Advanced Excel/Exercise 2

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Background Information
A rocket is a closed chamber with a gas under pressure. When the pressurized gas is allowed to
escape, the rocket moves. Isaac Newton’s Third Law of Motion states: for every action there is
an equal and opposite reaction. The released gas is the action and the reaction is the rocket
moving forward.
In this activity, a gas is created and is kept under pressure in a film canister. The gas in a rocket
can be produced chemically. Effervescent cold tablets, like Alka-Seltzer, contain baking soda and
citric acid. When you add water to the tablet, a chemical reaction takes place between the baking
soda and the citric acid. Carbon dioxide gas is produced and pressure builds inside the film
canister. Finally, the pressure is so great it rushes out of the canister. The canister and paper
rocket lifts off in the opposite direction.
What can make a rocket fly higher depends on a number of variables: the weight of the rocket, the
temperature of the water, the amount of tablet put in the canister, the number of fins and shape of the rocket,
and the amount of water in the canister. In this activity, you will vary the amount of water to see which
amount makes the rocket fly higher.
Using Excel, you will calculate the average, maximum, minimum, and range of the rockets flown. You will
use formulas for getting your answer. A formula is a set of instructions for making a calculation. In Excel,
all formulas begin with the = sign.
In this investigation, you will create one spreadsheet and graph.

Hypothesis (How many meters do you think your rocket will fly?)
_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Materials
• ½ effervescent tablet • Graduated cylinder
• Translucent film canister • Water
• Paper rocket

Procedures
1. Build a rocket.
2. Cut effervescent tablet in half.
3. Measure out 15 ml of water with the graduated cylinder.
4. Pour the water into the film canister.

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 5. Working with a partner, put the tablet into the canister; cap the canister, and turn the rocket over
onto the launch pad.
6. The class will record how high each rocket flies.
7. Repeat the prior steps with 20 ml of water.
8. Complete an Excel spreadsheet to calculate the average, maximum, and minimum height each
rocket flew.
9. Complete an Excel chart to display results of the experiment.
10. Add your conclusions to your chart.

Open an Existing Excel File

1. Start Microsoft Excel 2000.

2. Click the Open button on the Standard toolbar.

3. The Open dialog box opens.
4. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of the Look in box and select your period folder.
5. Click the Advanced Excel Exercises workbook to select it.

6. Click the Open button .

7. Double-click the Sheet2 tab.
8. Rename the sheet 3,2,1 Pop

Setting-up the Spreadsheet

9. Click in any cell.
10. Press Ctrl+A to select all.
11. Using the Formatting toolbar, change the Font Size to 14-points.
12. Press Ctrl+1.
13. The Format Cells dialog box opens.
14. Click the Alignment tab.
15. Under Vertical, select Center.
16. Click OK.
17. Click Format on the Menu bar, point to Row, and select Height.
18. Change the Row Height to 20 points.
19. Click OK or press Enter.
20. Click into any cell on the spreadsheet to deselect the cells.
21. Move the mouse pointer between the Column A Heading and the Column B Heading.
22. The mouse pointer changes its shape from a white cross to a black crosshair.

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23. Click and drag the Column A Heading until it has a width of 45 points.
A Screen Tip will guide you.
24. Click the Column B Heading and drag to the Column C Heading.
25. Both columns are now selected.
26. Click Format on the Menu bar, point to Column, and select Width.
27. Change the Column Width to 20 points.
28. Click OK or press Enter.
29. Move the mouse pointer between the Row 1 Heading and the Row 2 Heading.
30. The mouse pointer changes its shape from a white cross to a black crosshair.
31. Click and drag Row 1 Heading down until it has a width of 60 points. A Screen Tip will guide you.
32. Move the mouse pointer between the Row 4 Heading and the Row 5 Heading.
33. The mouse pointer changes its shape from a white cross to a black crosshair.
34. Click and drag Row 4 Heading down until it has a width of 75 points. A Screen Tip will guide you.

