PHY 252 Introductory Physics Laboratory II

Introduction to Physics Labs II

PHY252 is intended to provide an experimental basis for understanding fundamental laws and principles of physics. In this course, you will perform experiments that emphasize principles which play an important role in the life sciences. During the weekly laboratory session, you will conduct an experiment, collect data, analyze and graph the results, and write a lab report. At the end of the session you will hand in the completed lab report. Each lab is completely self-contained--you will be done with the lab once you leave.

PHY252 begins with simple electronic circuits. It then introduces you to the oscilloscope, which is used to study more complicated circuits, such as the loudspeaker, and also to measure voltages in the human body. This is followed by experiments in optics: a mechanical model of the eye, the wave character of light, and an introduction to the way we perceive color.

Topics: Ohm's Law, heat equivalent of electrical energy, the oscilloscope, RC circuits, the speaker, the differential amplifier, bio-electric measurements, the eye, the optical micrometer, diffraction and interference, the prism spectrometer, and color.

Prerequisites: PHY 251 or PHY 191 or LBS 271L (LBS 164L)

PHY 182B or PHY 184 or PHY 184B or PHY 232 or PHY 232B or PHY 232C or PHY 294H or LBS 272 (or concurrently)

Restrictions: Not open to students with credit in PHY 192 or LBS 272L

Text: "Physics 251 & Physics 252 Laboratory Manual", H. Weerts, (Hayden-McNeil 2005).