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Syllabus
Physics 276 - Experimental Physics II: Electricity
and Magnetism
Department of Physics University of Maryland
This course, the third in the introductory laboratory sequence, which includes PHYS174, PHYS275 and PHYS276, is intended primarily for physics majors, but is open to all science and engineering students interested in a rigorous introduction to experimental physics. The experiments emphasize electromagnetic fields and circuits. A major component of this course is developing skills in record keeping, data analysis, and scientific writing.
Instructor: Wendell T. Hill, III
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Office: 2120 IPST |
Office Hours: M 11-noon & Tu 10-11 |
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Phone: 301-405-4813 |
(Other times by appointment) |
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Email: wth@umd.edu |
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TA: Chaun Jang
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Office: 4219 Physics |
Office Hours: Tu 11-noon & W 11-noon |
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Phone: 301-405-6073 |
(other times by appointmentl) |
Email: cujang@umd.edu |
Laboratory Staff:
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Allen Monroe |
Office: 3311 Physics |
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Phone: x56002 |
On site: 8:00-16:00 M-F |
Email: amonroe@physics.umd.edu |
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Tom Baldwin |
Office: 3202 Physics |
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Phone: x56004 |
On site: 9:30-18:00 M-F |
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Email: tbald@physics.umd.edu |
Prerequisite: Physics 272 and 275
Meeting:
Sec. 0101, Monday 14:00-18:00,
Physics Bldg. Rm. 3120
Sec. 0201, Tuesday 13:00-16:50, Physics Bldg. Rm. 3120
Text and Materials:
Physics 276 Laboratory Manual
AND at least one of the following:
Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences - Phillip R. Bevington and D. Keith Robinson (McGraw Hill, Inc., 2003, ISBN 0-07-247227-8);
An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurement – John R. Taylor (University Science Books, 1997, ISBN 0-935702-75-X).
Experiments:
There are seven experiments to be done, with the Lab VI split into two weeks.
All experiments must be done to pass the course. Much of your in-class work
will be carried out in Excel spreadsheets or Mathematica notebooks.
You also will need a lab notebook to keep a record of your work. These notebooks
will be checked periodically by your instructor or TA. Acceptable lab notebooks
should be 8.5" x 11", bound (with spiral or book binding), and have numbered
and quad-ruled pages. Pages should be permanent, not perforated for tear-out.
At the end of each lab period, you must submit your electronic data sheets via
the web along with any preliminary analysis. Identify your lab partner on your
submissions. We will use WebCT to collect lab reports and post grades. The URL
is http://www.courses.umd.edu.
Analysis Software:
You may use the Excel macros that can be found on the lab PCs or the Mathematica functions, some of which will be provided for you. These materials will also be made available on the WebCT site. Naturally, you may develop your own analysis software, but you may not simply substitute your numbers into someone else's spreadsheet or notebook!
Late Arrival:
Classes begin promptly on the hour and it is important to arrive on time to receive lab instructions and to have time to finish. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late you might not be allowed into the lab and will have to make it up in another section or during the make-up week.
Making up Missed Labs:
If you miss a lab and cannot make it up in one of the other sections, it will be necessary to sign up for a make-up during one of the scheduled make-up periods. Failure to perform all of the labs will result in failure of the course.
Report:
You are required to submit a written report of your results for each experiment.
The reports will be submitted electronically and will generally be due an hour
before lab begins the following week. An outline of the requirements for the
report is given in the lab manual. We will use WebCT to collect lab reports
and post grades. The URL is http://www.courses.umd.edu. You must identify your
lab partner on your report.
Late Reports:
Late reports will be assessed a penalty of 10% (2 pts) per day. A missing lab report will cost one letter grade for the course.
Missed Lab:
Missing a lab, and not making it up, will result in failure of the course!
Homework:
There will be one homework assignment due before the start of class the day
Lab I is done. The purpose of this assignment is to review and strengthen your
understanding of the type of error analysis you will be performing in the labs
this semester. There may be a second assignment later in the semester.
Discussions:
A few class meetings will be devoted to discussions of the physics and/or data analysis for upcoming experiments. Participation in these sessions is just as important as the experiments themselves. Attendence is mandatory; your grade will be adversely affected if missed.
Dates | Lab No. | Activity | Due 1 hr before class starts |
1/30 & 1/31 | Introduction, Error Analysis |
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2/6 & 2/7 | I | Ohm's Law | Homework |
2/13 & 2/14 | Discussion | Lab I | |
2/20 & 2/21 | II | Magnet Field due to Currents |
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2/27 & 2/28 | III | An Electron Beam in E & B Fields | Lab II |
3/6 & 3/7 | Discussion | Lab III | |
3/13 & 3/14 | IV | RC and RL Circuits wth a DC Input | |
3/20 & 3/21 | Spring Break | ||
3/27 & 3/28 | V | RC Circuits with an AC Input | Lab IV |
4/3 & 4/4 | VIa | LRC Circuits and Resonance: Part a | Lab V |
4/10 & 4/11 | VIb | LRC Circuits and Resonance: Part b | Lab VIa |
4/17 & 4/18 | VII | Diodes and Rectifier Circuits | Lab VIb |
4/24 & 4/25 | Make-up | Lab VII | |
5/1 & 5/2 | Discussion & Make-up | Make-up | |
5/8 & 5/9 | Final Lab | Final Lab & Make-up |
Grading:
Report Grade:
Completeness and Presentation: Were all required measurements and analyses performed? Is the writing clear, complete, and concise? Do all figures have axes labeled, legends, and suitable formats? | 0-7
pts |
Proper use of significant figures, units, scientific notation. | 0-3
pts |
Analysis: Are both random and systematic uncertainties evaluated? Are the data evaluated for consistency and compared with model predictions where approporate? | 0-10
pts |
TOTAL | 20
pts |
Course Grade:
Lab Reports | 65% |
Homework | 5% |
Final Lab | 15% |
Class Performance* | 15% |
TOTAL | 100 % |
*Includes your lab noteobook
and experimental approach. Read the lab manual carefully before lab and attempting the
experiments. Keep a complete log for the experiment including
experimental diagrams of measurement configurations actually used to obtain
data, results, estimates of various errors and limitations to the measurements,
analysis used to obtain final results and a proper estimate of all errors including
systematic errors as well as statistical errors.
Tips for Doing Well:
Last modification Sunday, January 29, 2006