Columbia University Physics Lecture Demonstrations


Categories
Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics
Oscillation and Waves
Thermodynamics
Electricity and Magnetism
Optics
Modern Physics
Astronomy

1A20.10 Gaussian distribution

[Setup Time: 2 Min.] [Current Condition: Good]

Info

Steel balls run through a plastic maze on the overhead projector. At the bottom they will fall into a Gaussian distribution.

Parts List

Lamp in L. Misc

Plastic Maze in A. Mechanics 1C

Relevant Simulation

Demo Example:


Demo Example Tilted:


Coin toss simulation with plotted results

Other Information

The Galton Board Video
PIRA Site

Real-Life Examples

Gaussian blur in image processing
Some examples in life

More Advanced Reading

Not Normal: the Uncertainties of Scientific Measurements from Royal Society Open Science