SCHEDULE
Laboratories begin on Monday, January 19, 1998. We will do 14 experiments,
as shown on the schedule on the back of this sheet. The purpose of this
course is to show you how to do and analyze physical measurements. Working
in groups of two, you will make measurements, tabulate and plot your data,
and finally evaluate and analyze the results. So that your grades in the
laboratory will reflect your efforts, you will be changing lab partners
on the first lab of each month.
The basic requirements for labs are described in the introduction to your lab manual. Notice especially page 2, which list the essential requirements for lab reports, and a list of equations you are expected to memorize. You can expect to find questions based on this material in quizzes. This material is discussed in the introduction of the lab book. You will also receive a handout giving suggestions for writing conclusions to a lab report.
PREPARATION FOR THE LAB SESSIONS
You will find it very helpful to prepare well, i.e. read and study the materials
for the laboratories before you come to class. Being prepared
before you come to your lab session will enable you to finish on time, enjoy
the lab more and help you get a higher grade. During the first 10 minutes
of every lab period (except for the first lab of the semester) a closed
book quiz will be given and collected. These quizzes are, in principle,
aimed at testing your readiness to perform that day's experiment. Only the
material covered by the manual will be tested, but you may wish to refer
to your physics textbook for further discussion of the material covered
by the lab, particularly if this is a topic which your class has not covered
yet. Please arrive on time or you will miss the quiz and the credit
for it. A short description of the purpose of the experiment, in
your own words, is also part of the preparation for the experiment, and
should be initialed by the instructor at the start of the period. Since
you are graded on answers to questions asked in the lab report, your instructor
will help clarify the question if you do not understand what is requested,
but do not expect the instructor to answer the question for you. You will
find it worthwhile to prepare yourself before the lab with these questions
in mind. All the materials to be graded (your lab report including data
sheets, graphs, answers to questions, etc.) must be completed during your
lab period and handed in to the instructor before you leave the lab.
The lab report consists of a cover sheet with your name, your student number and section number. This cover sheet should also contain a short description of the purpose of this experiment and a conclusion based upon your observations and measurements. Both of these parts should be in your own words: do not just copy the manual!! Answer ALL of the questions included in each lab.
Because the lab equipment is shared with other classes, the order of the experiments differs from the order of experiments in the lab manual. The schedule is given on the back of the syllabus. We suggest you order the experiments in your copy of the lab book to match your section's schedule.
COMPUTERS IN PHYSICS 252
Computers are not required in Physics 252. All your data sheets have been included in your laboratory manual. However, the computers are available if you would like to use them. We will not be providing instruction in the usage of the computers, so we suggest that those who did not take Physics 251 arrange to have a lab partner who has taken the course.
There are four software tools you may use in the physics labs:
I. Microsoft Excel 5.0
This is a spreadsheet program which you use to record/store your data. An
empty spreadsheet is available at the start of each lab. The program allows
you to do ALL calculations on your data. This tool removes all repetitive
calculations from the lab, so you can concentrate on graphing and interpreting
your data. However, the spreadsheet does not do ALL the calculations for
you. In order to start the calculations you must perform at least one of
them by hand. After you enter the correct formula into the spreadsheet for
that particular quantity, the program will do all the other calculations
for you.
II. Kaleidagraph
This tool is a general plotting program. It takes its input from columns
of data and allows you to either plot a histogram of the contents of one
column and/or graph any column versus any other column. Although some of
these things are possible in Excel, Kaleidagraph has a very user friendly
interface for adjusting axes/labels/text/bins etc. in any of the graphs.
The input for the graphs is copied/pasted from the Excel spreadsheet. Once
you are satisfied with your graph (binning is correct, labels are clear,
axes are labeled and have units !!), you should save the graph on disk.
It can then either be printed separately or copied/pasted into your final
lab report.
III. Microsoft Word 6.0
Word is used as the standard wordprocessor for the lab. In the beginning,
it should be used for writing your introduction and conclusion. Toward the
end of the semester it is expected that you submit your completed report
in Word. This will allow you to include the relevant parts of your spreadsheets,
graphs, introduction, and conclusion.
IV. Graphing Calculator
This is a tool very similar to a graphics calculator, but much more flexible.
It allows you to graph functions in a very convenient way and even print
them out.
