Physics 23 Laboratory
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Physics 23 laboratories meet every other week during the semester for a total of six
laboratories. No laboratories the first week of classes. ODD-numbered laboratories
(3L01, 3L03, 3L05, …) first meet the week of January 15, 2007. However, because of M.
L. King Day, Monday, January 15, there will be no meeting of sections 3L01, 3L03,
3L05, 3L21 and 3L23. There will be a special makeup lab for these sections on Monday,
March 12. No signup will be required for these makeup sessions. Sections 3L07,
3L09,…will meet as scheduled January 16, 17 and 19. EVEN-numbered sections
(3L02, 3L04, 3L06,…) meet for the first time the week of January 22. A schedule of
laboratory meeting times is attached below.
Your total lab score (six laboratories and reports at 100 points each.) for 600 possible
points. You will be informed by Prof. Bieniek how these points contribute to your 23
course grade. There is no separate grade for the laboratory part of Physics 23.
The laboratory exercises are designed to be completed during the two-hour
laboratory session. You will turn in your laboratory report at the end of the laboratory
period.
Your recitation instructor will return laboratory reports to you. It is your responsibility to
keep a file of the reports returned to you in case of an error in recording your grade. If
you wish to dispute the grading of a laboratory report, you must state your question or
complaint in writing and return it to your recitation instructor the day of the report’s
return to you. Your laboratory instructor will NOT accept reports for re-grading.
Laboratory Absences are to be handled by completing a make up lab during the
scheduled make up sessions scheduled for April 23-26. You may make up ONLY ONE
lab during the semester. So plan accordingly for any field trips, etc. You may sign
up for any make up session, but YOU MUST SIGN UP IN ADVANCE FOR MAKEUP LABS by noon, April 20, on a sheet that will be posted on the board outside room
215. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Do not say you forgot to signup for a
make-up laboratory or that you forgot to attend. These excuses will not be
accepted. No make-ups for low grades.
IN GENERAL: Laboratory reports are to be written in the passive voice as is standard
for scientific reports. “The voltage was measured and recorded.” NOT “We measured
the voltage.” As you proceed, make sure you save files (Data Studio and WORD or
EXCEL files to your account on C/.temp/filename. . This will allow you to recover them
in the event of a crash or network failure. Proper grammar and spelling are expected,
as well clarity and good organization. Points will be deducted for poor grammar,
spelling, organization and lack of clarity.
ONLY ONE COPY of lab report need be submitted for each team.
HOWEVER, there must be a cover page attached for EACH team
member.
Laboratory Report Check List:
Cover Sheet: Fill out information required. Be sure that you have a cover sheet with
your name listed under “NAME” and your partner’s name in the appropriate place. If
your copy does not have your name in the correct place, you will not receive credit for
the lab report. There must be a cover page attached for EACH team member. Ten
points will be deducted from your score for each missing item on the cover page.
Objectives: This section may be supplied, in whole or part, or you will need to supply it
after you understand the purpose of the laboratory exercise.
Reading: References to your textbook relevant to this lab. Include page references.
Bring your textbook to laboratory.
Introduction: A brief summary of the concepts needed, and how the measurements were
performed and analyzed. This section should probably be written, at least in part, after
performing the measurements and analysis.
Apparatus: List apparatus used, including any software required. There should be a
schematic diagram (which may be hand drawn) of the apparatus.
Procedure: Describe how you made your measurements.
Measurements: This section (which may appear in the Procedure section) should include
your measurements, often in tabular form. What is in the table should be clearly labeled
(columns and rows) and the table must have a title. (Tables may be copied from Data
Studio into EXCEL for some experiments, where calculations can be done and results
copied into your report in WORD.) Units need to be included. Graphs may also be
appropriate and should have a title and labeled axes.
Analysis: This section should describe what you did to interpret your measurements and
derive some quantity, g for example. Also included should be any appropriate analysis of
errors. Needed equations should be presented with a reference to your text.
