three dice, a hand throwing dice on a table

 

Code Number: 1A20.25

Demo Title:  Statistics and Probability - Dice

Condition:  Good

Principle: Units of Measure

Area of Study: Mechanics

Equipment: 

Pairs of dice - Plexiglas and cloth dice

Procedure: 

Roll the dice and add the numbers together and then record.  A Gaussian distribution should be observed after multiple runs, with the number 6 having the most hits and the numbers 2 and 12 having the least.

References: 

  • W. Brian Lane, "Using Dice Towers in an Introductory Physics Lab", TPT, Vol. 57, #1, Jan. 2019, p. 28.
  • Michael C. LoPresto, "A Simple Statistical Thermodynamics Experiment", TPT, Vol. 48, #3, Mar. 2010, p. 183.
  • Sergio Fantini and Jeffrey C. Grossman, "How Likely Is It Two Classmates Have the Same Birthday?", TPT, Vol. 35, #1, Jan. 1997, p. 42.
  • Patricia F. Bronson and Robert L. Bronson, "Dice with Parallelepiped Shapes", TPT, Vol. 28, #5, May 1990, p. 286. 
  • John Burke and Eric Kincanon, "Benford's Law and Physical Constants: The Distribution of Initial Digits", AJP, Vol. 59, #10, Oct. 1991, p. 952.
  • Don S. Lemons, "On the Numbers of Things and the Distribution of First Digits", AJP, Vol. 54, #9, Sept. 1986, p. 816.
  • Eugene M. Levin, "Experiments with Loaded Dice", AJP, Vol. 51, #2, Feb. 1983, p. 149.
  • Joseph Ford, "How Random is a Coin Toss?", Physics Today, Vol. 36, #4, Apr. 1983, p. 40.
  • M-010: "Distribution of First Digits", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
  • Martin Gardner, "Surprising Dice Bet", Science Tricks, p. 86.
  • Martin Gardner, "Magic with Dice", Entertaining Science Experiments with Everyday Objects, p. 62.
  • Martin Gardner, "Probability", Entertaining Science Experiments with Everyday Objects, p. 51.
  • Yaakov Kraftmakher, "1.16, Probability Functions", Experiments and Demonstrations in Physics, p. 62.
  • Robert Ehrlich, "Spinning a Penny", Why Toast Lands Jelly-Side Down, p. 72 - 73.
  • Courtney Linder, "When Dice-Roll Games Aren't Totally Random", Popular Mechanics, March/April 2022, p. 26.
  • John F. Ross, "Discovering the Odds", How it Works - Science Supplement, Spring 2001, p. 181.
  • Neil. A. Downie, "Motor Dice", Ink Sandwiches, Electric Worms and 37 Other Experiments for Saturday Science, p. 176.
  • Susan H. McClung, "Mathematics", How it Works - Science Supplement, Spring 2001, p. 296.
  • Portable Press, "Roll the Dice" and "Dicey History", Strange History, p. 281 & 282.