Syllabus

Physics 344/462, Spring 2009

In this course you will perform several experiments in different areas of physics. In addition to studying the underlying physics for each measurement, you will learn many fundamental experimental techniques and how to record and report your results and analysis. These skills are crucial for anyone who would like to investigate our natural world!

*Recording measurements and reporting results:

• It is important for a scientist to record his/her work in the laboratory in a bound lab notebook. This makes it possible to collect sketches of the experimental design, descriptions of techniques, and data, even from measurements that were later determined to be flawed, in one place. The Syracuse University Bookstore will stock such notebooks, produced by National Brand, part number 43-648. These have grids on each page, page numbers, and are large enough to attach separate drawings or printouts using clear tape. Here are links to the basic procedures for maintaining your lab notebook, and a description of the notebook grading criteria.
• A scientist must be able to report her/his measurements in a clear document with a detailed explanation of the experimental technique used, presentation of the relevant data in appropriate plots and tables, and a discussion of the comparison of the measured results with the theoretical predictions. For two of the experiments that you perform this semester, you will write such a lab report using a word processor, along with plots and fits of data using the Origin plotting program and basic sketches using drawing tools on the PC as necessary. The TAs and instructor can assist you in learning these various programs. The PCs in room 377 are networked to allow printing to the physics departmental printers. Here is a link to the lab report grading criteria.

*Textbook:

• John R. Taylor, An Introduction to Error Analysis (University Science Books, 1982) -- required -- available at the University Bookstore. This book describes the appropriate procedures for characterizing uncertainties in any sequence of measurements. We will begin studying this book immediately as we learn basic measurement techniques and error analysis with our introductory project on general measurements. In fact, the procedures we study will be crucial for performing any of the experiments you will work on throughout this semester, as well as your future scientific work, so this is an important book to have available.
• In addition, there are many references that are quite useful for the various experiments you will perform. We will try to have several of these available in Room 377, but please do not remove these books from the lab.
• Please feel free to do your own research on the topics related to a particular experiment -- the Physics Library is close by (collection located on 4th floor of Sci-Tech library). Of course, with references from the library, books and materials in the lab, or with electronic resources, such as information from the internet, you must be careful to cite your sources appropriately in your reports and notebook. The instructor and TAs will be happy to give assistance with this.

*Lab partners:

• For most of the lab projects, you will work with one other class member. You are free to choose your own lab partner and you may switch lab partners later in the semester if there are at least two groups willing to swap.
• Your lab partner should be registered for the same course as you -- so, pairs of PHY344 students and pairs of PHY462 students.
• You will work together with your partner assembling the apparatus and acquiring the data, however, you and your partner must keep separate lab notebooks with your own record of the data and experimental method. You may work with your partner on the analysis of your data, however you must both write and submit independent lab reports with your own presentation of your results.

*Assistance and supervision:

• The professor will be available in the lab for at least one hour at two of the three sessions each week. At least one teaching assistant will be present during all scheduled course times. You are allowed to have extra time to complete an experiment beyond the scheduled class period, provided you follow a few important rules:
  • You may not work on any experimental apparatus alone. At least one other student registered for Physics 344/462, perhaps your lab partner, must be present.
  • After hours, you may not start a new experiment or turn on any equipment which you have not thoroughly checked out with the instructor or TA.
  • To obtain a key to room 377, please see Diane Sanderson in the Physics Department main office (room 201). If you are the last person to leave the lab, please turn off all equipment for your experiment (unless you are working on the muon lifetime project), turn off the lights, and make sure the door is locked. Remember to return your key to Diane Sanderson at the end of the semester.
  • Students in PHY462 may obtain a second key to the front auxiliary room from Diane Sanderson, although lab partners may need to share these. This room is to remain locked when no one is working on any of the PHY462 projects.
• In order to gain the maximum benefit from the teaching assistants and instructor, you must be working in the lab for at least 50% of the scheduled class time each week. Sign-up sheets will be posted on the door to room 377 for people to log their time in class.

*Lab safety:

• As in any laboratory, please follow general safe practices. Here are a few basic rules:
  • Never work on experiments in the lab when the room is empty (see after-hours rules above).
  • Consult the various manuals and references in the lab when setting up new equipment.
  • If you don't understand something, please ask the instructor or TA for assistance before going further.
  • Do not consume food or beverages in the lab. Please go out in the hallway or downstairs if you need a snack.
  • Use caution when working with any of the light-emitting equipment. In the Optics lab, never look directly into the laser beam. In the Photoelectric Effect project, do not look at the mercury arc lamp while it is on -- use the metal shield cage and/or safety goggles at all times.

*Selection of experiments:

• There are currently fourteen experimental setups available, although four of them are designated for students registered for PHY462.
• Several of the experiments will have extra components which are required for students in PHY462 but optional for students in PHY344.
• We will do our best to accommodate student requests for the different experiments, but of course only one group can be working on a particular experiment at any given time.
• During the first week of classes, while we are working on the introductory project, please find a lab partner. The two of you should then survey the available experiments and discuss them with the instructor and TAs, then email the TAs your top five choices for your first experiment.

*Grading:

• There will be no exams.
• Each student registered for PHY344 will complete five experiments; each student in PHY462 will complete four experiments during the semester. All students will work on the the introductory error analysis project at the start of the semester. There will also be homework assignments from the Error Analysis textbook that will be assigned and due during the first part of the semester.
• For each experiment that you complete, including the Error Analysis project, you will turn in your lab notebook (so, 5+1=6 total notebook grades).
• For one of the first three experiments (not including the Error Analysis project), and one of the last two experiments, you will prepare and submit a lab report in addition to your notebook for that experiment (so, 2 total report grades).
• For one of the experiments after Experiment #1, students in PHY344 will give a 15-minute presentation in class on the due date for that particular experiment (so, 1 presentation grade). We will try to have an equal fraction of the students give presentations on each of the four dates in the table below. We will be happy to have volunteers for the first few dates, but the rest of the presentation dates will be assigned at random. Please discuss with the instructor at the beginning of the semester if there are particular dates you would prefer for your presentation or if you have any conflicts.
• Students in 462 will write a final paper on an advanced topic in experimental physics. This will be due on May 4 and the topic can be chosen after discussions with the instructor.
• Your grade will be determined by your lab notebook, your lab reports, your presentation, your homework, and your overall performance in the lab.
• Equal weight will be assigned to each of the assignments (6 x notebooks + 2 x reports + 1 x presentation + 1 x homework = 10 assignments). For PHY462, this will be (5 x notebooks + 2 x reports + 1 x paper + 1 x homework = 9 assignments).
• Do not move on to a new experiment until you have completed the data acquisition and analysis for your previous experiment.
• Each project must be completed with your notebook submitted no later than the following dates (submissions before these due dates are always welcome):

• Report #1 must be submitted no later than April 1 and Report #2 is due on May 4.
• Late reports and notebooks will be marked down one grade notch (for example, A to A-, B+ to B, etc.) for each class period beyond the relevant deadline.
• As with any assignment, your work must be original. Any sources (even online resources) that you quote or paraphrase in your reports, presentations, or lab notebooks, must be properly cited. The Syracuse University Academic Integrity Policy holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort. For more information and the complete policy, see http://academicintegrity.syr.edu.
• Students who are in need of disability-related academic accommodations must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS), 804 University Avenue, Room 309, 315-443-4498. Students with authorized disability-related accommodations should provide a current Accommodation Authorization Letter from ODS to the instructor and review those accommodations with the instructor. Accommodations, such as exam administration, are not provided retroactively; therefore, planning for accommodations as early as possible is necessary. For further information, see the ODS website, Office of Disability Services.