PHYSICS 170: College Physics Laboratory I

Spring Semester, 2009

 

Coordinator: Dr.  Jan Fiala
Office/Phone: Dow 211/774-3496
Office Hours: by appointment (see my schedule)
E-mail: fiala1j@cmich.edu

 

 

 

 

Teaching Assistants: Chamila Dharmawardhana Dulitha Hewadikaram Frederick Phelps
Office: Dow 233 Dow 229 Dow 214
Office Hours: M 12:00-1:00, W 11:00-1:00 M, W, F 10:00-11:00 M, F 9:30-12:00
Sections: W,T 1:00-2:50, M 7:00-8:50 M 1:00-2:50, T 3:00-4:50, 7:00-8:50 M 3:00-4:50
E-mail: dharm1cc@cmich.edu hewad1dk@cmich.edu phelps@phy.cmich.edu

                                        

 

 

 

PHY 170 is the laboratory portion of the two semester sequence in College Physics. Corequisite PHY 130. Experimental techniques of physics introduced by studying quantitative situations,  error analysis,  graphical analysis,  small computer calculations, and linear measurements.

UP (University Program).  This course satisfies the University Program Group II-B Laboratory requirement.

Required:  Textbook, Physics Laboratory Manual, F. M. Phelps, McGraw Hill 2003

                 Calculator with statistical package such as the TI-36X Solar

                  Protractor, 30 cm Clear ruler

                  Graph paper, 10 mm/cm and 3 cycle log log paper.

                  Laboratory Notebook with quadrille pages (graph paper pages)

Lab Notebook:  All data obtained in class must be recorded in your laboratory notebook.  Start each experiment on a new page.  Always state the name of your lab partner, and the date.  An important part of any scientific work is a signed and dated manual in which your work is recorded.  It becomes a legal document when properly verified by a supervisor.

Lab Reports:  A detailed laboratory report must be written for each experiment following exactly the format given in the lab manual.  Experiments 6, 8 and 12 must be typed on a word processor.  Other lab reports may be done by hand but most students find that doing all reports on a word processor saves time and effort.

Supervising Professor:  Dr. Fiala, Dow 211, is responsible for all sections.  Any questions or concerns you may have with any aspect of the course usually can be resolved easily and quickly if you contact him.

ADA.  (American Disabilities Act).  CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities, or services.  Students with disabilities which require accommodation to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should contact Dr. Fiala as early as possible

AI.  (Academic Integrity). Campus policies concerning Academic Integrity will be strictly observed during all exams and quizzes. Although data collection is a group activity, students must do calculations and reports independently. Presentation of copied work will result in 0 Credit on the assignment and may lead to disciplinary action.

CC.   (Classroom Civility).  The CMU policy on classroom civility requires each student to help create an environment during class that promotes learning, dignity, and mutual respect for everyone.  Students who speak at inappropriate times, engage in loud or distracting behavior, use inappropriate language, use cell phones, pagers, come to class late, depart early, are verbally abusive, are aggressive, disrespectful, defiant, etc. SHALL BE REMOVED FROM CLASS AND SUBJECTED TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION UNDER THE CODE OF STUDENT RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES. 

 

THE BASIC COURSE GOALS:

  • become familiar with some particular laboratory equipment and procedures

  • make careful and critical measurements

  • record and organize your observations

  • estimate uncertainties in your measurements

  • judge whether your measurements are consistent with previous measurements

Points and Grades:

Laboratory scores are computed according to the following point values:

 

Quizzes

20

Lab Reports 10 x 11

110

Formal Reports 3 x 20

60

Final Exam

60

Total

250

Final grades are determined according following table:

         
    A       100-92 A-     91-89  
  B+     88-85 B          84-80 B-     79-76  
  C+     75-73 C          72-68 C-     67-64  
  D+     63-61         60-55 D-     54-51  
  F F F  
         

 

Number

Week

Title/Description

1

Jan 12-16

Error Analysis and Significant Figures

2

Jan 19-23

Vernier and Micrometer Calipers

3

Jan 26-30

Composition of Forces

4

Feb 2-6

Velocity & Acceleration

5

Feb 9-13

Mass and Density

6

Feb 16-20

Momentum (FORMAL)

7

Feb 23-27

The Simple Pendulum

8

Mar 2-6

Hooke’s Law (FORMAL)

    Spring Break

9

Mar 16-20

Moment of Inertia

10

Mar 23-27

The Torsional Oscillator

11

Mar 30-Apr 3

Vibrating String

12

Apr 6-10

The Ballistic Pendulum (FORMAL)

13

Apr 13-17 Specific Heat and Latent Heat

14

Apr 20-24 Projectile Motion

Final

Apr 26-May 1

Laboratory Final (topic t.b.a.)

 

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