Physics Laboratory Course for Physics 100
Spring Semester 2000
tue 12:00 noon - 2:45 pm
Instructor: Dr. Bernhard Laurich
office: PB1-9
phone: 974-7452
e-mail: [email protected]
consultation hours: mo/we/fr 11.00 am - 11.50 am
mo/we 1:30 pm - 2:20 pm
Physics 100 L is a laboratory course to accompany the Physics 100 lecture. This course, through hands-on performance will enhance the understanding of the principles of physics and their application to our environment.
Course objectives:
- Understand and apply scientific methods and techniques
- Use of scientific laboratory equipment
- Thorough preparation of physics experiments
- Performance of basic physics experiments
- Collection and interpretation of the data obtained from an experiment
- Discussion of the experimental result with respect to the principles and laws of physics
During the semester each student will perform 10 experiments selected from the list below.
1. Atwood Machine: accelerated motion, mass, gravity
2. Pendulum: gravity, harmonic motion
3. Archimedes Priciple: boyant force, density
4. Boyle's Law: absolute and atmospheric pressure
5. Gay-Lussac's Law: absolute zero temperature
6. Thermal Expansion in Solids: expansion coefficient
7. Calorimeter: specific heat
8. Heat Engine: Carnot and real efficiency
9. Resonance tube: sound, standing waves, resonance frequency
10. Van de Graff Generator: electric charge, electrostatic
induction
11. Resistors: electric surrent, parallel and series circuits
12. Superconductors
13. Refraction Tank: refraction index, total internal reflection
14. Mirrors and Lenses: refraction index, focal point
Other selections will be added as equipment will become available.
! Performing the experiments includes preparation, e.g. a
! reading assignment, proper setting-up of the equipment,
! performing the experiment, gathering data and keeping a
! protocol, cleaning-up the set-up,and evaluation of data
! and writing a laboratory report.
