Physics 377, "University Physics III Lab", Fall 2000

This material can be found online at URL

http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys377/phys377.html

Instructor

Michael Richmond
Building 8, Office 3336
Office phone: 475-2538
E-mail: mwrsps@rit.edu

Class hours

   Wednesday 08:00 - 09:50 pm   08-3167  Section  43

Syllabus

The syllabus for Physics 377 contains a schedule of labs, plus dates of the midterm and final lab exams.

Grading

Based on pre-lab quizzes, work in class, lab practical exams, and (optionally) lab reports. In all cases, you must perform all parts of the experiment, record all data in a neat table (including units), perform all required calculations, and draw all required graphs. You have two options for the lab report:

An abbreviated report is handed in at the end of the two-hour class period. It includes a discussion on final result of the experiment (does it agree with the published value? does it make sense?), and an explanation of the largest single source of error in the experiment. All students in each group must answer questions from the instructor when they hand in the report. The maximum possible grade for an abbreviated lab report is a "B".
A full report is handed in up to five days after an experiment. It includes:
- An abstract: 2-5 sentences describing the purpose of the lab, a very brief description of the method, and a summary of the result.
- A description of each and every piece of equipment you used (including name, ID or serial number if possible, least count, and zero point, if applicable)
- Any points at which you deviated from the written procedure; if you did exactly as instructed, don't bother telling me -- I can read the lab manual, too.
- A table or list of all measurements you made, with an uncertainty associated with each value (if possible).
- Calculations: write out neatly all equations you use in the course of the report. You will receive credit for including uncertainties in all measured quantities, and propagating the uncertainties throughout. Make sure that you include a written description of each major step along the way.
- Error analysis: what were the biggest sources of error? How could you reduce or eliminate them? How good is the final answer?
- Conclusion: did you succeed in the goal of the lab? If yes, what was your result? Does it make sense? Does it agree with the known value? If no, why not?
The maximum possible grade for a full report is an "A".

Textbooks

The lab course has its own handbook, University Physics III Laboratory, revised 1999. There is also a reference manual, Uncertainties, Error Propagation, Graphing and Vernier Caliper, which you might use. Both are available from the campus bookstore, for about $2 each.

I have written a brief primer on uncertainties, which provides examples of the calculation of uncertainties in a few situations.

General rules for the course:

At the beginning of each lab session, there will be a short quiz on the experiment. You should therefore read the lab manual before each class period, and discuss the procedure with your lab partner.
You must stay in the lab room for the entire length of each lab session, or until you hand in your results. Ten minutes before the end of each session, I will permit students to sign their names into a roster for the session. Anyone who does not sign the roster gets a zero for the week's session.
You may hand in a single lab report for each group, if you wish to do so. All students handing in a joint report will receive the same grade. If you wish, you may write your own report (using the same measurements as the other members of your group); you will then be graded on your report alone.
Labs may be hand-written neatly in ink, or typed.
You may not use computers to make graphs, unless told otherwise. Create all graphs by hand on graph paper. Make sure that all graphs contain
- labels on each axis, including units
- a title
- error bars on each datum, or a note that the error bars are too small to be seen
One good way to impress this instructor is to perform all the required measurements, think about major sources of error, modify your procedure to reduce the uncertainty in the result, and take another set of data.

Other resources

The College of Science will institute a college-wide Study Center sometime during the Fall Quarter; all departments will send representatives to this room to help students at specified hours. You may also contact the Learning Development Center, in the Eastman Building, second floor. The Office of Special Services can arrange one-on-one tutorial sessions for qualified students.

Physics Department Home Page
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This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Sep 13, 2000.