Introductory Physics Labs (205, 206, 229,230)
WEEKLY MEETING
Attendance at this meeting is mandatory and will be recorded. This is a means to prepare you for next
week's lab. If you are unable to come to the meeting, you will be responsible for preparing on your
own (possibly by observing a fellow TAs section) or meeting with me privately (which will be difficult
since I am busy at the beginning of the week). Please make a strong effort to attend every meeting.
Refreshments (typical orange juice and danishes) will be served. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAB
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, MEETING ATTENDANCE IS OPTIONAL ON THAT FRIDAY.
COURSES
-General Physics Lab 205 (first semester of a two-semester introductory Physics sequence for
life/animal/computer science majors): meets on Busch and Douglass in Fall and Spring
-General Physics Lab 206 (second semester of a two-semester introductory Physics sequence for
life/animal/computer science majors): meets on Busch and Douglass in Fall and Spring
-Analytical Physics II Lab 229 (third semester of a four-semester introductory Physics sequence for
engineering majors): meets on Busch in the Fall.
-Analytical Physics II Lab 230 (fourth semester of a four-semester introductory Physics sequence for
engineering majors): meets on Busch in the Spring
Note well that 229 and 230 are held in two lab rooms: SRN-225 and SRN-228, and that the course is
divided into Group A (odd-numbered sections) and Group B (even-numbered sections). Consequently
there is no fixed room for that course and Groups may switch between those two lab rooms from week
to week.
LABS WEBPAGE
http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/ugrad/labs This contains general course policy, important
announcements, lab schedule and lab manual downloads, list of sections and instructors (with clickable
names for email), make-up lab policy, disabilities policy, and links to other lab courses.
LAB PERSONNEL
-Gabe Alba (call me "Gabe") - Labs Manager and Support Specialist (Douglass) - alba@physics, 732445-5500 x0068
-Hsu-Chang Lu (call him "Lu") - Labs Support Specialist (Busch) - hclu@physics, 732-445-5500
x3897
-Matt - Undergraduate Lab Assistant, Busch
OTHER PERSONNEL
-Stacey Jacobs - Undergraduate Secretary, refer students to her for scheduling/registration issues
(sljacobs@physics)
-Shirley Hinds - Graduate Secretary, she handles the administrative end of getting you paid for teaching
in my labs (shinds@physics)
BEFORE YOU TEACH
-Know where and when you are supposed to teach. If possible, do a "dry run" by traveling to your
class location beforehand.
-Prepare! Attend weekly lab meetings, read the write-up, perform the experiment at your leisure, read
instructor’s notes and my weekly email. I have found that this is the single most important factor
in determining you efficacy as a teacher, and students DO note on evaluations if you are illprepared.
TYPICAL LAB CLASS
-Arrive at least 5-10 minutes early, check visually to see that equipment is in order. For the first class I
advise that you write the name and number/section of the course on the board, as well as your contact
information (name and email address). You should also write down the Labs Webpage URL, and
briefly discuss general course policy (all mentioned on Labs Webpage) - grading, make-ups, etc.
When class starts, spend 10-15 minutes discussing the experiment and demonstrating it. DO NOT
SPEND MUCH TIME ON THEORY. During class, walk about the room and observe, ask questions to
gauge their knowledge, field questions using SOCRATIC DIALOGUE rather than answering outright.
Try to interact with the GROUP rather than INDIVIDUALS. Make sure that every lab table has at
least TWO lab partners; NO table should have only one student. In crowded sections you may see
THREE students per table, but make sure that happens only when all the others have TWO. At the end
of the period collect ONE hand-in sheet (equivalent to a lab report) per group. *BEFORE EACH LAB
GROUP LEAVES MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR LAB TABLE AND
EQUIPMENT JUST AS THEY FOUND IT - IN GOOD WORKING ORDER*. There is a sign-off
part of the lab report that forces them to get their TA's signature in order to get full credit for the lab;
you can sign this if you have inspected the equipment and everything is fine. Have students recycle
stray pieces of paper and dispose of miscellaneous trash.
THE DIVERSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (MOSTLY FOR INDIAN TAs)
Please be aware of slight differences in American and British English pertaining to teaching, for
instance:
“She studied Chemistry at Rutgers” vs. “She read Chemistry at Rutgers”
“He sat his Physics exam last night” vs. “He took his Physics exam last night”
“I will set the quiz after the break” vs. “I will give the quiz after the break”
“Sorry, I'm not taking that section” vs. “Sorry, I'm not teaching that section”
AFTER LAB CLASS
- Put in order any things that need straighening – erase blackboard, put cables and equipment
transferred to another table back to the original table, etc. Note that if you'd already instructed your
students to do this before they left, you wouldn't have a need to do any of this.
- Inform Gabe of any general issues with the lab to which other instructors should be alerted, e.g.,
students are not able to produce charge by rubbing an acrylic rod with fur, the AM radio circuit is not
picking up the nearby New Brunswick station, etc.
