimental methods in the physical sciences. This project is modifying an existing set of undergraduate laboratory experiments involving analog oscilloscopes, commonly performed at most institutions, to include an introduction to digital technology and computer data analysis. The project is being implemented with the acquisition of analog/digital oscilloscopes, IBM compatible personal computers, and commonly available scientific software for these computers.