Creating a Title and Subtitle

35. Click in cell A1.
36. Type 3,2,1 Pop.
37. Press Enter.
38. In cell A2 type How Much Water Makes A Rocket Fly Higher?.

Formatting the Title and Subtitle with the Formatting Toolbar

39. Click in cell A1 and drag across to cell C1.
40. The cells are now selected.

41. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Merge and Center button .
42. Click in cell A1.
43. Using the Formatting toolbar, change the Font to Bauhaus 93.

44. Using the Formatting toolbar, change the Font Size to 36-points .
45. Click in cell A2 and drag across to cell C2.
46. The cells are now selected.

47. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Merge and Center button .
48. Click in cell A1 and drag to cell A2 to select the title and subtitle text.
49. On the Formatting toolbar, click the drop-down arrow next to the Font
Color button and select the Red color.

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50. On the Formatting toolbar, click the drop-down arrow next to the Fill
Color button and select the Yellow color.

51. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Bold button .

52. Using the Formatting toolbar, click the drop-down arrow next to the
Border button and select Thick Box Border .

Entering Column Labels

Figure 1
53. Click in cell A4.
54. Type Rocketeers.
55. Press Tab.
56. In cell B4 type Height Flown.
57. Press Alt+Enter. Type With.
58. Press Alt+Enter. Type 15 ml
Water.
59. Press Alt+Enter. Type (m).
60. Press Tab.
61. In cell C4 type Height Flown.
62. Press Alt+Enter. Type With.
63. Press Alt+Enter. Type 20 ml Water.
64. Press Alt+Enter. Type (m).
65. Press Tab.
66. Look at Figure 1.

Entering Row Labels

67. Click in cell A5.
68. Beginning with cell A5, complete Column A with the first names of each
student pair team in the class. For example: Jack and Jill.
69. In cell A20 type Average.
70. Press Enter.
71. In cell A21 type Minimum.
72. Press Enter.
73. In cell A22 type Maximum.
74. Press Enter.
75. In cell A23 type Range.

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76. Press Enter.

Formatting the Column Labels

77. Click in cell A4 and drag across to cell C4.
78. Press Ctrl+1.
79. The Format Cells dialog box opens.
80. Click the Font tab.
81. Change the Font style to Bold.
82. Click the Patterns tab.
83. Select the Yellow color.
84. Click the Border tab.
85. Under Line Style, select the thickest line.
86. Click the Outline and Inside buttons.
87. Click OK.
88. Click in cell B4 and drag across to cell C4.

89. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Center text button .

Formatting the Row Labels

90. Click in cell A20 and drag down to
cell A23.
91. Press Ctrl+1.
92. The Format Cells dialog box opens.
93. Click the Font tab.
94. Change the Font style to Bold.
95. Click the Patterns tab.
96. Select the Yellow color.
97. Click the Border tab.
98. Under Line Style, select the thickest
line.
99. Click the Outline and Inside buttons.
100. Click OK.

Formatting the Data

A rule of science and math is that your answers (the average heights flown) have to be rounded to the
least accurate of your measuring instruments. The meter stick measures distance to the nearest
hundredth. Therefore, you need to round your answers to the nearest hundredth.
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101. Click in cell B5 and drag across to cell C5.
102. Drag down to C23.
103. All of your data cells are now selected.
104. Press Ctrl+1.
105. The Format Cells dialog box opens.
106. Click the Number tab.
107. Under Category, select Number.
108. In the Decimal places box type 2.
109. Click OK.

Formatting the Important Numbers

110. Click in cell B20 and drag diagonally to cell C23.

111. On the Formatting toolbar, click the drop-down arrow next to the Font Color button and
select the Red color.

112. On the Formatting toolbar, click the Bold button .

Entering the Data into the Spreadsheet

113. In cells B5 to B?, enter the heights each rocket flew with the 15 ml of water from your data.
114. Do not type a unit, as Excel cannot calculate if you enter values and text.
115. In cells C5 to C?, enter the heights each rocket flew with the 20 ml of water from your data.
116. Do not type a unit, as Excel cannot calculate if you enter values and text.

