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Florida International University Project Report 2008

Appendix 2: PHY 2049 Lab Syllabus

PHY 2048 Lab: COURSE SYLLABUS

Welcome to the exciting world of physics. This course is part of the two-semester sequence of the introductory undergraduate physics labs. Students in this class should have taken or be taking PHY2048 or PHY2053.

NOTE: If you drop the lecture class during the semester you are taking the lab, you will automatically be dropped from the lab. There are no exceptions.

Physics is an experimental science and, while it is true that progress in physics has always relied upon the contributions of theorists, the ultimate test of their theories takes place in the laboratory. The experiments in this course cover most of the topics you will encounter in your lecture course. They will be invaluable as an aid to deeper, conceptual understanding of those topics. Fundamental laws and relationships will be put to the test and (hopefully) verified. The meaning of an equation will be clarified so that it is not merely a collection of symbols. You will learn the use of several instruments, and how computers can be interfaced with physics experiments.

Physics is an experimental science and so is this lab section. Your lab section is one of several sections where we are prototyping new lab activities. As a result, we encourage your feedback on lab materials and activities. Feel free to let your instructors (or the contacts below) know what you think about the activities. As the materials are being prepared throughout the semester, we’ll distribute the lab materials as we need them. Please bear with us as we experience any growing pains.

Lab Update Contacts

Laird Kramer Office: CP 211 Phone: 305.348.6073 Email:Laird.Kramer@fiu.edu

Leanne Wells VH 166 305-348-9305 Leanne.Wells@fiu.edu/td>

CLASS MEETINGS

• Make-up labs must be completed during the same week as the missed lab by attending one of the other updated sections. Consent of both the instructor of your regular section and the section you wish to attend must be obtained. Permission from the second instructor will only be granted if space is available.
• Students must sign in each class meeting to verify attendance.

WEEKLY PRE-LAB ASSIGNMENTS:

Before coming to class, you will be required to do an pre-lab assignment related to the week's lab (except the first week). The assignment will consist of a several of questions.

LAB WORK:

Your labs will include space to fill in answers, plot graphs, etc. You must fill these out to learn the material, however, they will not be collected or graded. Taking full advantage of the lab will improve your lecture score.

LAB REPORTS

In addition to the weekly pre-lab assignments, you will be required to turn in a "lab report" at the start of class of the following week. There will be two types of lab reports. Modified labs will have reports called ‘Homework’. You simple answer the questions and turn them in for credit.

For the unmodified labs, the format of the report is somewhat different from previous years, as we won't require you to write up a procedure. A short introductory paragraph is required. You should answer all questions, do all calculations, and make all of the required tables and graphs as stipulated in the manual. You should also provide a concluding paragraph or two in which you discuss your results, any uncertainties, and make comparisons between your results and "known" values. Proper use of grammar and punctuation is expected.  

GRADES

• Each lab report will count equally to your overall grade. New and old labs will count the same, but be graded differently.
• New lab reports (Homework) will be graded as percentage correct.
• Non-modified lab reports will be graded on a 20-point scale. Points will be deducted for each of the following:
  • No introduction.
  • Missed preliminary or analysis questions.
  • Improper use of significant figures.
  • Improper use of units.
  • Failure to label graphs.
  • Missing measurements/data.
  • Lack of experimental uncertainties.
  • Data analysis problems such as lack of trendlines on graphs, calculation of required quantities, etc.
  • Missing conclusion.
• A missed assignment or lab will receive a ZERO grade.
• Lab reports are due within the first five minutes of the next class meeting. After that, they are considered late. Late reports will be docked 25% each week that they are late. If you are going to miss a lab, the report from the previous week is still due by the start of your regularly scheduled class. You should make arrangements to turn your report in early.
• The lowest report score will be dropped from your grade. A missed lab can be counted as your lowest score.
• The grading system is based on the following absolute scale. The upper three points of each scale will be given a "+" and the bottom three points will be assigned a "-".
  • A: 90-100%
  • B: 80-90%%
  • C: 70-80%
  • D: 60-70%

WHAT YOU NEED TO PROVIDE

1. Science Note-book (optional) with lined pages alternating with graph pages. Print your name and lab section on the front cover. Otherwise submit individual lab reports on stapled paper.
2. Calculator with trig. and other math functions including mean and standard deviation.
3. Computer memory device. Many labs will use the computer interface and produce tables or graphs that must be included in your lab report. To transfer the data to your own computer you must bring either a floppy disk or memory stick (flash drive) to download the data.

AT THE END OF CLASS

1. Switch off and unplug any electrical equipment.
2. Disconnect all electrical circuits that you have connected.
3. Report any broken or malfunctioning equipment.
4. Arrange equipment tidily on the bench.