Course Outline PHY 3H03 - Intermediate Laboratory - McMaster ...

Course Outline
PHY 3H03 - Intermediate Laboratory
Dr. D.L. Welch, ABB-317
welch@physics.mcmaster.ca
Physics 3H03 is a modern physics laboratory, accompanied by lectures (one hour per week in
the fall term only). The laboratory (ABB-245) includes experiments in astrophysics, atomic and
nuclear physics, optics, mechanics, and heat. A great deal of emphasis is placed on an understanding
and analysis of errors and other limitations of physical measurements. The following experiments
are available at present:
1. Beta Decay 10. Neutron Moderation
2. Chaotic Dripping Faucet 11. Wilberforce Pendulum
3. Velocity of Light 12. Planck’s Constant
4. Damped, Driven Pendulum 13. Properties of the Electron
5. Frank-Hertz Experiment 14. Radioactive Half-lives
6. Rotation Curve of the Galaxy 15. Relativistic Kinematics
7. Infrared Spectrometer 16. Rigid Pendulum
8. Jamin Refractometer 17. Millikan’s Oil-Drop Experiment
9. Michelson Interferometer
Students are required to complete and write-up 8 experiments, and to submit them for grading
according to the schedule supplied. (Three labs are due in the Fall 2007 term and five in the Winter
2008 term.) Each experiment is marked on the quality of the written report and the student’s
performance in the laboratory. A laboratory notebook is to be kept in which all original data are
to be recorded on numbered pages of the bound notebook, properly dated and annotated. The
use of computers in the analysis and presentation of data is encouraged. Experiments should be
performed and written up in a timely fashion.
To qualify for marking, the written report must meet the criterion of representing a reasonable
amount of effort. The written report must be submitted by uploading it using the ”Lab Upload
Page” link. Reports are each graded out of 20 marks and a late penalty of one mark per day will
be assessed to a maximum of 10 late marks. If fewer than the required number of labs have been
received by the end of each term (3 in the Fall, 5 in the Winter), a grade of ”F” in the course will
be assigned.
The lectures and two assignments during the first term deal with methods of analysis of experimental
data. Students are required to use methods described in the lectures where applicable.
The course grade is based on an average of the eight separate marks for the experiments (85%),
and on the mark for the two assignments for the lecture section of the course (15%). A total of four
“gratis” marks will be added to the mark total at the end of the year.
Technician: Andy Duncan, ABB-245B, aduncan@mcmaster.ca
Texts: There are two optional texts in this course: “Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the
Physical Sciences” by P. Bevington and D.K. Robinson, (McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd), ISBN 0-07-
247227-8 and “Data Analysis for Scientists and Engineers” by S.L. Meyer.
URL: http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/phys3h03/

Legal Copy: You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behaviour in all aspects of the
learning process. Academic credentials you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic
integrity. Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result
in unearned academic credit or advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g.
the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads:
“Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on
the various types of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at:
http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity
• 1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which credit has
been obtained. In this course, examples would include copying lab reports written by other
students or written assignments.
• 2. Improper collaboration in group work.