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Spreadsheet Program

Use a computer running a general spreadsheet program. This spreadsheet allows the user to input data about the trackway in terms of foot size and stride length in centimeters, and it will then use this information to calculate the size and speed of the animal (in various units).

You can either download the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet version or create your own by following the directions below.

If you are creating your own.  Type the following information into a spreadsheet. Type in all of the information and then save it. After you have saved the spreadsheet, you can type in data and the spreadsheet will do the calculations for you. Be very careful to type in all of the information correctly especially the calculating formulas. On your spreadsheet you only have to type in the bold words. Spreadsheets have blocks where you write information are called cells and each cell has a name. A cells name is given by the letter across the top and the number down the left side (so the first cell in the top let corner is named cell A1). Use you mouse or arrow keys to move from cell to cell.

1. Start your spreadsheet program.
2. In cell A1 type: Spreadsheet that calculates speed from tracks using Alexander’s formula
3. In cell B2 type: Foot size
4. In cell C2 type: Stride
5. In cell D2 type: Hip Height
6. In cell E2 type: Body Length
7. In cells F2, G2, H2, I2, and J2 type: Speed
8. In cells B3, C3, D3, and E3 type: cm
9. In cell F3 type: cm/sec
10. In cell G3 type: m/sec
11. In cell H3 type: Km/hour
12. In cell I3 type: Ft/sec
13. In cell J3 type: Mile/hour
14. In cell D4 type: =B4*4 This cell calculates the hip height. For all calculation cells you must type the equal sign first.
15. In cell E4 type: =B4*10 This cell calculates the body length.
16. In cell F4 type: =7.8*(C4^1.67)*(D4^-1.17) This cell calculates the speed the * symbol is gotten by holding down the shift key and pressing the number 8, the ^ symbol is made by holing the shift key and pressing the 6.
17. In cell G4 type: =F4/100 This cell converts the speed to meters per second.
18. In cell H4 type: =G4*3.6 This cell converts the speed to Km/hour.
19. In cell I4 type: =G4*3.2 This cell converts the speed to feet/second.
20. In cell J4 type: =I4/1.46 This cell converts the speed to miles/hour.
21. Select the rows numbered 4 through 20 by clicking on the number 4 on the left and dragging you mouse down to the number 20
22. Then click on the menu choice for Edit at the top of the spreadsheet and in the Edit menu find the choice for Fill Down and select it.
23. Save your spreadsheet by choosing Save from the File menu.
24. Your spreadsheet is now ready to go. Just fill in the foot size (in centimeters) and the stride length (in centimeters) in the B and C columns and the spreadsheet will do the rest.

Extra: you might want to review your spreadsheet charting or graphing abilities. You can use your data to create great graphs about your trackways.

 

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Copyright © 2006 Drs.Cavanaugh  Last modified: March 06, 2008