Physics 174: Physics Lab Introduction

Fall 2006, Prof. Arpita Upadhyaya

What the course is about:

Physics 174 is an introductory Physics Lab that meets for two hours each week in Room 3115 of the Physics Building. In this course you will be expected to master a few basic ideas and tools which you will need for later labs, including: understanding experimental errors, using computer spreadsheets for analyzing, plotting and fitting data, and working with simple electrical circuits and electrical measuring equipment.

Web Site: To get the latest information on Physics 174, check our web site at:

http://www.physics.umd.edu    then go to Academics, Courses, Phys 174, Fall 2006

Or http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys174/index.html

Or, you can get there by going to the WebCT course page:  www.courses.umd.edu

Lab sections: I teach three lab sections on Thursday:

Section

Day

Time

Teaching Assistant

0104

Thursday

9:00-10:50

Aleksandr Azatov

0106

Thursday

12:00-13:50

Aleksandr Azatov

0103

Thursday

14:00-15:50

James Harding

In addition, Prof. Fred Wellstood has one section on Tuesday and Professor Elizabeth Beise has three sections on Wednesday. If you miss class, you might be able to make it up during one of these sections. Contact them for permission.

Section

Day

Time

Instructor

Teaching

Assistant

0107

Tuesday

14:00 – 15:50

Fred Wellstood

TBA

 

 

 

 

 

0101

Wednesday

9:00-10:50

Elizabeth Beise

Aleksandr Azatov

0105

Wednesday

12:00-13:50

Elizabeth Beise

James Harding

0102

Wednesday

14:00-15:50

Elizabeth Beise

Aleksandr Azatov

 

My contact Information:

Prof. Arpita Upadhyaya

Office: IPST Bldg, Rm 0110                       
Phone: 405-9939                                         
Email: arpitau@umd.edu            

 

Office Hours: You can try stopping by my office at any time but the best way to reach me is to make an appointment by e-mail (preferable) or phone.

 

Course Instructor for Tuesday section:

            Prof. Fred Wellstood

            Office: Room 0367 Physics Building

            Phone: 405-7649

            E-mail: well@squid.umd.edu

 

Course Instructor for Wednesday sections:

            Prof. Betsy Beise

            Office: Physics Bldg, Rm 2220C

            Phone: 405-6109

            E-mail: beise@umd.edu

 

Teaching Assistants:

 

Name

James Harding

Aleksandr Azatov

Physics Dept Office:

0104

4219

Phone

405-8577

405-6073

Email

Hard0923@umd.edu

aazatov@umd.edu

Office hours

By appt

By appt

 

Prerequisites: The only prerequisite or co-requisite for the course is Math 140. This course is intended for, but not limited to, students who are interested in majoring in Physics.

Texts: Physics 174 Lab Manual - Fall 2005 edition. Also you'll need a book on data analysis:  "A Practical Guide to Data Analysis for Physical Science Students" by Louis Lyons or Intro to Error Analysis by Taylor. Also recommended but not required is "EXCEL 97 at a Glance" by Microsoft.

 Arriving late to class:

Classes at Maryland begin right on the hour. It is important that you arrive on time to Physics 174 so that you can get instructions for the lab and have time to finish. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, you will probably not be allowed into the lab and will have to make it up during another section.

 

 Lab Makeup Time: If you miss your regular lab section, then you should make that lab up by going to another section that same week. If you have questions about the lab, the equipment, or the homework, you can also stop by during this time. If you cannot attend another section, contact your instructor ASAP and a time for a makeup lab will be arranged. In general, this should be done the same week as the lab is scheduled.

Grading:

    50%     Lab Spreadsheets
    20%     Homework:    do the homework!!!
    15%    Test on spreadsheet, errors and measurements
    15%    Test on the oscilloscope and electrical circuits

Missing one Lab (and not making it up before the next lab) will cost one letter grade in your final grade. Missing one homework set will cost one-half of a letter grade in your final grade. No credit will be given for late homework unless you are seriously ill and provide a written note from your physician.

Homework is assigned at the end of each Lab. You will turn your homework electronically (we'll tell you how to do this at the first meeting) and you can turn it in anytime during the week, but by no later than 11:55 PM on the Tuesday before your next lab. Graded homework should be available a week after you turn it in.

General Comments on Homework: Finishing all the labs and homework sets is very important. Missing even one homework set will definitely hurt your grade. Just do it! Also, if you can't completely finish a homework set, turn in what you do have. When you are working on the homework sets, feel free to discuss among yourselves to try to figure out what is going on. However, do not use these discussions as an excuse to copy someone else's solution to the homework, or let someone else copy your solution. That is cheating and is strictly forbidden. It is also very self-defeating since another part of your grade will come from tests. The right way to discuss the homework is to first work through a problem on your own and arrive at a definite answer. With this preparation you can then discuss intelligently with your colleagues and see if you have missed something essential. Of course, you can always ask one of your instructors - that's what we get paid for. One final thing, if you get something fundamental wrong on a homework set or the practical tests, you will probably be assigned extra problems to solve until you master the concept.

 

 

 

 

Schedule for PHYS174, Fall 2006

Note the two exams on Oct 11/12 and Dec 6/7!

Aug30/31 :  NO CLASS

Sep 05-07: Exercise 1:   Introduction to Excel         

Sep 12-14: Exercise 2:   Measurements, Errors and Uncertainties

Sep 19-21: Exercise 4:   Straight Line Fits Using Excel and c2

Sep 26-28: Exercise 5*:   Using c2 to test a Theory

Oct 03-05: Exercise 6   (Review of Spreadsheets and Errors)

Oct 10-12: EXAM (called Exercise 7):   on Spreadsheets and Errors

Oct 17-19: Exercise 8:   Resistors and Multimeters

Oct 24-26: Exercise 9:   Measuring Currents and Voltages

Oct 31-Nov 02: Exercise 10:  Digital Oscilloscope and Function Generator

Nov 07-09: Exercise 11:   The Oscilloscope and AC Signals

Nov 14-16: Exercise 12:   Reflection of Voltage Pulses             

Nov 19-24:   Thanksgiving week. No lab

Nov 28-30:   Exercise 13 (Review of Circuits)

Dec 05-07: EXAM (called Exercise 14):   on Circuits and Error Analysis