PHY 451 Adv Lab| Fall 2014 Syllabus
I. Course Description
As described in the MSU Description of Courses catalog, the focus of PHY 451 is "general research techniques, design of experiments and the analysis of results based on historical experiments in modern physics". Our approach is to study a small number of experimental systems and techniques in depth, so that you learn how experimental physics is done. Students work in pairs, and perform three sets of experiments (4 weeks each period) during the course of the semester. You are encouraged to take the initiative to suggest and develop new experiments in the third period. We encourage you to think about and discuss the experiments with the instructors throughout the course, so that you not only learn basic techniques of experimental physics, but also hone your ability to learn independently through discussions, literature surveys, and writing papers.
II. Course Credits:
3 credits
III. Course Prerequisites
The listed prerequisites are PHY 440 and completion of Tier I writing requirement. However, you should be familiar with electricity and magnetism and quantum mechanics as well.
IV. Course Objectives
Learn to design, assemble, and perform experiments.
Learn how to connect textbook physics to the world of experiment.
Develop good laboratory record-keeping practices.
Develop your skills in data analysis.
Hone your written and spoken presentation skills.
Learn to prepare a paper in the style of a scientific journal report
V. Class Operation and Requirements
Students work in pairs, and perform three sets of experiments (4 weeks each) in the course of the semester. We expect the third experiment, which can be related to the first two experiments but must include innovative components, will form the foundation of a term paper that each student is required to write. We encourage you to think about and discuss the experiments with the instructors throughout the course, so that you not only learn basic techniques of experimental physics, but also hone your ability to learn independently through discussions.
Class Time and Attendance: This is a laboratory course with only a limited number of lectures. The class meets one hour each week for lectures or to discuss laboratory problems students are having and their possible solutions. The lectures will cover such topics as vacuum and cryogenics, optics, nuclear magnetic resonance, data acquisition and measurement methods, noise, and scientific presentations. Attendance at these lectures is mandatory. Attendance of each laboratory session is also mandatory unless you have been excused by your instructor, in which case you will make-up the missed laboratory time. Please be on time to class.
Preparation: As laboratory time is limited, you must read the experimental handouts before class. You will be asked questions by your instructors at the beginning of your laboratory sessions, especially before starting new experiments. These questions will focus on your understanding of what you will measure and how you will do so before you begin your experiments.
Laboratory Notebooks: Each student will keep a bound laboratory notebook in which all of your ideas, designs, data analysis, graphs and mistakes will be recorded. (See the note on how to prepare lab notebooks for more details.) While you will collaborate in the laboratory, each student will keep his/her own notebook with his/her own analysis. After each required portion of the experiment is completed, we will inspect your lab notebook and enter a current grade. In the notebook, you should propose improvements to your experiments, or even better come up with new ideas for experiments to further advance your research on the subject based on the results you obtained and physics to be understood. After receiving feedback from us, you should use the remaining two weeks to implement these ideas, and at the end of experiment period submit a paper on the subject.
Term Paper: At the end of the second set of experiments, each student will turn in a term paper in the style of a report in a scientific journal. The content of the paper should be based on the notebook, but broader. It should include a literature survey with proper citations, in-depth analysis, and conclusions, in addition to reporting the main techniques and experimental results obtained. The paper will be 13 ± 2 pages, double spaced, with one-inch margins.
In-Class Presentation: Together, you and your partner will deliver a PowerPoint presentation on your first experiment after its completion. The presentation should be 15-17 minutes including time for questions. The presentation should not be as technical as the report but rather should place most emphasis on the scientific issues and how the experiment addresses those.
Quizzes: There will be a pair of in-class quizzes based on what is covered in lectures and your classmates’ presentations.
VI. Course Grading
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VII. Course Policies: Student Expectations
Late Assignment Policy: If an emergency arises and you cannot submit your notebook or paper on or before the scheduled due data, you MUST inform your instructor and obtain approval NO LESS than 24 HOURS BEFORE the scheduled date/time
University Writing Center:
The Writing Center (WCMSU) is a free resource for MSU undergraduates and graduates. At the WCMSU, a trained writing consultant will work individually with you on anything you're writing (in or out of class), at any point in the writing process from brainstorming to editing. For more information or to make an appointment, visit the WCMSU website at http://writing.msu.edu.
Professionalism Policy:
Per university policy and classroom etiquette; mobile phones, iPods, etc. must be silenced during all classroom and lab lectures. Those not heeding this rule will be asked to leave the classroom/lab immediately so as to not disrupt the learning environment. Please arrive on time for all class meetings. Students who habitually disturb the class by talking, arriving late, etc., and have been warned may suffer a reduction in their final class grade.
Disability Access:
Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at MSU, before requesting accommodations from the professor.
Academic Conduct Policy:
Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated.
Academic dishonesty at Michigan State University is defined by the General Student Regulations (http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/regulations) as conduct that violates the fundamental principles of truth, honesty, and integrity. The following conduct is specifically cited:
Supplying or using work or answers that are not one's own.
Providing or accepting assistance with completing assignments or examinations.
Interferring through any means with another's academic work.
Faking data or results.
If you are uncertain as to what constitutes academic dishonesty, please consult the General Student Regulations for further details. Violations of these rules will result in a record of the infraction being placed in your file and receiving a zero on the work in question AT A MINIMUM. At the instructor’s discretion, you may also receive a failing grade for the course.
Plagiarism:
When necessary, we may utilize turnitin.com, an automated system which instructors can use to quickly and easily compare each student's assignment with billions of web sites, as well as an enormous database of student papers.
VIII. Supplementary Texts and Materials
(free online text)
Experiments in Modern Physics (1st Ed), by Melissionos. (click here to download)
Physics of Light and Optics, by J. B. Peatross and M. Ware (click here to download)
(Copies of the following texts are available in the Adv Lab.)
An introduction to error analysis, by J. R. Taylor (University Science Books)
