Record the best value and uncertainty in the table.

STEP 7 Repeat Steps 2 through 6 for the second and third magnets.

1. 1.Complete the following statements on your record sheet. Take into account your calculated values for the uncertainties.

 For the medium magnet, the best value is_____ mm and the uncertainty is _____ mm. This means that the true value for the medium magnet is probably within the range between _____ mm and _____ mm.

 For the small magnet, the best value is _____ mm and the uncertainty is _____ mm.This means that the true value for the small magnet is probably within the range between _____ mm and _____ mm.

STEP 8 In deciding whether one magnet is stronger or weaker than another magnet, you need to look at the distances of the small, medium, and large magnets. The largest distance corresponds to the strongest magnet; the smallest distance corresponds to the weakest magnet. To rank the three magnets in terms of strongest, middle, or weakest, you need to decide whether the distances for the magnets are the same or different. Two distances are considered different only if there is no overlap in their range of possible values when taking into account their best values and uncertainties. If there is an overlap, the two values are considered to be the same.

For example, imagine another team (using completely different magnets) had the following best values and uncertainties for their magnets.

Large magnet: The best value is 48 mm with an uncertainty of 2 mm.
Thus, the true value is probably within the range between 46 mm and 50 mm.

Medium magnet: The best value is 34 mm and the uncertainty is 3 mm.
Thus, the true value is probably within the range between 31 mm and 37 mm.