Physics 376, "University Physics II Lab", Spring 2001

This material can be found online at URL

http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys376/phys376.html

Schedule of experiments

Mar 22: Spring Force and Oscillations
- Report due Tuesday, March 27, at 5:00 PM.
Mar 29: Moment of Inertia
- Report due at the end of class on March 29!
Apr 5: The Physical Pendulum
- Report due at the end of class on April 5.
Apr 12: Standing Waves on a String
- Report due at the end of class on April 12.
Apr 19: Lab Exam I
Apr 26: Optics Writing Assignment
- draft due Monday, April 30, 5 PM
- comments due Tuesday, May 1, 5 PM
- final paper due Thursday, May 3, in class
May 3: Interference and Diffraction
- Report due at the end of class on May 3.
May 10: Latent Heats of Ices
- Report due at the end of class on May 10.
May 17: Lab Exam II

Textbook

You should purchase University Physics II Laboratory, SPSP 376, Revised edition, Fall 1999. It is available in the bookstore. You may also wish to purchase an auxiliary text, Uncertainties, Error Propagation, Graphing and Vernier Caliper, if you do not already have a copy. I have written my own primer on uncertainties, which includes a section on determining the uncertainty in the slope of a line fitted to data on a two-dimensional graph. I suggest that you read this carefully.

I also suggest that you purchase a pad of good graph paper. In my opinion, the closer together the grid lines, and the fainter they are drawn, the better. If you don't understand why I emphasize the use of graphical techniques to determine physical relationships, please read

Grading

Each ordinary lab experiment has the same weight. The lab exams have more weight. At the end of the quarter, I will drop the single lowest ordinary lab score. I will not schedule make-up labs.

This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified May 10, 2001.