Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of Graph Search.
This lecture introduces the scientific method and metrology, using the discovery of natural radioactivity by Henri Becquerel as a case study. It covers the steps of the scientific approach, the importance of testing hypotheses, and the collaborative nature of science. The lecture also explains the process of measurement, including the use of standards, the SI units, and the characteristics of real-world measurements. It delves into errors in measurement, the calibration process, and the types of errors that can occur. The importance of accuracy, precision, and reliability in measurements is emphasized, along with the sources of errors and ways to minimize them.