MS Excel Spreadsheet: A Teaching-Learning Tool for Statistical Physics

Abstract

Background: Grasping the relationship between theoretical and empirical probability is essential in learning statistical physics, especially for undergraduate students. Traditional hands-on methods such as coin tosses and dice rolls, while pedagogically valuable, often require considerable time and effort to generate statistically meaningful data.

Purpose: This study aims to explore how simulation using Microsoft Excel can serve as an effective alternative to manual probability experiments in undergraduate physics education.

Methods: Simulations of two classical probability experiments coin tosses and dice throws were conducted using Microsoft Excel. The number of trials ranged from 101 to 105. These simulations tracked how empirical probabilities evolved and whether they converged toward the known theoretical probabilities with increased trials.

Results: The results demonstrated a clear convergence between empirical and theoretical probabilities as the number of trials increased. The use of Microsoft Excel significantly reduced the time and effort needed for data collection while maintaining high accuracy.

Conclusions: Microsoft Excel can effectively replace manual methods in undergraduate physics labs, enhancing both teaching and learning experiences. It enables students to focus on analyzing results and deepening conceptual understanding, making it a valuable pedagogical tool for reinforcing statistical ideas in a more engaging and time-efficient way.