Physics 2108 Laboratory Guide - Department of Physics ...

lank

lankii

Department of Physics and AstronomyLouisiana State University(rev. 3 January 2012)COURSE INFORMATION FOR PHYSICS 2108 LABORATORY1. Supplies:This manual is the only required textbook, though you will frequently wish to refer to your regular physicstext. You should keep this manual for use in your next physics lab (PHYS-2109) since much of the informationon measurements and data analysis is needed for that course as well. You also will need a 30.48 cm (12in) ruler and a protractor marked off every 0.5 or 1.0 degrees. A USB memory stick will likely be useful tostore copies of any data files, tables, or graphs you make in lab. You should bring a “scientific” calculatorto all lab sessions. A calculator that will compute 2-variable statistics will be particularly helpful.Be sure to bring your ruler, protractor, memory stick, and calculator to every class and to each examination(the memory stick will not be needed for the exam). Extras will not be provided. All other equipmentneeded will be provided.You may be given occasional supplementary material. This may take the form of modified proceduralinstructions or even completely new experiments to be performed. You are responsible for reading andstudying these supplements in the same fashion as your laboratory manual.2. Laboratory Sessions:A course syllabus is printed as part of this manual. An effort is being made to coordinate these laboratorieswith the topics covered in the corresponding lecture course. The synchronization will be inexact, however,due to the varying lecture speeds and emphasis of the instructors of the lecture sections, as well as mismatchesdue to holidays and exams. You should not be dismayed if your laboratory experiments deal withmaterial already completed, or not yet reached in the lecture course.The descriptions of the experiments in the laboratory text or on handouts must be studied before comingto class. You will probably have to carefully study the text from your lecture class, before coming to lab, toclarify some of the physical principles involved. Unless you are told otherwise, all parts of each experimentshould be completed, but the laboratory manual or handout does not limit what you may do in the labperiod. If you can think of something extra to do with the apparatus, you are encouraged to do so. Yourlaboratory instructor will usually give a short (10 minute) presentation to the entire class, not to teach youthe physics involved, but to give you an overview of the measurements and analysis procedures and to noteany procedural changes for the experiment. He or she will help individuals or groups as the lab progressesand may explain physical principles applicable to the experiment, but your instructors main function is tohelp you solve unexpected problems during the measurements and to guide you in the data analysis. Thelaboratory instructor’s help is not to be used as a substitute for advanced preparation.In the laboratory you will be recording data measured with your lab instruments. As will be discussed morefully below, all of your data and observations are to be recorded on your data sheets from the lab manualand any additional data sheets you are instructed to make. The original (not a photocopy or rewritten copy)of your data sheet and any drawings or diagrams that form part of the data must be a part of your writtenreport. You instructor may ask to initial your data before you leave the laboratory.iii

4. Report Grading:The relative importance of each part is as below:1. Amount accomplished in lab and quality of data,including recording and observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50%2. Analysis, final results, and conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . 40%3. Organization and presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%4. Failure to be prepared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . up to 20% deductionLate lab reports WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.DO NOT MOVE EQUIPMENT from one table to another, even small items like weights or hooks. If youare missing something or a piece of equipment fails to work, have your instructor obtain one for you from thestockroom. Your laboratory report grade on laboratory techniques can be lowered if you leaveyour lab table and equipment in disarray at the end of the period.5. Prelab Assignments:Each week, you will be asked a series of questions designed to test your knowledge of the material coveredin the upcoming experiment. Questions will focus on the specific procedures you will follow, graphs you willcreate, and safety procedures that you should be aware of before you begin the lab. The prelab assignmentswill be available on WebAssign. You will need to create an account in WebAssign which you will log into tocomplete the assignments. Prelab assignments will be due thirty minutes before the start of your labsession.6. Postlab Assignments:After your lab has been handed in each week, you will also have a postlab assignment to complete inWebAssign. The purpose of this assignment is to help you review (and make sure you understand) themajor concepts of the lab you have just completed. You will often be given the chance to replicate one ofthe critical calculations from that week’s lab. Completing the postlab assignment each week will also helpyou prepare for the final exam for the course, as the bulk of the questions on your final will come from thepostlab assignments.7. Final Exam:During the last regularly scheduled class meeting a 1 hour written test will be administered. You will bepermitted to use your notes, returned lab reports, lab manual, and physics textbook during this test. Youwill not be permitted to use the computers in the lab.8. Grade Determination:In-class work (lab reports, WebAssign assignments) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85%divided as follows: reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65% (lowest dropped)prelab assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10% (lowest dropped)postlab assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10% (lowest dropped)Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15%You may periodically be given a summary of your lab grades. You should be very careful to retain all ofyour returned papers in case there is any question about the correct recording or computation of a grade.v