Curve Fitting

Curve Fitting Screenshot
  • Polynomials
  • Error Analysis
  • Data
Flash Logo Original Sim and Translations

Topics

  • Polynomials
  • Error Analysis
  • Data

Description

Drag data points and their error bars and watch the best-fit polynomial curve update instantly. You choose the type of fit: linear, quadratic, or cubic. The reduced chi-square statistic shows you when the fit is good. Or you can try to find the best fit by manually adjusting fit parameters.

Sample Learning Goals

  • Explain how the range and uncertainty and number of data points affect correlation coefficient and chi squared
  • Describe how correlation coefficient and chi squared can be used to indicate how well a curve describes the data relationship
  • Apply understanding of Curve Fitting to designing experiments

Standards Alignment

Common Core - Math

HSS-ID.B.6
Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot, and describe how the variables are related.
HSS-ID.B.6a
Fit a function to the data; use functions fitted to data to solve problems in the context of the data. Use given functions or choose a function suggested by the context. Emphasize linear, quadratic, and exponential models.
HSS-ID.B.6b
Informally assess the fit of a function by plotting and analyzing residuals.
Version 1.0.0

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Curve Fitting: How well does the curve describe the data? (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein, Mike Dubson HS
UG-Intro
Lab Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS
MC Physics
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS
Lab
Demo
HW
Physics
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López MS
HS
Other Biology
Physics
Earth Science
Chemistry
Capacitor and Dielectric 2 Bassam Rashed HS
Other
UG-Intro
UG-Adv
Demo
Remote
HW
Guided
Lab
Physics
SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López HS
MS
Other Chemistry
Mathematics
Biology
Physics
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López UG-Intro
HS
Other Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
PRIMARIA: Alineación con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López MS
K-5
Demo
Guided
Discuss
Lab
HW
Physics
Chemistry
Astronomy
Mathematics
Estadística Andrés Gualberto Palomo Cuevas HS Remote
HW
Mathematics

HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.

iPad:
iOS 12+ Safari
iPad compatible sims

Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.

Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims

Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.

Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.

Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Michael Dubson (lead designer, original developer)
  • Chris Malley (developer)
  • Jonathan Olson (developer)
  • Saurabh Totey (developer)
  • Martin Veillette (developer)
  • Amanda McGarry (lead designer)
  • Trish Loeblein
  • Ariel Paul
  • Kathy Perkins
  • almond-0.2.9.js
  • base64-js-1.2.0.js
  • FileSaver-b8054a2.js
  • font-awesome-4.5.0
  • game-up-camera-1.0.0.js
  • he-1.1.1.js
  • himalaya-0.2.7.js
  • jama-1.0.2
  • jquery-2.1.0.js
  • katex-0.11.0-css-all.js
  • katex-0.11.0.min.js
  • lodash-4.17.4.js
  • pegjs-0.7.0.js
  • seedrandom-2.4.2.js
  • text-2.0.12.js
  • TextEncoderLite-3c9f6f0.js