P209A Intro to General Physics
General Physics Lab first semester
GE: category B1 or B3 (Physical Sciences) and GE laboratory requirements
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Prerequisite:
Previous or concurrent enrollment of P210A or equivalent required. This is an algebra-trig based course.
Subjects:
Dynamics in one and two dimensions, Linear and Rotational Motion, Newton's Laws, Impulse and Momentum, Conservation of Momentum and Energy, Low Temperature Measurements. Statistical Analysis of data and Introduction to electronic data acquisition.
Overall goals of the lab
1.Learn to identify and correctly represent appropriate data, observations, variables and equations necessary to solve a problem.
2.Be able to analyze the data to answer relevant scientific questions.
3.And finally, develop a conceptual grasp of basic principles and apply their knowledge to new scientific problems in the hopes that you will be able to interpret experimental results in the context of the discipline as a whole.
Materials:
•Lab book (quadrille-ruled) with permanent tape binding. (not a removable graph paper tablet)
•Lab manual with experiments included - $10. Available in class the first week.
•Calculator, etc as needed.
Late Work
10% grade reduction for late reports and homework. After 1 week the instructor can refuse to accept them. Let instructor know as soon as possible about extenuating circumstances. To pass you cannot miss more than 3 classes.
Missed work:
One absence can be made up during the last week of classes. More than one will be graded as zero.
Points Earned
Lab book 3-4 submissions 20 points each
2 Formal Reports 20 points each
Prelabs (2) 20 points each
Your final grade will be based on the percentage of points earned. In borderline cases participation and immediate improvement may also count.
Lab Book
Your lab book is your record of important information obtained during class. Use it for lecture notes, diagrams, and relevant information. Traditional format for lab books follows but think of them as keeping track of all you need to know about the experiment to write a good lab report.
An in depth guide for your Lab books
Traditional Format
•Title of the experiment, Date, and all partners’ names.
•Outline the purpose of the experiment and the steps taken to conduct it.
•Simple Sketch labeled with important info
•Enter data and statistics into lab book, correct sig. figs.
•Brief summary, conclusions, sources of error and answers to any questions posed at the end are all helpful.
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Reports
Stick to the given structure. A complete lab book will make this easier. Draw in sketches or tables if your graphics and spreadsheet capabilities are limited. Use a ruler if needed for neatness for tables and sketches. Refer to the grading criteria sheet for point breakdown.
Specific sections, explained in full below
• Abstract
• Theory and Procedure
• Simple Sketch with Labels
• Data
• Statistical Data and other Calculations
• Graph
• Summary, Conclusions and Error Analysis
Format
Name, course name, date and names of laboratory partner(s) appear on first page. No title page is necessary. Label each section with the section title. Single spaced, first person viewpoint, and well-written paragraphs. Avoid list form for all parts.
ABSTRACT
The Abstract lists the purpose of the experiment and brief conclusions. Note the overall perspective and dominant conceptual idea. An abstract in the magazine “Science” is seldom more than five sentences. Always include numerical results. This could include the mean ± SE, % difference, or a 3SE range. See example.
Example 1:
ABSTRACT
The acceleration of an object in free fall is determined by dropping a small Plexiglas “fence” through a photogate. We measured the change in velocity between pickets over time. We found the acceleration to be 10.2 ± 0.3 m/s2, a 4% variation from the expected value but well within 3 Standard Errors.
THEORY AND PROCEDURE
Start with a small paragraph of the overall conceptual idea. (“The acceleration of an object close to the earth, in the absence of air resistance or free-fall is found to be approximately 9.8 m/s2 with smalls variations across the Earth. We attempted to measure this in the lab.”)
Expand on the procedure hinted at in the Abstract. In words give a good picture of the setup and steps of the experiment to achieve results. How did the theory result in the procedure used? If formulae are used they should be stated here, and any derivations of measured quantities done. The parts of the equation you are trying to verify should be clearly stated.
SIMPLE SKETCH WITH LABELS (Xerox from lab manual if convenient)
DATA Either retype the tables and significant data or enter them into the Excel Sheet and state “see Excel sheet”.
STATISTICAL REDUCTIONS AND CALCULATIONS Re-type from the Excel Sheet statistics the relevant values rounded to the correct number of significant figures.
Can include the mean, standard error, slope and standard error, y-intercept and standard error, % difference.
GRAPHS WITH LABELING (axes and units) Attached.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS, QUESTIONS
Restate main results. (Statistics and other reductions) Do the results fit the theory within errors? If the final result is many standard errors from the expected value, say so. The summary should be based on your results. Integrate any questions posed in the experiment guidelines or answer them at the end of the write up.
SOURCES OF EXPERIMENTAL ERROR
No experiment is free from random errors, and it is possible systematic errors might have skewed your results. There are specific tests to conclude that systematic errors are present. Mistakes should not be discussed. If all data are larger than expected or smaller than expected comment on this.
RAW DATA
Attach a copy of your original data, taken that day. This can be a xerox of your lab book, or printouts from the computer.
(Think about)
In performing the experiment were you prepared? Did you test a range of the parameters? Did you contribute to your partnership? Were outlier points checked, if so say this? Feel free to discuss your results with your colleagues, or with the instructor though write in your own words. No length requirement.
email: delcorra@sonoma.edu
Office: Darwin 300I
Office Hrs: Thurs 3:45-4:45 pm
and by appt.
Courses Previously Taught:
P100 Descriptive Physics
P102 Descriptive Physics Lab
P209A General Physics Lab 1st sem.
P209B General Physics Lab 2nd sem.
P216 Intro Physics Lab (calculus)
P342 Popular Optics