PHY 221 Laboratory and Recitation
Fall 2009
Syllabus
Course Time:
Recitation:
Wednesday, 4:40-5:30 P.M.
Laboratory:
Wednesday, 5:45-7:35 P.M.
Location:
508 Nielson Physics Building
Required Text: Contemporary Introductory Physics Experiments, by Dr. James E. Parks
Instructor:
E-mail:
Office:
Austin Harris
jharr100@utk.edu
609-8 Nielson
Office Hours:
Wednesday, 10:00-11:00 A.M.
Friday, 10:00-11:00 A.M.
By Appointment
Course Description: This course is designed as a supplemental laboratory to the PHY 221 course. The
purpose of this lab is for you to gain experience with scientific apparatus, proper data analysis, written
communication, and to reinforce the theory of the lecture portion of the course with experimental
results.
Recitation:
Prior to each laboratory, there will be a recitation session that will serve as a tool to
reinforce problem solving skills. You are encouraged to ask questions from your homework and your
lecture discussions. This time will also be used to give a brief introduction to the upcoming experiments.
Attendance is mandatory for both recitation and laboratory and will be accounted for in your grade.
Quizzes:
Throughout the course of the semester, there will be 5 quizzes given during the first 510 minutes of recitation. These quizzes will be one-problem reviews of material covered in the previous
week's recitation section.
Laboratory: You are expected to have read any upcoming experiments prior to arriving at the time of
the lab. This will greatly benefit your understanding of the experiment as well as save time. You will
work in groups of two and rotate the experimental tasks so that each individual will be familiar with all
aspects of the experiment. Upon completion of the experiment, ask the instructor to review and initial
your data sheet(s). EACH student must turn in their OWN lab report with their OWN data sheet(s) at the
beginning of the following week's laboratory. No food or drinks are allowed in the laboratory. Please
turn off your cell phones.
Attendance: Lab attendance is mandatory. You are expected to promptly attend each laboratory and
do all experiments in your assigned section. The last week of labs is reserved for make-ups; however in
the case of documented extenuating circumstances, let the instructor know in advance, and a time to
make-up the lab may be able to be scheduled before the last week.
Lab Report: Prior to each week's experiment, you are expected to turn in the previous week's lab
write-up. The report should consist of the following topics, each on a separate page:
Title page:
Name of the experiment
Your name
Partner's name
Course name and number
Section number
Lab instructor's name
Date experiment performed
Date report submitted
Purpose and method:
Short summary (1-2 paragraphs) describing what measurements were
made and why. Show that you understand the relationship between
the experimental procedures and theory. Do not include procedural
details, just short summary.
Data tables*:
Original data sheet(s) from the experiment, initialed by the
instructor, as well as any revised versions with additional derived
quantities. Remember to label your graphs and include units and
uncertainties.
Calculations*:
Include all calculations done, including error analysis. This includes
units associated with any variable. Show and describe all of your work,
including labels and units. If your calculations are done in a
spreadsheet, remember to put labels on any additional columns and to
state how these columns were calculated.
Graphs*:
When appropriate. Include a title, axis labels, and units. These should
be completed in the laboratory if possible. Include slope and intercept
with any straight line fitting, as well as the uncertainties of these values.
Conclusions:
A brief discussion of the main findings of the experiment. What were
your results? (e.g. "The data shows that there is a linear relationship
between the measured variables, as evidenced by the graph and as
predicted by theory."). Do your results agree with theoretical
expectations to within your uncertainties? Discuss the main sources of
error ("human error" is not acceptable; what about the human
interaction caused the error?).
Questions:
Answer all of the questions posed at the end of the experiment in the
laboratory manual.
*Note: Familiarize yourself with Microsoft Excel; it will prove to be a very useful tool for data
analysis.
Grading Policy:
Lab Reports:
Quizzes:
Attendance:
Missing Reports:
80%
15%
5%
Failure to do and/or to turn in a report will result in a grade of zero for
that experiment. You may not make-up more than two missed labs in
the case of documented medical or family emergencies.
Academic Honesty: Cheating will not be tolerated. All students are expected to abide by the
University Honor Statement. Cheating may include falsifying data, copying another group's data, turning
in a report that is partially/fully identical to another student's work, etc.
Schedule of Experiments
Dates (TWRF Days)
19-Aug
19-Aug - 21-Aug
25-Aug - 28-Aug
1-Sep - 4-Sep
8-Sep - 11-Sep
15-Sep - 18-Sep
22-Sep - 25-Sep
29-Sep - 2-Oct
6-Oct - 9-Oct
13-Oct - 16-Oct
20-Oct - 23-Oct
27-Oct - 30-Oct
3-Nov - 6-Nov
10-Nov - 13-Nov
17-Nov - 20-Nov
24-Nov - 27-Nov
1-Dec
2-Dec
Experiment
Classes Begin
No Labs
Statistical Analysis, Propagation of Errors, and Linear
Regression
Statistical Analysis, Propagation of Errors, and Linear
Regression, cont'd
Force Table
Acceleration Due to Gravity
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Conservation of Linear Momentum
Centripetal Force
No Labs -- Fall Break Oct 15 & 16
Boyle's Law
Simple Harmonic Motion
Standing Waves
Refraction
Simple Lenses
No Labs --Thanksgiving Holidays Nov 26 & 27
Lab Final/Makeup
Study Period