| Measurements through quantitative experiments are one of the most fundamental tasks in all areas of science and technology. Astronomers analyze data from asteroid sightings to predict orbits. Computer scientists develop models for recognizing spam mail. Physicists measure properties of materials at low temperatures to understand superconductivity. Materials engineers study the reaction of materials to varying load levels to develop methods for prediction of failure. Chemical engineers consider reactions as functions of temperature and pressure. The list is endless. From the very small-scale work on DNA to the huge-scale study of black holes, quantitative experiments are performed and the data must be analyzed. |