In general, labs have the general purpose of exploring relationships amongst physical phenomena and the quantities we measure about them. However labs also usually have a specific purpose of demonstrating the correctness of some theory we developed. For examples:
Centripetal force lab was to demonstrate that ac = omega squared x r
components lab was to see if FG// = MG cos theta vertical
The AP lab on standing waves was to have demonstrated that c = sqrt(FT/mu). This was to be done by seeing if sqrt(FT/mu) /lambda = f. We ( should) know that f= 60 Hz, the standard for electric power throughout the US so the slope of the cvs lambda curve should = 60. Any departure from 60 Hz reppresents an error in either measurements of F mu or lamda or a problem with our theory.
Many of you found f from f = sqrt(FT/mu) /lambda and then used that to get c from c =fxlambda. You then compared the c's and found them to be nearly the same.
This is circular reasoning. All you proved was that
(sqrt(FT/mu) / lambda) x lambda = sqrt(FT/mu)
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