Re: Air resistance

[John Mallinckrodt <ajmallinckro@CSUPomona.Edu>]

On Mon, 15 Dec 1997, LUDWIK KOWALSKI wrote:

> The accuracy of a single d measurement is about one wavelength (8mm).
> The *extraordinary* goodness comes from the internal smoothing, as described 
> by John G. This smoothing, and the second smoothing to get accelerations, 
> are apparently responsinble for large systematic errors. 

I hadn't previously understood that the d values *themselves* were subject
to smoothing.  Is that really true?  If so, it's too bad, because even the
d values will reflect the assumptions of the smoothing algorithm and
compromise our ability to do and interpret a chi-squared analysis of the
model fits. If the uncertainty in the raw data is really as large as 8 mm,
I wouldn't be surprised to find that the data is consistent with the
hypothessis of *no* air resistance whatsoever.  Can you, somehow, still
get at the raw values of d for that run?

John
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