It is important that you develop the skill of recording results in a clear and concise manner.
Generally, numerical results will be recorded in a table. The table should be neatly drawn using a ruler and each heading in the table should include both the quantity being measured and the unit it is measured in.

Table P1.1 shows how a table may be laid out. The measured quantities are the length of the wire and the current though it; both have their units included. Similarly, the calculated quantity, $\frac{1}{{current}}$ , is included and this too has a unit, ${A^{ - 1}}$.
When recording your results, you need to think once more about the precision to which the quantities are measured. In the example in Table P1.1, the length of the wire might be measured to the nearest millimetre and the current might be measured to the nearest milliampere.
Note how ‘.0’ is included in the second result for the length of the wire, to show that the measurement is to the nearest millimetre, not the nearest centimetre. Similarly the zero after the 0.35 shows that it is measured to the nearest milliampere or $\frac{1}{{1000}}$ of an ampere.
The third column is calculated and should show the same number of significant figures, or one more than the quantity (or quantities) it is calculated from. In this example, the current is measured to three significant figures so the inverse of the current is calculated to three significant figures.

Question

 

13) A ball is allowed to roll down a ramp from different starting points. Figure P1.10 shows the apparatus used. The ramp is placed at a fixed height above the floor. You are asked to measure the vertical height h of the starting point above the bottom of the ramp and the horizontal distance d the ball travels after it leaves the ramp.

You are also asked to find the square of the horizontal distance the ball travels after it leaves the ramp.
Table P1.2 shows the raw results for the experiment. Copy and complete the table.

Table P1.2: For Question 13.

h / cm	d / cm	${d^2}/$
1.0	18.0
2.5	28.4
4.0	35.8
5.5	41.6
7.0	47.3
9.0	53.6