Syllabus for Physics 120 Lab
- This lab meets from 1:00-4:00, TTh in Dana 111.
- Attendance is required.
- Partners should share the load and should switch tasks so they know how to do everything in the lab: equipment setup, data taking, computer analysis, etc.
- You need a dedicated lab notebook separate from your class notes. A spiral-bound 8˝"x11" notebook with pockets is required. Finished lab notebooks are turned in when you leave lab each week.
- There are 11 labs in 12 lab periods; labs typically last all 3 hours, so be on time.
- We usually start with a brief introduction to the lab: theory, equipment, etc. You should have read the lab manual before coming to lab.
- Prelabs are due two hours before the start of lab. After that, points are deducted. Postlabs are due two hours before the start of the next week’s lab. I suggest doing these as soon as possible after the lab so you don’t forget to do them. Points are deducted for late postlabs as well.
- Grading: Each lab report is graded on a 10 point scale. Prelabs and postlabs are each graded separately on a five-point scale. The final grade given to your lecture professor is determined by 80% for lab performance/lab notebooks and 20% for pre/post labs.
Reports:
While you will work together on the experiments, all of the analysis and writing should be done on your own. Of course, you should verify that you both are getting the same answers. Copying a lab or portion of a lab, even from your partner, is a violation of the honor code.
The lab write-up should include (in this order) the following plainly labeled sections:
- Your name, your partner's name, the date, number and title of experiment
- Abstract or purpose (this is NOT procedure): two or three sentences which summarize the experiment – what you wanted to do and why
- Apparatus schematics and method ONLY if they differ from the handout
- ALL data in tabulated form: printouts of Excel spreadsheets taped into notebook at appropriate places and/or hand-written tables
- Plots (if any): Excel or other plots – taped into notebook at appropriate places
- Results/error analysis: include all results and use correct error analysis and significant digits; answer any questions that are in bold in the manual as part of this analysis.
- Conclusions: address the purpose; comment on comparison with expected results – do your results make sense and why? discuss briefly any problems encountered and how they were overcome; discuss how you might improve the experiment?
Neat writing, clear labeling, good spelling/grammar, and conciseness are virtues of any good lab report.