f 05 using microsoft excel2 updated · your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a line...

Foundation Lesson V

102 Laying the Foundation in Physics

Microsoft® Excel Using Excel in the Science Classroom

OBJECTIVE Students will take data and use an Excel spreadsheet to manipulate the information. This will include creating graphs, manipulating data, finding averages and calculating standard deviation.

LEVEL All

NATIONAL STANDARDS UCP.1, UCP.2, A.1, A.2, E.1, E.2, G.2

TEKS 6.2 (E), 6.4(A) 7.2(E), 7.4(A) 8.2 (E), 8.4(A), 8.4(B) IPC: 2(C) Biology: 2(C) Chemistry: 2(D) Physics: 2(C), 2(E)

CONNECTIONS TO AP Graphing skills, data management, using technology

TIME FRAME 30 minutes (for each lesson)

MATERIALS Computers with Microsoft® Excel software

TEACHER NOTES This foundation lesson contains four sub-lessons: bar graphs, line graphs, scatter plots with linear regressions, and data management. You may want to teach each lesson as a stand-alone lesson, or as they become relevant to a current lab. The graphing and data lessons can be completely independent of one another.

Sample data has been provided for you to use if you would like to teach these as a stand-alone lesson. It is probably best used as a follow up to a data collection lab so that students can use real data.

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Foundation Lesson V

Laying the Foundation in Physics 103


Part I: How to Make a Bar Graph

PURPOSE To use the software program Microsoft® Excel to generate a bar graph.

MATERIALS data from this handout computer Microsoft® Excel software

PROCEDURE In science class you have collected data to see how much the density of water changes as you add grams of salt. Your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a bar graph using Excel. The data is as follows:

Grams of Salt Density (g/mL)

0 1.00

5 1.03

10 1.07

15 1.11

20 1.14

1. Open the Excel program on your computer. A blank workbook will appear. Notice that the columns are identified with letters and the rows are identified by numbers.

2. In the box “A1”, type Grams of Salt.

3. In the box “B1”, type Density. If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to the top of the column and place it between two boxes until a double arrow appears. Now you can stretch the column to the size you need.

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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each heading. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the correct row.

Figure 1

5. On your toolbar there is a very small, colorful bar graph icon. This is called the Chart Wizard. Click on the Chart Wizard icon.

Figure 2

Chart Wizard icon

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6. After clicking the Chart Wizard icon, the first window that opens identifies the chart type. Choose “Column” on the left-hand side, and under the chart sub-type on the right side click on the first choice available. Click Next.

Figure 3

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7. The next window that appears has two tabs: Data Range and Series. Click on Series and delete all existing data sets from the series box.

Figure 4

Make sure to remove any series that might appear in this window and then click Add to put in your axes values.

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8. Now click Add to add your data series. On the bottom of the window is “Category (X) Axis Labels”. In the right corner of the Category (X) axis labels is a small button with a tiny graph containing a red arrow. Click on this button.

Figure 5

9. Clicking on the button takes you back to your spreadsheet of data. With your mouse, highlight the data you want on the x-axis, the grams of salt, boxes A2–A6. Press Enter after highlighting.

Figure 6

Click on this button to set x-axis values.

The dotted line shows you what will be graphed on your x-axis.

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10. The chart wizard screen should now reappear. Click on the small graph button next to the spot labeled Values. This is your y-axis data.

Figure 7

11. Clicking on this button takes you back to your spreadsheet. Highlight your y-axis values, in this case density, B2–B6. Press Enter after highlighting.

Figure 8

12. The Chart Wizard screen will reappear. Click Next on the bottom of the screen.

13. The new screen allows you to title your graph and label your axes. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate information and click Finish.

The dotted line shows you what values will be graphed on your y-axis.

This is the Values button to set your y-axis.

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14. You now have finished your bar graph and Excel will ask you if you want the graph to appear on your spreadsheet, or on a separate page. Choose whichever you need. Below is a copy of the graph inserted into the spreadsheet page.

Figure 9

15. You may now print your completed graph by selecting Print from the File menu on the task bar.

Density of Salt Water

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Part II: How to Make a Line Graph

PURPOSE To use the software program Microsoft® Excel to create a line graph.


PROCEDURE In science class you have collected data to see how much the density of water changes as you add grams of salt. Your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a line graph using Excel. The data is as follows:


0 1.00

5 1.03

10 1.07

15 1.11

20 1.14

1. Open an Excel Workbook. Notice that the columns are identified with letters and the rows are identified by numbers.


3. In the box “B1”, type Density. If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to the top of the column and place it between two boxes until a double arrow appears. Now stretch the column to the size you need.

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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each section. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the correct row.

Figure 1


Figure 2

Chart Wizard

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6. The first window to open identifies the chart type. Choose “Line” on the left hand side, and under the chart sub-type on the right side click on the first choice on the second line. (See Figure 2)

7. Click Next.

8. The next window that appears has two tabs: Data Range and Series. Click on Series and delete all existing data sets from the series box.

Figure 3

Make sure to delete any series that might appear in this window and then click Add to put in your axes values.

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9. Now click Add to add your data series. On the bottom of the window is “Category (X) Axis Labels”. In the right corner of the Category (X) axis labels is a small button with a tiny graph containing a red arrow. Click on this button.

Figure 4

10. Clicking on the button takes you back to your spreadsheet of data. With your mouse, highlight the data you want on the x-axis, in this case the grams of salt, or boxes A2–A6. Press Enter after highlighting.

Figure 5

Click on this button to set x-axis values.

The dotted line shows you what will be graphed on the x-axis.