Calculating the Average Height Flown with the Point Mode Method
Time to learn how to enter formulas using the mouse. This can be a time-saver. To find the average
height for all rockets flown with 15 ml of water do this:
117. Click in cell B20.
118. Type the formula =average(.
119. Instead of typing the rest of the formula, click in cell B5 and drag to B?.
120. The cells are automatically entered into your formula.
121. Press Enter. You don’t even have to enter the closing parenthesis.
122. Click in cell B21.
123. Type the formula =min(.
124. Instead of typing the rest of the formula,
click in cell B5 and drag to B?.
125. The cells are automatically entered into

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 your formula.
126. Press Enter. You don’t even have to enter the closing parenthesis.
127. Click in cell B22.
128. Type the formula =max(.
129. Instead of typing the rest of the formula, click in cell B5 and drag to B?.
130. The cells are automatically entered into your formula.
131. Press Enter. You don’t even have to enter the closing parenthesis.
132. Click in cell B23.
133. Type the formula =B22-B21.
134. This calculates the range, because it finds the difference between the greatest and least values.

Using the Fill Handle to Copy and Paste Formulas

You should have calculated the average, minimum, maximum, and range of your data. Copy these
formulas all at once using the fill handle.
135. Click in cell B20 and drag down to B23.
136. The formulas are selected.
137. Move the mouse over the fill handle in the lower right corner of cell B23.
138. The mouse changes to a plus sign.
139. Click the mouse and drag the fill handle across to cell C23.
140. This copies the formulas to the cells. You should now have answers for
average, minimum, maximum, and the range.
141. Press Ctrl+S to save your work.

Sorting Your Spreadsheet Data

142. Click in any data cell. You must have a data cell
selected to sort the data.
143. Click Data on the Menu bar and select Sort.
144. The Sort dialog box opens.
145. Under Sort by, select Rocketeers.
146. Select Descending.
147. Click OK or press Enter.
148. Your spreadsheet data should go in alphabetical
order.

Spell Check the Document

149. Press the Spell Check button on the Standard toolbar.

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150. Run the Spell Check.

Setting-up a Heading on the Spreadsheet

151. Click File on the Menu bar and select Page Setup.
152. The Page Setup dialog box opens.
153. Click the Sheet tab.
154. Select Gridlines.
155. Click the Header/Footer tab.

156. Click the Custom Header button .

157. The Header dialog box opens.
158. In the right pane of the Header window, type your name and press Enter.
159. Type the name of your partner and press Enter.

160. Click the Date button .

161. Press Enter.
162. Type Period, press the Spacebar, and type your period number.
163. Press Enter.

164. Click the Filename button .

165. Click OK.
166. Click the Margins tab.
167. Set the Top margin to 2 inches.
168. Set the Bottom margin to 0.5 inches.
169. Under Center on page check the box next to Horizontal.
170. Click OK.

Print Preview Your Document

171. Click the Print Preview button on the Standard toolbar.
172. Your document should like Figure 2.

173. Click the Close button when you have previewed the chart.

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Figure 2

Creating a Column Chart

The chart will compare how high the average rocket flew with 15 ml of water and 20 ml of water.
174. Click in cell B4 and drag to cell C4.
175. This selects the labels.
176. Hold the Control key down.
177. Click in cell B20 and drag to cell C20.
178. Release the Control key.

179. Click the Chart Wizard button on the Standard tool bar .
180. The Chart Wizard will create your chart in four steps.

