114 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Static Electricity* Experiment 1
The Electric Field Experiment 2
Capacitors Experiment 3
Circuitry and Meters Experiment 4
Ohm's Law Experiment 5
Oscilloscopes and Electrocardiograms Experiment 6
Electromagnetic Induction Experiment 7
Properties of Microwaves Experiment 8
Photons and Electrons Experiment 9
Refraction of Light by Glass & Converging and Diverging Lenses Experiment 10
Radioactivity † Experiment 11 †
Diodes and Transistors Experiment 12
Appendix Appendix
*Bold face indicates computer labs. † All students must bring their ThinkPads to the last lab.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this lab is threefold: to introduce you to the method of collecting scientific data, to develop a facility for the use of such data in meaningful calculations, and to verify laws of physics within the precision permitted by the lab equipment.
In order to avoid ‘cookbook’ lab instructions, this manual gives a minimum of information necessary to perform the experiments. It is then left to you to find ways to present your data, calculations, and conclusions in the form of a report. Each of your reports should contain:
· A cover page with your name, lab section, and a brief statement of the purpose of the experiment.
· A brief description of what was done in the laboratory (a.k.a. abstract).
· The original data, neatly recorded and clearly identified.
· Calculations, graphs, and other analysis.
· A clear discussion of the results, with appropriate error consideration.
The laboratory period is 2 hours long. You are expected to remain in the lab until you have completed the assignment and turned in a report. If unable to complete the assignment in the allotted 2 hours, you must finish it as homework. Reports not turned in at the end of the lab period are due in your TA’s department mailbox by 1PM the following day. Your TA will return your lab report during the next lab meeting. Grading is on a 20-point scale. You are encouraged to read the lab ahead of time.
You are permitted only 2 excused absences from lab. If you know ahead of time that you will miss a lab, you must inform your TA or the Instructional Resources Manager, Eric Chapman (ext. 5532), so that a same-week makeup might be arranged. Excused absences are those excused by the Dean’s office for the purpose of University business or Student Health Services (or its designee doctor). If your absence is unexcused, or you have beyond two excused absences, you will receive a 0/20 grade for the laboratory missed. Same-week make-ups successfully arranged and completed do not count against you as absences.
Before labs begin for the semester, it is possible to change your lab section by making arrangements with the Instructional Resources Manager. Once labs begin, you are not permitted to change lab sections without permission from the Instructional Resources Manager and your professor. Such changes can only be made for extenuating circumstances.
Your final lab grade is determined by your TA. This grade is submitted to your lecture’s professor at the end of the semester for consideration in determining your final course grade. However, if you fail the lab, you automatically fail the course, regardless of your performance in class.