LABORATORY WORK is an essential part of the learning process at this level of science. During the semester you will perform ten experiments, analyze their results, write and turn in lab reports.
MANUAL: Laboratory Manual. General Science by L-J. Wang
REQUIRED ITEMS YOU MUST BRING TO CLASS
Lab notebook, lab manual, pen, mechanical pencil (HB 0.5 mm lead),
clear plastic cm ruler, protractor, 10 mm to the cm graph papers, and a
Scientific Calculator. A 10% penalty will be
applied to your grade for that experiment if
you do not have a calculator with you.
Attendance at all laboratory sessions is required. If you miss a session, you will get zero for this lab. I may make exceptions and give you a make up 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 for more than 5 minutes, you are not allowed to perform the experiment and you will get zero for this lab, unless other arrangement has been made.
Students are responsible for all information that is given in class.
Your Regular or weekly lab report consists of two parts. Part 1 is your Pre-Test, which goes on a separate piece of paper. Part 2 in the lab report that you will write in your lab notebook.
Part 1 (20% of each report grade):
At the beginning of the laboratory, students will be given a 5 minute
closed book pre-test. It will consist of two questions concerning
that day's lab. There will be no make-ups for the
pre-test if you are late for class or miss a class. It is advisable
that you read the material in your lab manual before you come to class
and read over the possible pre-test questions located at the reserve desk
in the library (no later than Tuesday each week). The possible questions
on the next weeks pre-test will also be posted on the cork board outside
room 315 Grote Hall on Fridays.
Part 2: Report
The parts of the report are as follows.
1. Objective (5 points): Write one or two sentences telling what
the purpose of the experiment is. What was it designed to accomplish?
2. Apparatus (10 points): Give a brief, clear description
of the apparatus used. A sketch my be preferable if the apparatus is complicated.
3. Original Data (20 points): This is the data you record while doing the experiment.
4. Sample Calculations and Graphs (25 points): An example calculation of each unique (different) calculation used in working with your original data must be shown in this section of the report. A sample calculation consists of the following parts.
a. The
formula. F
= (m) (a) for example
b. Plug
numbers and units into formula. F
= (5.00 Kg) (8.00 m/s2)
c. And
finally the result with proper units. F
= 40.00 N
d. Each sample
calculation should appear in your report on one continuous line, which
may be continued on to the next line if the calculation exceeds the width
of the paper. Each sample calculation must be set apart from other sample
calculations so it is clear which is which. Sample calculations must also
be set apart from any text so as to make clear which is a sample calculation
and which are comments or information about that particular calculation.
(See below)
F = (m)(a) = (5.00 Kg) (8.00 m/s2) = 40.00 N
Also remember units are to be carried throughout all intermediate steps until the final answer. Other types of sample calculations that must appear in this section include, but are not limited to calculations of the slope of a straight line, per cent error or difference calculations, averages, etc.
Graphs must have both axes labeled with proper units and must have a title at the top of the graph showing what the graph is presenting, including units used for both axes. (Note a title for a graph is NOT the title of the experiment.)
5. Results ( 10 points): The result is the answer to the objective.
It could consist of a table if more than one result is expected. For example,
if two methods are used to get the same result, then answers from both
methods must be included in this section. Remember to indicate which
result comes from which method. Per cent error and per cent differences
from the " Best Experimental" or "True" value should appear here too.
6. Conclusions (10 points): Give you opinion of what can be concluded from your results. If the objective was to prove a law using our experimental results, state whether that data supports this law within error limits. Give most likely sources of experimental errors that could have occurred while collecting data for the experiment. Remember personal errors ( i.e.. mis-reading a measurement on a meter stick or on a meter because of parallax , writing 2.54 when it really should be 2.45 etc. are not considered experimental errors in the context of this lab. THEY ARE MISTAKES AND NOT EXPERIMENTAL ERRORS. This is also the section to put any answers to questions asked about the lab.
Note: Each section of the report is to be labeled as such
and set apart from every other section so as to make it clear where one
section of the report ends and the next section begins.
| Dates |
|
| Aug. 23 | Introduction |
| Aug. 30 | Human Response Time |
| Sept 6 | *Picket Fence |
| Sept 13 | Projectile Motion |
| Sept 20 | Simple Pendulum |
| Sept 27 | Spring Constant |
| Oct 4 | Lenses |
| Oct 11 | Microscope Studies |
| Oct 18 | Fall Break No GNSC Labs |
| Oct 25 | *Ohm's Law |
| Nov 1 | Radioactivity |
| Nov 8 | Parallax Lab |
| Nov 15 | Final Exam |
10 lab reports @ 8% each = 80 %
Final Exam = 20 %
---------------------------------------
Total = 100 %
If you have a disability that may require special assistance
or accommodations, or you have questions related to any accommodations
for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with your professor
as soon as possible. Students may also contact the CAP/AAA Office
(785-2202), Alicia Hatcher, with questions about services offered to UTC
students with qualified disabilities.
Experiment 6 Convex lens
Experiment 7 Microscope Studies
Experiment 8 Ohm's Law
Experiment 9 Radioactivity
Experiment 10 Parallax Lab