Conclusions: Include a brief summary of your procedure and analysis. Comment on
your error analysis. For example, does the accepted value of g lie with in the range of
your derived value of g, with your estimated error?
Continued on the next page
Course Information, Physics 23 Laboratory
Page 3
Resources:
1. Your primary resource is your laboratory instructor. At the first laboratory
meeting he or she will provide you with his or her office hours.
2. Dr. Ralph Alexander, 204 Physics, 341-4796, ralexand@umr.edu, My office
hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00-10:00am. I am usually in my office and
you are welcome to drop in. Or to be sure I am there, email for an appointment.
3. Dr. Don Hagen, G-7 Norwood Hall, 341-4351, hagen@umr.edu, Office Hours
are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 2:30-3:30pm, Thursdays 9:30-10:30am
and Fridays 11:30-12:30
3. The Physics 23 Learning Center can also provide help with the laboratory.
The hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30-5:00pm and 6:00-8:30pm.
4. Your recitation instructor or Dr. Bieniek can also help with laboratory
questions.
Contact Persons:
1. If you have difficulty understanding your laboratory instructor’s language,
contact Dr. Alexander, 204 Physics, 341-4796, ralexand@umr.edu, or Dr. Paul
Parris, chairman, Physics, 101 Physics, 341-4790, parris@umr.edu.
2. If you are unable to resolve a problem by talking with your laboratory
assistant, contact Dr. Alexander, 204 Physics, 341-4796, ralexand@umr.edu, or
Dr. Don Hagen, G-7 Norwood Hall, 341-4351, hagen@umr.edu, or Dr. Paul
Parris, Chairman, Physics, 101 Physics, 341-4790, parris@umr.edu or Dr. Paula
Lutz, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 121 Fulton Hall, 341-4131,
plutz@umr.edu
Schedule on next page
Physics 23 Laboratory
Spring 2007
Physics 23 Laboratory Sections meet six times during the semester in ROOM 215. ODD
numbered sections (3L01, 3L03, ...) one week and EVEN sections (3L02, 3L04, ...) the
following week, according the schedule below.
Laboratory Schedule
Week of ...
ODD Sections 3L01, 3L03,...
EVEN 3L02, 3L04, ...
Jan 8-12
NO LAB First Week of Classes
NO LAB First Week of Classes
Jan 15-19 No Labs Monday due to
M.L. King Day
O1: Data Studio, Measurement and
Errors NO LABS FOR 3L01,
3L03, 3L05, 3L21, 3L23. Makeup on March 12.
NO LAB
Jan 22-26
NO LAB
E1: Data Studio, Measurement and
Errors, Free Fall
Jan 29-Feb 2
O2: Projectile Motion
NO LAB
Feb 5- Feb 9
NO LAB
E2: One Dimensional Motion with
Constant Acceleration
Feb 12 – Feb 16
O3: Friction
NO LAB
Feb 19 – Feb 23
NO LAB
Feb 26 – Mar 2
O4: Collisions, Impulse
NO LAB
Mar 5 – Mar 9
NO LAB
E4: Archimedes’ Principle
Mar 12 – Mar 14 St Patrick
Monday, Makeup for 3L01, 3L03,
3L05, 3L21, 3L23. No labs for
other sections.
NO LAB
Mar 19 - Mar 23
O5: Rotation with constant 
NO LAB
Mar 26 – Mar 30 Spring Break
NO LAB
NO LAB
Apr 2 – Apr 6
NO LAB
E5: Rotational Collisions
Apr 9 – Apr 13
O6: Oscillatory Motion-The
Pendulum
NO LAB
Apr 16 – Apr 20
E6: Resonance-Standing Waves
Apr 23 –Apr 28
Makeup Labs-Sign Up before
NOON, Friday, April 20
Apr 30 – May 4
Last Week of Classes-NO LABS
12 December 2006
E3: Shear Modulus
Makeup Labs-Sign Up before
NOON, Friday, April 20
Last Week of Classes-NO LABS