GRADING
- Lab Reports 60%
Only one lab report is submitted and graded per group (no more than 3 persons per group). Individual
members get the group grade. These are to be handed back to students the following week. Ten total
lab reports (one each lab week) are collected from each group and all labs are counted towards the final
grade.
- Quizzes
40%
One lab report is required per student; no collaboration is allowed on these in-class quizzes. These are
created weekly by individual TAs. Quizzes should not test knowledge of theory (no textbook
problems!) and should test knowledge of previous week's laboratory technique or apparatus as it
pertains to concept or theory. Six total quizzes are collected from each student and five are counted
towards the final grade (the lowest quiz grade is dropped).
Quizzes should last no more than 15-20 minutes and should be handed back, graded, the following
week. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A GOOD VARIANCE IN ASSIGNING QUIZ GRADES –
otherwise you may have much trouble justifying your final grades at the end of the semester and
students will bother you with many complaints about why Student X's numerical total was only 0.1
higher than Student Y's but X received an A whereas Y received “only” a B+. To ensure variance, have
multiple parts in your quizzes; I suggest including in your quiz:
a) a problem that most students should be able to answer correctly
b) a problem that some students should be able to answer correctly
c) a problem that only the top students should be able to answer correctly
See http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/ugrad/labs/quiz205.html, etc. (~quiz206.html, ~quiz229.html) for
sample quizzes.
MAKE-UP LABS
Make-ups are allowed, usually one per semester, and is performed in an alternate section during the
same week the experiment is held (or also the following week, for 229). The student must have valid
excuse (physician's or Dean's note); “I overslept” is not a good excuse, unless it is qualified by an
unusually good explanation; use your judgement, tempered by the student's behavior and work ethic in
class. It is the student's responsibility to contact you, to ask for permission for the make-up AND the
instructor of the make-up lab section, to also ask his/her permission. Students can consult the
Course/Section listing on the labs webpage to find make-up sections.
Experiments are sometimes set up only for one week. If a st miss, or you know that you will miss a lab
for adequate cause, it is your responsibility to try to attend another scheduled lab, Monday through
Thursday (no Friday labs). Contact both your instructor and the TA of the make-up section to obtain
approval. Medical excuse may be requested. Consult the Course/Section listing for one that you can
attend. Make sure the lab offers the experiment you need. The make-up instructor MUST sign your prelab and report forms. Then take them to your regular lab and hand them in to your lab instructor. You
are normally permitted only one make-up lab per semester. Note that your regular instructor may still
hold you responsible for any missed quizzes.
IF YOU CANNOT TEACH YOUR SECTION FOR ANY REASON...
It is your responsibility to find a suitable substitute who would is willing to trade with you. An
acceptable substitute is someone who is currently a TA in the course you are teaching or someone in the
department who has taught the course in the recent past. Please contact Gabe Alba if you are unable to
teach your section regardless of whether or not you have found a substitute.
OFFICE HOURS
- It is up to the instructor whether he or she will set aside a specific time to meet with students. You
may tell that they can come to you with questions or issues at a specific time and place, or you can
choose only to answer questions immediately before or after your lab session.
- You are to provide your email address to your students (they will also see it on the labs webpage).
Email inquiries should be answered as soon as possible. This form of communications is most efficient
and is strongly recommended.
LAB EMERGENCIES
There is a First-aid Kit and Fire Extinguisher in every lab room. Dial 911 or 6-911 if calling from a
University phone. Contact Gabe Alba (732-445-5500 x0068) after you have summoned
medical/emergency assistance. For dire emergencies only you can contact me on my cell phone: 908337-2896.
KEYS
You can obtain keys from Patty Gulyas in SRN-217, *after* obtaining the proper form from me. A $10
deposit will be collected to ensure the return of the key at the end of the semester (you will get your
money when you give her back the key at the end of the term).
COPIER CODE
Use this to make photocopies only for teaching purposes: 7300068. You should use the copier in the
copy room in the middle of the Physiscs Building (near the mail room)
MAILBOXES (PTLs)
Check the mailbox entitled "Engineering PTLs" in the mail room periodically.
***FOR DOUGLASS INSTRUCTORS***
- The JA25 key you got from Patty Gulyas not only opens both HSB-209 and HSB-210, it also opens
the central storage room between them (accessible from inside both lab rooms, near printers). Inside
this storage room is a University phone you can use to call Busch (for help) and a microwave that you
can use to heat up your lunch or dinner. There is also extra lab equipment inside the room.
- Inside HSB-210 is a steel storage cabinet (near the back of the room) with extra supplies, such as
printer paper, staples, dry-erase markers, basic tools and spare lab equipment. Use it freely if you need
such supplies or if you have a defective piece of equipment that needs immediate replacing. This will
come in handy because there is no full-time Physics support person on Douglass.