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11. The Chart Wizard screen should now reappear. Click on the small graph button next to the spot labeled Values. This is your y-axis data.

Figure 6

12. Clicking on the button takes you back to your spreadsheet to highlight your y-axis values, in this case density, B2–B6. Press Enter after highlighting.

Figure 7

13. The Chart Wizard screen should reappear. Click Next on the bottom of the screen.

14. The new screen allows you to title your graph and label your axes. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate information and click Finish.

This is the Values button to set the y-axis.

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15. You now have finished your line graph and Excel will ask you if you want the graph to appear on your spreadsheet, or on a separate page. Choose whichever you need. Below is a copy of the graph inserted into the spreadsheet page.

Figure 8

16. You may now print your completed graph by selecting Print from the File menu on the task bar.

Grams of Salt

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Part III: How to Create a Scatter Plot and Linear Regression Equation

PURPOSE To use the software program Microsoft® Excel to create a line graph.


PROCEDURE In science class you have collected data to see how much the density of water changes as you add grams of salt. Your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a scatter plat using Excel. The data is as follows:


0 1.00

5 1.03

10 1.07

15 1.11

20 1.14



3. In the box “B1”, type Density. If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to the top of the column and place it between two boxes until a double arrow appears. Now stretch the column to the size you need.

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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each heading. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the correct row.

Figure 1


Figure 2

6. The first window to open identifies the chart type. Choose “XY Scatter” on the left-hand side and under the chart sub-type on the right side click on the first choice. Do not choose a subtype with any lines connecting the dots.

Chart Wizard icon

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Figure 3

7. Click Next.

8. At the next dialogue box you will see a preview of your graph. Click the Series tab at the top of the box.

9. On the bottom left of this box it lists the series of data being plotted. To the right there is a blank cell where you can name this series. Use this box to title your graph.

Figure 4

Density vs. Salt

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10. Under the Name cell there are two cells that are labeled X values and Y values. The letters in these boxes correspond to the columns in the worksheet. Make sure the data is plotted on the correct axis. If they are not where you want them, click on the small button next to the X values button and it will take you back to your data table. Highlight the column you want to be plotted on your x-axis and press Enter to return to the wizard. Do the same for the y-axis.

11. When you are satisfied that the correct columns are being plotted and you have named your series, click Next. The next dialogue box, Chart Options, gives you the opportunity to label your axes (include units!). Click Next when you are finished.

Figure 5

12. The final dialogue box will ask you if you want the graph to appear on your spreadsheet, or on a separate page. Click Finish when you are done.

13. To add a mathematically calculated regression line or best fit curve, choose Add Trendline from the Chart pull-down menu on your toolbar. [If you do not see Chart as one of your pull-down menus, click once on the graph to make it the active object.]

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Figure 6

14. The next dialogue box allows you to choose the type of regression to apply. In this case, linear.

15. The Options tab allows you to see the mathematical equation and correlation constant (R2) if the boxes are checked for these options.

Figure 7

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16. If you need to extrapolate data beyond the range of data you have plotted, increase the numbers in the forecast box.

17. Note that the regression equation is displayed. If the preset y-intercept of 0 causes your graph axis and area to shift too much, set your y-intercept more within your data range.

18. You can title this regression line if you wish.

Figure 8

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Part IV: How Excel Can Manage Data

PURPOSE To use the software program Microsoft® Excel for manipulating data and determining statistical information.


PROCEDURE The table below contains data collected to see how the circumference of the human head relates to the length of the face. For 5 students the data is as follows:

Circumference of Head (cm)

Length of Face (cm)

50 11

54 13

45 10

58 14

46 9


2. In the box “A1”, type Circumference of Head (cm).

3. In the box “B1”, type Length of Face (cm). If you need to make a box larger, take your cursor to the top of the column and place it between two boxes until the double arrows appear. Click and stretch the column to the size you need.

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4. Enter the data in the boxes below each heading. Be careful to enter the coordinating data in the same row.

Figure 1

5. You are now going to have the computer calculate an index value for each person by dividing the length of the face by the circumference of the head. Label the new column in C1, Skull Index.

6. Click in box C2. Notice on the lower tool bar there is an empty box next to a small fx. Put your cursor in the box and type an equal sign (=).

7. Following the equal sign enter B2/A2. Press Enter.

8. Your spreadsheet will now reappear and you will see a calculated index number in box C2. Right click your mouse on C2 and choose copy. Then drag your mouse down column C for as far as there is data. This will apply the same formula to all of these cells.

Figure 2

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9. Press Enter. Excel will calculate and fill in all the indices.

Figure 3

10. To round the numbers to two decimal places, right click on the number in cell C3 and select Format cell. Click on Number from the category list and then choose 2 decimal places.

Figure 4

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11. Click OK to exit this dialogue box and notice that one cell has changed to two decimal points. Right click on cell C3, select copy, and drag down the rest of your column. Press Enter and all numbers should change to two decimals.

Figure 5

12. To calculate the average of the Skull Index, click in box C7, below your last index value.

13. Click on fx and choose AVERAGE from the select a function box.

Figure 6

Click on fx and then choose AVERAGE in the function box.

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14. The next dialogue box asks you to identify the values to average. Highlight the five index values and then press Enter. The average value will appear in cell C7.

Figure 7

15. To calculate the SUM, STANDARD DEVIATION, MAXIMUM or MINIMUM you would follow the same procedure except in step #13 choose the appropriate function.

16. To graph your data follow the procedure outlined in Microsoft® Excel Part I or II.

This is the average of the Skull Indexes.

Foundation Lesson V


f 05 using microsoft excel2 updated · your teacher wants you to take the data and produce a line...

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