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I've been asked whether one can fix <b> calculation </b>errors
made<br>
in the lab and recorded in the notebook. <br>
<br>
Yes. For mistakes in <b>calculated </b><b>numbers </b>which are
in the <br>
notebook you <b>can correct </b>those for the report. This is not
<br>
academic misconduct. <br>
<br>
<b>Any data or observations made in the lab and notebook can </b><b><br>
</b><b> <font color="#ff0000">NOT</font> be changed</b>. Even if
you know you used a pipet which <br>
measures volumes to 2 decimal places, if you forget those <br>
decimal places in the notebook you can not change it for the <br>
report. You can't even simply add zeros to the end of the number<br>
to get the correct s.f. This is considered academic misconduct.<br>
<br>
The same applies if you recorded too many s.f. in the lab. You<br>
can't remove them for the report. You'll need to discuss the error.<br>
An example is if someone recorded a volume for the beaker in<br>
exp 1 of 20.1 mL. The beaker volume is only out to the units<br>
place, not the first decimal place. The 0.1 part doesn't make
sense.<br>
However, you'll have to report 20.1 mL and then explain it's wrong.<br>
<br>
What if you forget to record a value in lab and need it for the<br>
report? Do <b>NOT</b> make it up or get a value from a fellow
student.<br>
That is academic misconduct. Contact me and I'll decide what<br>
you need to do.<br>
<br>
What if you forgot to write your unknown in your notebook and<br>
then don't have it for data-entry? Contact your TA. Do <b>NOT</b><br>
make one up. That can be considered academic misconduct.<br>
<br>
Also, a reminder. You MUST record ALL measurements and <br>
observations made in lab DIRECTLY in the notebook. If they <br>
are written anywhere else the TAs will deduct points from the <br>
notebook. Technically, we can tell you to redo them. A few<br>
people for exp 1 recorded numbers elsewhere and wrote<br>
them in the notebook later. That is not allowed. <br>
<br>
Finally, data taken in the lab should be recorded as taken. For<br>
example for exp 1 you should have recorded the total mass of<br>
the beaker and water in your notebook. The mass of the water<br>
is actually a calculated value. <br>
<br>
Dr. Zellmer
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