GRADES
Laboratory reports will be graded by your instructor on a 10 point scale
and will be handed back at the beginning of the next lab. The points will
be distributed as follows: purpose (1 pts), data (including accuracy), graphs,
and calculations (4-5 pts) and answers to questions (2-3 pts) and conclusion
(1-2 pts). Explain how you identified and tried to solve problems in the
experiments, if there were any. If you see that your data was incorrect
or your predictions of results were incorrect, explain why you were wrong.
Avoid wordiness and excessive detail since no credit will be given for this.
Quizzes will in generally have 4 questions and will be graded on a 4 point scale.
Laboratory reports contribute about 70% to your grade and quizzes will contribute about 30%.
Before determining your final grade, the lowest lab report and lowest quiz grade will be dropped (see below). Your grade will be based on the total number of points for the remaining labs and quizzes, giving a maximum of 178 points. Since the instructors for the various sections do not necessarily grade identically, the scores for a given instructor's sections will be considered as a group for grading purposes. Each of these groups will receive approximately the same average grade in the course, so that there is no advantage to having one instructor rather than another. Within the group, the grades will be assigned strictly in order of points achieved. This grade will be assigned by a curve, not a "straight scale" (for which there is no uniform definition in any case). In the past the average for the course was about 2.7 to 2.9.
MISSING LABS/MAKE-UP LABS
Labs missed for documented medical or other sound reasons may be made
up by making arrangements with your instructor. No make-ups are allowed
without an explanatory note. If you simply miss a lab, without
a reason, it will be counted as zero. Arrangements for a possible make-up
should be initiated before the missed lab if possible, but in any case no
later than 24 hours after you missed the lab. Arrangements for alternate
attendance MUST be made during the preceeding week if the reason for absence
is a pre-scheduled event, such as field trips or religious holidays. Make-ups
will involve approved special attendance in a lab later in
the week, if an open space is available. Experience has shown that grades
of students who miss EVEN ONE LAB are lower than those who attend
and complete all labs. You can reach your instructor by phone at his office
or by sending an e-mail message.
Your instructor is in charge of all aspects of laboratory procedures. Please confer with your instructor first if you have a problem, since they can ordinarily solve most problems. The laboratory coordinator for this course is Prof. J. Linnemann. His office hours are Monday, 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. The office and phone numbers are: room 251B and tel: 355-3328. If you cannot make these office hours and would like to make an appointment, please feel free to call or send an e-mail to linnemann@pa.msu.edu. . If you include a phone number, Prof. Linnemann will get back to you.
Computers are not required in Physics 252. All your data sheets have been included in your laboratory manual. However, the computers are available if you would like to use them. We will not be providing instruction in the usage of the computers, so we suggest that those who did not take Physics 251 arrange to have a lab partner who has taken the course. To ensure stable operation of the computers, we must insist that no food or beverages be placed on the lab tables, only pens (no pencils and erasers) be used in the lab, and absolutely NO software be downloaded.
There are four software tools you may use in the physics labs:
I. Microsoft Excel 5.0
This is a spreadsheet program which you use to record/store your data. An
empty spreadsheet is available at the start of each lab. The program allows
you to do ALL calculations on your data. This tool removes all repetitive
calculations from the lab, so you can concentrate on graphing and interpreting
your data. However, the spreadsheet does not do ALL the calculations for
you. In order to start the calculations you must perform at least one of
them by hand. After you enter the correct formula into the spreadsheet for
that particular quantity, the program will do all the other calculations
for you.
II. Kaleidagraph
This tool is a general plotting program. It takes its input from columns
of data and allows you to either plot a histogram of the contents of one
column and/or graph any column versus any other column. Although some of
these things are possible in Excel, Kaleidagraph has a very user friendly
interface for adjusting axes/labels/text/bins etc. in any of the graphs.
The input for the graphs is copied/pasted from the Excel spreadsheet. Once
you are satisfied with your graph (binning is correct, labels are clear,
axes are labeled and have units !!), you should save the graph on disk.
It can then either be printed separately or copied/pasted into your final
lab report.
III. Microsoft Word 6.0
Word is used as the standard wordprocessor for the lab. In the beginning,
it should be used for writing your introduction and conclusion. Toward the
end of the semester it is expected that you submit your completed report
in Word. This will allow you to include the relevant parts of your spreadsheets,
graphs, introduction, and conclusion.
IV. Graphing Calculator
This is a tool very similar to a graphics calculator, but much more flexible.
It allows you to graph functions in a very convenient way and even print
them out.
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Last updated on 1998.01.28 (Wednesday) 10:42:52 ESTby J. Linnemann