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
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 |
|
Aleksandr Azatov |
0106 |
Thursday |
|
Aleksandr Azatov |
0103 |
Thursday |
|
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 |
|
Fred Wellstood |
TBA |
|
|
|
|
|
0101 |
Wednesday |
|
Elizabeth Beise |
Aleksandr Azatov |
0105 |
Wednesday |
|
Elizabeth Beise |
James Harding |
0102 |
Wednesday |
|
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
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 |
|
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
Arriving late to class:
Classes at
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
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.
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