Bowling Data

The bowling data serve as grist for plotting a graph using Excel. One of the homework problems is to superimpose a mathematical model. To ease this task there is a downloadable spreadsheet file called the "Modeling Worksheet". (Look on WebCT under Unit 1.)  Another spreadsheet file, the "Modeling Tutorial", shows an example of how to use it.

The Modeling Tutorial Spreadsheet

The model you'll want to use is

x0 is the intercept (b, cell C2) on the vertical axis and vavg is the slope (m, cell C1).  The position of the ball is x(t) and the time from the start is t.


(This model ignores the slowing of the ball as it rolls.)


You can use the Modeling Tutorial spreadsheet as a template for assignment problem SP1-2
To enter in this formula, you type in the first cell of y-theory (cell C8)

=$C$1*A8 + $C$2


You should see the theoretical value for the first data point calculated in cell C8. If you made a mistake there's an error message and you'll have to fix it before going on.


Copy this formula down the column to the end of the data.  A8 will change to A9, A10, etc but the references to $C$1 and $C$2 do not change because placing the dollar sign in front of the column letter and row number makes these references Absolute References instead of Relative References. After you copy the formula a line should appear on the graph representing the theoretical model.


Now you need to change the numbers in cells C1 and C2 until the line passes through the data points so that it represents a reasonable model of the position vs time which is consistent with the data.


(I know there is an automatic "Trendline" feature in Excel, but you should do the procedure described here so that you can understand and appreciate the automatic process better.)