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181. In Step 1, select Column with
the mouse. The Clustered
Column Chart Sub Type is
selected for you.
182. Click Next.
183. In Step 2 of the Chart Wizard,
click Next.
184. In Step 3, click the Titles tab.
185. For Chart Title type How
Much Water Makes A Rocket
Fly Higher?.
186. For Category X-Axis type
Amount of Water.
187. For Value Y-Axis type Height
Rocket Flew (m).
188. Click the Legend tab and
uncheck Show legend.
189. Click the Data Labels tab and
check Show value.
190. Click Next.
191. In Step 4, select the button next to As New Sheet.
192. Name the chart 3,2,1 Pop Chart.
193. Click Finish.
194. The chart is now on its own sheet in your workbook.
195. Press Ctrl+S to save your workbook.

Replacing the Columns with Pictures

Columns or bars can be replaced with pictures. Any picture will work as long as it is in a file format
that Excel can read—GIF, JPEG, WMF, etc.
196. Click a column to select it.
197. All of the columns are selected.

198. Click the Drawing toolbar button on the Standard toolbar.

199. The Drawing toolbar will appear on the bottom of the screen above the taskbar.

200. Click the Insert ClipArt button on the Drawing toolbar.

201. The Insert Clip Art dialog box opens.

202. Click the Clips Online button .

203. This will connect you to Microsoft on the World Wide Web.
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204. Before you may use Microsoft’s clip art, you must click the button.
205. In the Search text box type rockets.
206. In the Results should be text box select Clip Art.
207. Browse through the rockets until you find a rocket that looks
something like the picture on page 1.
208. Click the download button under the picture’s red arrow.
209. The Insert Clip Art dialog box will open with the Clip Art
image in it.
210. Click the Clip Art image that looks like a photo and select the
top button from the Pop-up menu.
211. Close the Clip Gallery by clicking the Close button.

Formatting Your Chart

212. Double-click the Chart title in your chart.
213. The Format Chart Title dialog box opens.
214. Click the Font tab.
215. Change the Font to
Bauhaus 93.
216. Under Color, select Red.
217. Change the Size to 20-
points.
218. Click the Patterns tab.
219. Under Border, check Shadow.
220. Under Area, select the Yellow color.
221. Click OK.
222. Double-click the X-Axis title.
223. The Format Axis Title dialog box opens.
224. Click the Font tab.
225. Change the Font style to Bold.
226. Change the Size to 14. Click OK.
227. Double-click the Y-Axis title.
228. The Format Axis Title dialog box opens.
229. Click the Font tab.
230. Change the Font style to Bold.
231. Change the Size to 14.

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232. Click the Alignment tab.
233. Change the Orientation to 90 degrees.
234. Click OK.
235. Double-click an X-Axis label.
236. The Format Axis dialog box will open.
237. Change the Font size to14.
238. Click OK.
239. Double-click a Y-Axis number.
240. The Format Axis dialog box will open.
241. Click the Font tab.
242. Change the Size to 14.
243. Click the Scale tab.

Correcting the Scale

You may have a problem with your scale. . A scale starts with 0.00.
There should be between 5-10 numbers on the scale. Excel does not
always get it right. Here’s how to fix it.
244. The Minimum text box should be set to 0.
245. The Category (X) axis crosses at text box should be set to 0.
246. Look at the data in your spreadsheet to select a Maximum
number.
247. The Maximum should be a rounded number larger than the
maximum value in your set of data.
248. The Major unit is the interval between numbers
on your scale.
249. You should have between 5 and 10 numbers on
your scale.
250. Try a Major unit of 0.5 or 1.0 to see what looks
out best.
251. Do not change the Minor unit.
252. Click OK.

Formatting the Picture Columns

253. Double-click on any column in your chart.
254. The Format Data Series dialog box opens.
255. Click the Patterns tab.

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256. Under Area, click the Fill Effects button .
257. The Fill Effects dialog box opens.
258. Click the Picture tab.
259. Under Format, select Stretch, Stack, or Scale.
260. Click OK twice.
261. Your bars will be changed to stacked rockets.

Formatting the Data Labels

262. Double-click a Data Label.
263. The Format Data Labels dialog box opens.
264. Click the Font tab.
265. Under Font style, select Bold.
266. Under Size, select 14 points.
267. Click OK.

