Laboratory Safety, Safety is the highest priority
• Read the “Safety in the laboratory” section of the lab manual
before you go to the lab this week. Safe practices are mostly
common sense. If you are worried about any procedure or piece
of equipment, ask.
• You must be especially conscious of proper handling of radioactive
materials. Review carefully the specific information on radiation
safety the week before you do any lab requiring the use of
radioactive sources.
• If your T.A. or instructor assess that you have not mastered
essential safety issues, you will be required to review them before
continuing with your experiment. Do not count on your lab
partners for your own safety.
(Any student offends this set of rules for the second time will not
allow to enter the lab and will receive an “F” grade.)
Posted on the lab
entrance door
Deadline: penalties
Deadline is deadline. TA will grant exception under acceptable circumstances.
BUT be responsible!! At least, let your TA and me know immediately.
Due time for pre-lab write-up: one hour before the first day of each new lab
project.
Due time for the first two lab-books (lab #1 ,and #2): 45 hours upon completing
the lab.
For the Thursday section, it will be 10 AM on Monday.
For the Friday section, it will be noon on the following Monday
Here are the penalties for "unacceptable" overdue.
Overdue for pre-lab write up, 2 points (out of 5 points for the pre-lab write up).
Overdue for lab note-book, 2 point per day (out of 10 points).
Missing the pre-lab write up, first time (may be ok), second time (you have to see
me), third time (fail the course).
These are the uniform guidelines for all TA’s. I sincerely hope that we do not need
them in this semester.
Posted on the lab
entrance door
Grade of Lab notebooks
For each experiment, your lab book will be graded on a scale of 15 points:
Pre-Lab write-up (5 points): see the orientation checklist for details
The PreLab write-up should be done using a word processor, submitting your PreLab
write-up in pdf-file format through Moodle one-hour before starting the new lab,
printing out your write-up and pasting it in the lab book on a new blank page with your
name, date, and experiment title clearly showing at the top. It can be 1-2 pages long.
Organization (2 points)
• Title, Date, Purpose of Experiment
• Experimental details (labeled diagrams, equipment lists with model numbers)
• Explanation of procedure
• Neat graphs, clarity, references
Data (6 points – first half semester; 3 points – second half semester)
• Thoughtful measurement process
• Careful technique – quality of data
• Clearly labeled data – use tables as appropriate
• Correct units and significant figures
• Clearly assigned errors /uncertainties (always included for raw data)
Grade of Lab notebooks
Analysis (0 points – first half semester; 3 points – second half semester)
• Computations recorded (you may paste in spreadsheets, making sure that columns are clearly
labeled)
• Clear and correct units
• Titles and labeled axes on graphs
• Correct treatment of uncertainties and significant figures
Conclusions (2 points)
• Clear statement of results with uncertainties
• Discussion of results
• Questions from lab manual answered
For the first half of the semester (first set of three two-week labs), we will stress that
students learn the sources of errors of each acquired datum. The second half of
the semester (second set of two three-week labs), we will add on the concept
and importance of data analyses.
Grade of Lab notebooks
Analysis (0 points – first half semester; 3 points – second half semester)
• Computations recorded (you may paste in spreadsheets, making sure that columns are clearly
labeled)
• Clear and correct units
• Titles and labeled axes on graphs
• Correct treatment of uncertainties and significant figures
Conclusions (2 points)
• Clear statement of results with uncertainties
• Discussion of results
• Questions from lab manual answered
For the first half of the semester (first set of three two-week labs), we will stress that
students learn the sources of errors of each acquired datum. The second half of
the semester (second set of two three-week labs), we will add on the concept
and importance of data analyses.
Posted on the lab
entrance door
Let me show you one example of very good lab book
Use the first page for the
“Table of Contents” of
the entire lab book
Spec BK 2708 multi-meter
•
Spec BK 2708 multi-meter (I)
e. g. , Meter reading: 123.4 mV (steady)
Resolution: 0.1 mV
123.35 to 123.44 mV
Accuracy: ±(0.25% +1 digit)
±[123.4*0.0025+1*(0.1)] mV = ±0.4 mV
If there are changes in reading during
the course of observation, from 123.5 to
123.7 mV, then you must take this
variation in your experimental errors.
•
For your convenience, Spec BK 2708
multi-meter has been organized in a
file of “Multimeter datasheets”.
There are five sets of binders in the
lab.
Mistakes
•
Cross them off carefully.
Do not destroy the page(s)!
•
Correct Data
Can you point out the improvements needed in this part of lab book?
• Can you point out the improvements needed in this part of lab book?
•
Any suggest of improvement on this data presentation?
•
Any suggest of improvement on this data presentation?
Axis-labels are too small!
•
Any suggest of improvement on this data presentation?
Any suggest of improvement on this data presentation?
If the errors are too small,
what should you do?
Any suggest of improvement on this data presentation?
If the errors are too small,
what should you do?
Note: the sizes of errors are equal (or smaller than) the sizes of the symbols.
•
What is wrong in this data presentation?
•
What is wrong in this data presentation?
Missing units
•
What is wrong in this data presentation?
•
What is wrong in this data presentation?
Axis-labels are missing.
•
A better data presentation, suggestion for improvement?
• Data presentation better one, suggestion for improvement?
Use different symbols for
In(Total) and
In (Slow)
• Can you point out the needed improvements in this data presentation?
•
Unit for V?
What is wrong in this data presentation?
•
What are missing in this data presentation?
•
Data presentation
Data presentation in color is a good
idea. However, if you only have a B/W
printer, which one is better?
• Data presentation
Title: Graphs in a lab book
should have a clear title.
Legend (essential for
multiple data set)
Use different symbols for
different data sets (colors
optional).
Appropriate choice of scale.
Graph should fill as much of
the area as possible.
Clear axis labels with units!