Syllabus – Modern Physics Lab PHY421/521
Instructor:
Dr. Xiaojuan (Judy) Fan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Physics
101 Science Building
fan2@marshall.edu
304-696-3757
Office Hours:
TR 2-5 pm or by appointment
Class Time and Location:
Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 11: 50 AM, S 281
Course prerequisites:
Physics 211/213, Math 231 (Multivariable Calculus). Concurrent or prior enrollment in Math 234
(Differential Equations) and PHY 320 (Intro Modern Physics) is highly recommended for physics
majors.
Course textbook:
Lab instruction manuals (e-files) and handouts.
Other resources:
Modern Physics, 2nd, Kenneth Krane
Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 2nd Ed, John R, Taylor, Chris D. Zafiratos, and
Michael A. Dubson.
Modern Physics, 5th Ed, Paul A. Tipler and Ralph A. Llewellyn.
Course description:
The Modern Physics Lab gives students the opportunity to complete more advanced physics
experiments covering a wide range of topics including relativity, waves and particles,
radioactivity, nuclear processes, solid state, cosmology, etc. This semester, we start to add new
tasks in order to test students’ learning outcomes according to Marshall University Lumina
Project and for Assessment purpose. Students will design a new experiment from setup to
data collection for writing lab report and oral presentation.
Student Outcomes:
 Verify and reproduce of important experiments in modern physics
 Continue the development of scientific writing skills
 Construct and interpret tables, graphs and schematic representations of relationships
among physical systems and modern physics concepts
 Analyze and interpret computational and/or experimental data and draw conclusions about
modern physics hypothesis
 Write laboratory reports that communicate quantitative information to a modern physics
readership
Course Instructions:
The purpose of these laboratory exercises is to provide you with practical experiences that
compliment the material that you are introduced to in the lecture course. Unfortunately, it is not
possible to always time an experiment with the presentation of similar material in the lecture
course. You are expected to read over the theory and procedure for each laboratory before you
come to the laboratory class. This will help you to understand the material being presented and
it will help you to ask more intelligent questions when something do not work. You will need
typewritten a complete lab report after each experiment that should include detail theory,
procedures, data, graphs, error analysis, and conclusions. Lab report is due at next class
meeting.
Grading: Your course grade will be determined by:
Laboratory Report Average:
Laboratory Presentation:
Two Laboratory Exams (20% each):
50%
10%
40%
Grade Scale:
90≤ A; 80≤ B ≤89; 70≤ C ≤79; 60≤ D ≤69; F <60.
The scale is very rigid at 90, 80, etc. You must pass one exam in order to pass the
course! This is the department policy.
Attendance:
A laboratory experience is a hands-one experience! You are expected to be in the laboratory
every scheduled day. You are to always use data collected by you in an experiment. You are
not to use data from someone else. If you can’t finish the lab within the scheduled time, other
time can be offered such as time right after the class. However, you must talk to the instructor to
make an arrangement in advance. Any absence must be discussed with the instructor as soon
as possible. Excused absences must have a prompt make-up date scheduled with the
instructor. This is the student's responsibility. A copy of the University's absence policy is posted
on S 254. Any discussion about absences will be referred to that policy.
Important Dates:
The last day to drop the 1st 8 week courses with a grade of W is Friday, September 23. If you
drop a course after this date you will need to do a complete withdrawal from the entire semester
of classes in order to get out of one class.
Policy for Students with Disabilities:
Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all students,
including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. University policy states that
it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student
Services (DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone 304 696-2271 to provide documentation of their
disability. Following this, the DSS Coordinator will send a letter to each of the student’s
instructors outlining the academic accommodation he/she will need to ensure equality in
classroom experiences, outside assignment, testing and grading. The instructor and student will
meet to discuss how the accommodation(s) requested will be provided. For more information,
please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled or contact Disabled Student Services Office at
Prichard Hall 11, phone 304-696-2271.
Cell phones, pagers, and other electronic communication devices should be turned off
during class time. This is especially true on exam days. No drink and food are allowed
in the lab room.
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Lab Schedule:
(Schedule is subject to change.)
(Students are responsible for all announcements in-class or e-mail)
Week of
Experiment
Aug. 26/30
1-Modern Physics Visualized
Sep. 2/6
2-Photoelectric Effect
Sep. 9/13
3-Blackbody Radiation
Sep. 16/20
4-Frank-Hertz Experiment
Sep. 23/27
5-Millikan Oil Drop
Sep. 30/Oct. 4
6-X-rays Diffraction
Oct. 7/11
Midterm Exam
Oct. 14/18
7-e/m Ratio
Oct.21/25
8-Electron Diffraction
Oct. 28/Nov.1
9-IR Camera Experiment
Nov. 4/8
10-Cosmic Radiation
Nov. 11/15
11-NMR Experiment
Nov. 18/22
12- Newly Designed Experiment
Nov. 25/29
Thanksgiving Break, no class
Dec. 2/6
13-Presentation
Dec. 9/13
Final Exam
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