Formatting the Plot Area

268. Double-click the Plot Area in your chart.
269. The Plot Area dialog box opens.
270. Under Area, choose None.
271. This will change the gray plot area to white.
272. Click OK.

Writing the Conclusions in an AutoShape

What are conclusions? What should they discuss?
Look at the bar graph. What amount of water made the rocket fly the highest? How did your rocket
compare to the other members of your class? Was this a fair test? Would you get the same results if
you did this test again?

273. Click the Drawing toolbar button on the Standard toolbar.

274. The Drawing toolbar will appear on the bottom of the screen above the
taskbar.
275. Click AutoShapes, point to Basic Shapes, and select the Folded Corner shape (fourth column,
fourth row).
276. Click on a blank spot on the chart, away from the bars and title, and drag out a rectangle.
277. Right-click the AutoShape and select Add Text.

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278. Type your
conclusions.
279. Reread it carefully
when you are done.

Formatting the
AutoShape
280. With the AutoShape selected, double-click the border of the AutoShape.
281. The Format AutoShape dialog box opens.
282. Click the Font tab.
283. Change the Font style to Bold
284. Change the Size 12 or 14 points—whichever fits the best.
285. Click the Colors and Lines tab.
286. Under Fill, click the drop down arrow next to Color.
287. Select a color to go with your bars, but which will not interfere
with the text. It must be very readable.
288. Click OK.
289. Resize the AutoShape to fit the text if it is necessary.
290. You may have to move the Title out of the way.

Spell Check the Document

291. Press the Spell Check button on the Standard toolbar.

292. Run the Spell Check.

Setting-up a Heading on the Chart

293. Click File on the Menu bar and select Page Setup.
294. The Page Setup dialog box opens.
295. Click the Header/Footer tab.

296. Click the Custom Header button .

297. The Header dialog box opens.
298. In the right pane of the Header window, type your name and press Enter.
299. Type the name of your partner and press Enter.

300. In the left pane of the Header window, click the Date button .
301. Press Enter.
302. Type Period, press the Spacebar, and type your period number.
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303. Press Enter.

304. Click the Filename button .

305. Click OK.
306. Click the Margins tab.
307. Set the Top margin to 1.15 inches.
308. Set the Bottom, Right, and Left margins to 0.5 inches.
309. Click OK.
310. Press Ctrl+S to save your chart.

Print Preview the Document

311. Click the Print Preview button on the Standard toolbar.
312. Your document should like Figure 3.

313. Click the Close button when you have previewed the chart.
Figure 3

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Printing the Spreadsheet and Chart
It is possible to print 1 or more sheets of an Excel workbook at the same time. You can do this by
selecting the sheets you wish to print or printing the entire workbook.
314. Right now, the 3,2,1, Pop Chart is the active sheet of your workbook.

315. Hold the Control key down and select the 3,2,1 Pop sheet tab.
316. Release the Control key.
317. Both sheets are now selected.
318. Press Ctrl+P.
319. The Print dialog box opens.
320. Under Name, select Ireland.
321. Under Print what, select Active sheet(s).
322. Under Copies, type 2.
323. Click OK.

Printing the Formulas

Sometimes it’s a good idea to print your formulas to see if you’ve made a mistake.
324. Click the 3,2,1 Pop tab to return to the spreadsheet.
325. Hold the Control key down and press the tilde key (∼), which is above the Tab key.
326. You are now in Formula View.
327. Check over your formulas to see if they make sense.
328. Click File on the Menu bar and select Page Setup.
329. The Page Setup dialog box opens.
330. Click the Page tab.

331. Under Scaling select

332. Press Ctrl+P.
333. The Print dialog box opens.
334. Under Name, select Ireland.
335. Under Print what, select Active sheet(s).
336. Under Copies, type 2.
337. Click OK.
338. Press Ctrl+∼.
339. You are back in Normal View.
340. Staple all three print jobs together and turn them in.
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