Practical Physics
For Biology
PHYS 111 L51
Guidelines & Tentative Course Outline
Lab: Monday 9:30-12:30 in SA 113&114
Instructor: Dr. Maitha Al-Muraikhi
Phone: 4851605 Office: BS211
Email: mdmuraikhi@qu.edu.qa
Office Hours: are given weekly at 10-12 am on Sunday & Tuesday
in room BS 211
Laboratory Manual: Introductory Physics Laboratory Manual .
A copy of this Lab manual is on reserve in the library.
All students are encouraged to come and discuss any problem, short comments and
questions can be discussed before or after the lab. Brief questions may be asked by
e-mail.
LIST OF EXPERIMEN:
1- Understanding of Motion using Motion Sensor.
2- Determination of the Acceleration of Gravity using the Free fall. Determination of
the Acceleration of Gravity using the Simple Pendulum .
3- Verification of Newton,s Second Law .
4- Verification of Hook's Law.
5- Determination of the Coefficient of Viscosity
6- Determination of the speed of sound in air using a resonance tube
7- Determination of the Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
8- Determination of Specific Heat Capacity of a solid
9- Ohm's Law.
10- Determining the Beta Particle Absorption Coefficient of Aluminum
Some of the major objectives of the course
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Provide hands on experiences in conducting scientific investigations.
Develop skill to design and conduct experiments, collect and analyze data, and
draw conclusion.
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Make a qualitative assessment of the data and conclusions.
Develop a hypothesis and model data quantitatively
Draw conclusions and relate them to existing laws or principles of physics.
Develop skill to do independent experimental research.
Laboratory instruction format:
A three-hour lab is an integral part of the course and will be given every week. A list
of the experiments to be completed during the semester and other pertinent
information are attached. A lab report must be prepared and turned in at the following
lab class . Each report (which is worth 10 point) will be graded and returned to you
the following week.
If anyone has difficulty in preparing the report, talk to the instructor or the assistant
and seek help.
NOTE: Everyone is strongly encouraged to ask questions in laboratory, in case
of any difficulty. If one tries a problem and cannot work it out, bring your
incomplete solution to my office during the office hours and discuss with me.
Full Participation Requirement: Attendance and full participation in all
laboratories is mandatory.
Important Notes:
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Though two or more students together may perform the experiment, but each
student must write/ prepare her own lab report sharing the same equipment
and possibly data.
You must have done the lab to turn in the lab report.
No credit/grade is given just for doing the experiment. You must turn in the
lab report to be graded.
Every lab-report must be typed or printed and submitted the following lab
session. Late submission of lab reports is not acceptable. If a lab report is
turned in after the next lab meeting, the report is not graded and returned.
Keep all the reports till the end of the semester to prepare for the final Lab
exam.
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Do not copy the 'book' to prepare the Lab report. Write the report, in your own
words, of the work you did in the Lab. Thais will also help you to improve
your writing skill.
Full participation in the discussion of the lab theory and procedure, before
you start the lab, is crucial for your safety, safe operation of the equipment and
a meaningful and successful laboratory.
Frequent absences and coming late to the lab are not excusable and may
count negatively toward the grade.
You may get full credit only if you do the experiment carefully; submit a wellprepared lab-report in the prescribed format ( as discussed later in this
handout ) and on time.
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DEFINITIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
A hypothesis is an idea or a rule.
A hypothesis should be able to be tested.
A hypothesis is an idea that comes from the analysis of data.
normally once a hypothesis has been developed then the scientist invents
experiments that will either confirm or refute his hypothesis .
5. A theory is more advanced idea that has been "made e up" to explain
observations.
6. A theory is often a combination of many models.
7. A theory is used to explain more complicated concepts.
8. In an experiment there are often many factors that can change.
9. The factors that can change in an experiment are called variables.
10. variables can change during an experiment.
11. In an experiment there are factors that do not change.
12. Factors that do not change in an experiment are called constants.
13. An example of a constant is gravity.
14. Gravity on earth is a constant and has a value of g = 9.8 m/s2.
15. Gravity depends on the mass of the planet you are on.
16. Gravity can change as you travel the solar system.
17. As leaving earth's gravity is difficult we can consider gravity to be a constant.
18. Another example of a constant found in mathematics is pi.
ERROR
1. Unfortunately in all human endeavors there is error.
2. Error can be due to
a) Human error --- an accident
b) Human error --- intentional error
c) Human error --- incompetence
d) Instrument error
e) When the instrument limits are exceeded
ACCURACY
1- Often with scientific data there is already a set of expected results or
outcomes.
2- Accuracy is a measure of haw close your experimental data is to the expected
results.
REPRODUCIBILITY OF EXPERIMENTS
1- One of the main central ideas of science is that if you carry out an experiment
exactly as designed by another scientist you will get the same results.
2- Experiments are often carried out many times.
3- Experimental procedure must be reproducible.
4- When experiments are carried out throughout the world, the results should be
the same.
5- Experiments should be reproducible.
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6- For results to be the same the experimental conditions must be the same every
time.
7- Experiments are often repeated several times and the results noted.
8- The results are then averaged.
9- A level of accuracy can be given or calculated for all these results.
10- Experiments are further refined to increase the level of precision and
accuracy.
HOW TO WRITE UP "RESULTS"
12345-
Results are what you observed and recorded.
Results can be presented as table.
Results can be presented as graph.
Results have no " values statements" or " comments" attached to them.
Results should have units.
HOW TO WRITE UP "THE DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION"
1- The graphing of the results can be placed in either the Results or the Discussion
and Conclusion part of the write up.
2- Conclusions must be clear.
3- In the Discussion and Conclusion part of the write up the following things can be
written:
a) The results are analyzed
b) The results are commented on
c) Conclusions are drawn from the results
d) Patterns are noted
e) Discussion on the level of accuracy of the data is carried out
f) Comparison of what was expected to what was observed can be made.
Safety in the lab:
Some of equipments in this lab are dangerous and expensive. Please ask an authorized
person in the lap if you are not sure of something.
Exams, Evaluation AND Grading:
Lab-Exams will test your understanding of the work done in the lab, which includes
theory, how to conduct the experiment, how to analyze and interpret data.
Final Grade:
Final grade will be based on:
Laboratory Work
Lab exam (first)
Lab exam (final)
Activities
Total
30 points
30 point
30 point
10 point
100 point
The points required for a letter grade are:
A
B+
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(90-100)
(85-89)
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B
C+
C
D+
D
(80-84)
(75-79)
(70-74)
(65-69)
(60-64)
Borderline cases will be decided by taking into account student's regularity in
laboratory and demonstrated continued improvement in her performance in
labs. Coming late to the class is marked as such and is considered unfavorable in the
borderline cases.
Important Notes:
 A physical measurement is to be expressed by its magnitude along with the
units in which it was measured. Otherwise its description is incomplete.
Consequently, points are taken off for not writing the proper units with
any physical quantity.
 Axes in the graphs must be labeled with the physical quantities they
represent along with the units.
 Staple together all your lab-report sheets.
 Quality Counts: Quality work is expected. Use a word processing to prepare
your report. Do not make copies for others or submit a computer copy of
someone else .You may share the data when collected together as partners, but
everyone must prepare the lab report in his/her own unique way.
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