experimental-methods
Experimental methods for physics including measurement, uncertainty analysis, and experimental design. Covers the scientific method applied to physics, the SI unit system, significant figures, uncertainty and error analysis (systematic vs. random, propagation of uncertainty), dimensional analysis (Buckingham Pi theorem), experimental design (controls, variables, reproducibility), data analysis (linear regression, chi-squared, curve fitting), lab safety, landmark physics experiments (Millikan, Cavendish, photoelectric effect, Michelson-Morley), graphical analysis, and order-of-magnitude estimat
npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill experimental-methods --agent claude-code
Same command for any agent — swap --agent for codex, cursor, copilot.
Weekly change comes from our own snapshots, not the repository page — it measures attention, not adoption.
What it does
The skill instructs the agent to cover practical foundations of experimental physics: measurement, uncertainty and error analysis, dimensional analysis, experimental design, data analysis, and exposure to landmark experiments. It emphasizes using the scientific method, proper unit usage, significant figures, and Fermi estimation to inform experimental work and back-of-the-envelope calculations.
How it works
The agent is guided to treat physics as empirical, following the cycle Observe -> Hypothesize -> Predict -> Experiment -> Analyze -> Revise, and to ensure reproducibility by documenting design, procedure, and raw data. It prescribes handling SI units, base units, and derived quantities, and provides rules for significant figures and dimensional consistency. For uncertainty, it outlines types of error (systematic vs. random), reporting uncertainty with x = x_best +/- delta_x, and propagation formulas for functions f = f(x, y, z). In data analysis, it details linear regression (formulas for m and b, and delta_m), chi-squared, and strategies for curve fitting (transformations to linear forms). Graphical analysis emphasizes plotting data with error bars, labeling axes, and interpreting residuals. It includes topics on designing experiments (independent/dependent/controlled variables, controls, randomization, reproducibility checklist) and highlights interpretation through landmark experiments (Millikan, Cavendish, photoelectric effect, Michelson-Morley, Rutherford). It also covers Fermi estimation for order-of-magnitude questions.
When to use it
Use when designing experiments, analyzing data, reporting measurements, or performing back-of-the-envelope estimates.
What it can touch
The skill references and uses tools related to scientific computation and data analysis concepts (linear regression, chi-squared, curve fitting) and mentions standard laboratory practices, but it does not list external software or code execution commands beyond mathematical formulations and standard procedures.
Caveats
It presents standard practices for uncertainty and data analysis but does not guarantee specific numerical results; practitioners should perform actual calculations and adhere to context-specific safety and institutional guidelines.
# Experimental Methods Physics is an empirical science. Every theory must survive confrontation with experiment, and every experiment must be designed, conducted, and analyzed with rigorous methodology. This skill covers the practical foundations of experimental physics: measurement, uncertainty, dimensional analysis, experimental design, data analysis, and the landmark experiments that shaped our understanding. It also covers Fermi estimation — the physicist's art of getting useful answers from minimal information. **Agent affinity:** faraday (pedagogy, Sonnet), curie (department chair, Opus) **Concept IDs:** phys-motion-kinematics, phys-wave-properties (measurement context) ## Experimental Methods at a Glance | # | Topic | Key idea | |---|---|---| | 1 | Scientific method | Hypothesis -> prediction -> experiment -> analysis -> revision | | 2 | SI units | Seven base units; all physics quantities derived from them | | 3 | Significant figures | Report precision honestly | | 4 | Uncertainty & error analysis | Quantify how much you trust your result | | 5 | Dimensional analysis | Units constrain possible equations | | 6 | Experimental design | Controls, variables, reproducibility | | 7
- Experimental Methods at a Glance
- Topic 1 — The Scientific Method in Physics
- Topic 2 — The SI Unit System
- Topic 3 — Significant Figures
- Topic 4 — Uncertainty and Error Analysis
- Types of Error
- Reporting Uncertainty
- Propagation of Uncertainty
- Topic 5 — Dimensional Analysis
- Topic 6 — Experimental Design
- Topic 7 — Data Analysis
- Linear Regression (Least Squares)
- Chi-Squared Test
- Curve Fitting
What does the experimental-methods skill do?
Experimental methods for physics including measurement, uncertainty analysis, and experimental design. Covers the scientific method applied to physics, the SI unit system, significant figures, uncertainty and error analysis (systematic vs. random, propagation of uncertainty), dimensional analysis (Buckingham Pi theorem), experimental design (controls, variables, reproducibility), data analysis (linear regression, chi-squared, curve fitting), lab safety, landmark physics experiments (Millikan, Cavendish, photoelectric effect, Michelson-Morley), graphical analysis, and order-of-magnitude estimat
How do I install it?
Run `npx skills add majiayu000/claude-skill-registry --skill experimental-methods --agent claude-code` — it drops the skill into your project so the agent can pick it up. Swap the --agent value for codex, cursor or copilot if you use one of those.
Where does this skill come from?
From majiayu000/claude-skill-registry, a repository with 534 stars. We read it straight from the repository tree rather than a submitted listing, so what you see here is what is actually published.
Is a popular skill a good skill?
Not necessarily. Stars measure attention, not adoption — a repository can trend for a week and be abandoned. That is why we show the weekly change from our own snapshots next to the total, instead of a single flattering number.