MANUAL: PHYSICS 281 Principals of Physics Lab Manual. By Dr. Ling Jun Wang
LABORATORY WORK is an essential part of the learning process at this level of physics. According to the current policy of the Department of Physics, Geology and Astronomy at UTC, Physics 281 is a one credit hour course and is independent of the Physics 231 lecture. However, it is to be taken at the same time as the lecture. During the Summer Session you will perform 2 exercises and 9 experiments, analyze their results, write and turn in lab reports.
Attendance at all laboratory sessions is required. If you miss a session, you will get zero for that lab. I may make exceptions and allow you a make up a session, if I am convinced that you were ill, had a death in the family, or were involved in a similar emergency. If you are late to a lab session by more than 15 minutes, you may not be allowed to do the lab. The lab session ends at it's scheduled time. No extensions will be given except in the case of equipment failure. Students are responsible for all information that is given in class.
LAB REPORT FORMAT
Your lab report is the original documented record of all the work you have performed regarding to each lab experiment. YOUR LAB REPORT SHOULD CONTAIN:
1.Title of
experiment
2. Date
performed
3. Your name
4. Partner(s)
(if any)
Note:
numbers 1-4 go on title page.
Body of
The
Report
5. Objective
6. Sketch of
the experimental set-up
7. Experimental
procedure
8. Experimental
data
9. Calculations/
graphs
10.Results
11 Conclusions:
obtained results, comparison with known parameters,
discussion
of errors and sources of errors.
FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, SEE LABORATORY REQUIREMENTS
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE LABORATORY SESSION
You should study the description of the experiment and start to
write
your lab report BEFORE the lab session.
Take
81/2 x 11" loose leaf paper and write down the title of experiment, the
date it will be performed and your name. Read the manual and write down
the goals of the experiment, sketch of the experimental set-up, and the
experimental procedure. Parts 1 through 7 of your lab report (see
above)
should be written up before you come to the lab session. It will be
graded
together with the rest of your lab report. It is worth 15% of your lab
grade. Please make a copy from the lab manual for yourself, you will
need
it during your lab session.
Data sheets for certain labs will be available beforehand on my web
page.
LABORATORY SESSION
During the laboratory session in class you should record all work
you
have performed. All activities, experimental data, results, etc.,
should
be recorded as they occur, IN INK!!! No erasures should be
made. DO NOT USE WHITE OUT!!! A single line through the "wrong
material"
is sufficient, with any corrections or changes noted above or beside
it.
This will allow for the recover of information which, later, may be
prove
to be valuable. Your lab results should be RECORDED
IN
DUPLICATE. You can use "Laboratory research notebook" or
"Computational
notebook", which are available at the UTC Bookstore (Identifying number
is 43-645 or 54-641). Before leaving the class, you should tear out the
yellow (carbon) copies and leave them with your instructor who will
keep
them until the end of the summer session as a proof that you have
performed
the experiment. Make a Xerox copy of the white pages
and
attach to your lab report.
DO NOT TEAR WHITE PAGES OUT OF YOUR NOTEBOOK!!!
HOW TO FINISH YOUR LAB REPORT
At home you need to perform the analysis of your experimental data. Make necessary calculations (do not forget to write down an example of each of your calculations), draw graphs, obtain results, round them properly, estimate experimental errors. The most important part of your lab report is CONCLUSION where you need to evaluate the obtained results, compare them with known parameters, discuss the errors and sources of errors. Each GRAPH, attached to appropriate place in your report must have the following: Title telling what the graph shows WITH PROPER UNITS; Properly labeled coordinate axes WITH UNITS; Clearly marked data points with error bars; Analysis/equation that best fits your data.
You should work on your lab reports individually. If you receive help from anyone else, place their name(s) under yours on the front page. If I find that two students copied their lab reports from each other and did not acknowledge the received help, the lab reports will be returned ungraded, and none of the students will receive credit for this lab. You need to turn in your lab report by the beginning of the next lab session (see the schedule). No lab reports will be accepted if they are late, unless other arrangements have been made. No lab reports will be accepted after the due date of the last lab report. Your reports will be returned after grading
TENTATIVE
LAB SCHEDULE - SUMMER 2003
| Dates |
|
Report Due |
| Wed. May 5 |
|
May 10 |
| Fri. May 7 |
|
May 10 |
| Mon. May 10 |
|
May 12 |
| Wed. May 12 |
|
May 14 |
| Fri. May 14 |
|
May 17 |
| Mon. May 17 |
|
May 19 |
| Wed. May 19 |
|
May 21 |
| Fri. May 21 |
|
May 24 |
| Mon. May 24 | Diode Power Supply | May 26. |
| Wed May 26 | Magnetic Fields and Induction | May 28 |
| Fri. May 28 | Resnonant Circuits | Jume 1 |
| Mon. May 31 |
Holiday |
N.A. |
Graphs.
10%
Results, properly rounded
.
10%
with experimental errors.
Conclusions: obtained results,
10%
comparison with known parameters,
Discussion of errors and sources of errors.
TOTAL
100%
accommodations, or you have questions related to any
accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc..
please speak with your instructor as soon as possible. You
may also contact the Office of Student Affairs (425-4534)
with questions about such services.