Physics 19b, Introductory Lab, Spring 2016
Instructor
Name : Gabriella Sciolla
E-Mail : sciolla@brandeis.edu
Office : Abelson 313
Office Hours: Monday 4:30 - 5:30 in Abelson 313 or by appointment
TAs
Ms. Laura Bergsten, lbergsten@brandeis.edu , Office hours: Wed 5-6 in Physics
Resource Room (Abelson 4th floor)
Ms. Hannah Herde, hherde@brandeis.edu, Office hours: Mon 1-3 in Physics Resource
Room (Abelson 4th floor)
Mr. Alessio Venturini, alevent@brandeis.edu, Office hours: Mon 1-3 in Physics
Resource Room (Abelson 4th floor)
Undergraduate TAs
Margaret Morris and Brendon Bullard
Course description
19b is a laboratory course focusing on experiments in electricity and magnetism. The
experiments are chosen to complement the theoretical introduction to electricity and
magnetism that is covered in Phys11b/15b. A writeup will guide you through each
week’s experiment where you will collect and analyze data and write up a report of your
results.
Lectures
There will be a lab lecture each Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 in Abelson 131 to discuss
the theory behind the experiments as well as how to conduct the experiment in the lab.
NB: For those of you who have conflicts with the lectures: it is your responsibility to find
a fellow student who will agree to take notes for you. Any material I cover in the lectures,
as well as the material covered in the lab notes, is fair game for the exams.
Lab Sections
The lab sections will meet in Abelson 116. You must attend your assigned section
unless prior permission to attend another section has been given. Depending on the size
of your section, you will work with one or two lab partners. However, lab reports are not
a collaborative effort and must be written individually. Your reports are to be handed in
at the beginning of each subsequent lab.
NB: you will have to attend all 8 lab section however only 6 lab reports are due. If
you plan to turn in all 8 lab reports (recommended for mid-year students!) the 2
with the lowest scores will be disregarded in calculating your final grade.
Teaching Assistant assignments
Tuesday afternoon
Tuesday evening
Wednesday afternoon
Wednesday evening
Thursday afternoon
Thursday evening
1:00-4:00
6:30-9:90
2:00-5:00
6:30-9:30
2:00-5:00
6:30-9:30
Hannah/Alessio
Hannah/Alessio
Hannah/Alessio
Hannah/Alessio
Laura
Laura
Lab writeups
All Lab write ups will be posted on Latte at the beginning of the Semester. Other material
will also be available on Latte, such as how to write your lab reports, information on error
analysis, etc.
Lab reports
Lab reports are due to your TA at the beginning of each scheduled lab. This way you
will have at least one week to analyze the data and write the report. The format and
content of the lab reports will be discussed in class. Each report will be graded by your
TF and returned to you within a week.
Late reports: up to 48 hours, you will receive 50% of the grade; >48 hours you will
receive 25% of the grade.
The lab reports can also be handed in during Monday lectures. If you cannot attend a
lecture/lab, leave the report in my mailbox at the physics office (Abelson, 1st floor) and
send me and your TA an email. Only in exceptional circumstances Lab reports can be
emailed to your TA as a PDF file.
Grading policy
The overall course grade is determined by three factors:
• Your lab reports account for 48% of your total grade
- 8% per lab report * 6 lab reports
• Exam #1 will account for 22% of your total grade.
• Exam #2 will account for 30% of your total grade.
The exams will cover the material discussed in the laboratory lecture and exercises.
Makeup labs
Every student must attend all the labs and turn in 6 lab reports to pass this class.
Plan to attend ALL lab sections! However, sometimes stuff happens and you need to
reschedule. Find below the policy – no exception.
• Non-major problems: reschedule during the same week. Need to catch a
flight to attend your friends wedding? Do you have a conflict with an exam? Got
a minor cold? Religious holiday? Up to 2 times / semester we will try to fit you
into another slot during the same week or on the first opportunity the
following week. You will have to arrange these changes with your TA. Please do
not use this option unless you really have to. For conflicts that can be predicted,
ask for permission at least one week in advance.
•
Major illness: reschedule before the final exam. If for some serious medical
reason you won’t be able to make one lab, you will be allowed to take it during
the week of the final exam. This is possible only for medical reasons (which
must be documented), official sports or similar events, or other extenuating
circumstances through my prior approval.
Your data files:
It is wise at the end of each lab period to properly save your data: put them on a dvd,
USB drive, or upload them your web site. Please delete all your files on the lab
computers.
Schedule for the semester
See next page
Physics 19b – S2016 Calendar
Laboratory
MKL
Lab 1
Lab 2
Monday
Jan 18
MLK
Jan 25
Lecture 3:30
Feb 1
Lecture 3:30
Lab 3
Feb 8
Lecture 3:30
Midterm
Recess
Feb 15
Midterm
recess
Feb 22
No lecture
Snow day
makeup if
necessary
Lab 4
Exam#1
Lab 5
Feb 29
Lecture 3:30
Mar 7
Exam 3:30
Mar 14
Lecture 3:30
Tuesday
Jan 19
No Lab
Jan 26
Lab
Feb 2
Tuesday
sections meet
Feb 9
Tuesday
sections meet
Feb 16
Midterm recess
Wednesday
Jan 20
No lab
Jan 27
Lab
Feb 3
Wednesday
sections meet
Feb 10
Wednesday
sections meet
Feb 17
Midterm recess
Thursday
Jan 21
No lab
Jan 28
Lab
Feb 4
Thursday
sections meet
Feb 11
Thursday
sections meet
Feb 18
Midterm recess
Feb 23
No lab
Feb 24
No lab
Feb 25
No lab
Mar 1
Tuesday
sections meet
Mar 8
Grading
Mar 15
Tuesday
sections meet
Mar 22
Tuesday
sections meet
Mar 29
No class/ no lab
Apr 5
Tuesday
sections meet
Mar 2
Wednesday
sections meet
Mar 9
Grading
Mar 16
Wednesday
sections meet
Mar 23
Wednesday
sections meet
Mar 30
No class/ no lab
Apr 6
Wednesday
sections meet
Mar 3
Thursday
sections meet
Mar 10
Grading
Mar 17
Thursday
sections meet
Mar 24
Thursday
sections meet
Mar 31
No class/ no lab
Apr 7
Thursday
sections meet
Lab 6
Mar 21
Lecture 3:30
Passover
Break
Lab 7
Mar 28
No lecture
Apr 4
Lecture 3:30
Lab 8
Apr 11
Lecture 3:30
Apr 12
Tuesday
sections meet
Apr 13
Wednesday
sections meet
Apr 14
Thursday
sections meet
Exam #2
Apr 18
Exam #2
Apr 19
Grading
Apr 20
Grading
Apr 21
Grading
Color coding: Black: regular lectures/laboratories. Red: Exams: you must attend – no
exceptions. Green: 19b days off, no classes/labs.