Schedule

Overall Structure

 

The course will be divided into two sections:  introductory and core experiments.  During the first five weeks of class, students will work either in pairs or by themselves to complete four introductory experiments. The goal of these experiments or exercises is to become acquainted with the laboratory equipment and laboratory techniques in the context of relatively simple physical systems.  The last nine weeks of the course will give students an opportunity to work on three different core experiments which are more involved and will require three weeks. 

 

For the four introductory experiments, you will be required to either submit a formal report  or answer several exercises, depending on the details outlined in the description of that experiment.  These reports will typically be due during the week after the completion of the lab.  Two of the four intro experiments require a complete report, and these will provide feedback to help you with the formal reports required for each of the core experiments.  For each of the three core experiments a formal laboratory report is due the week following the completion of the experiment.  In addition each student will make a final oral presentation on one of the three core experiments (of his or her choice) during the final exam period.

 

Introductory Lab Assignments

  TBD

 

Meeting Dates

 

Intro Lab 1:  1/13.1/20

Intro Lab 2: 1/27

Intro Lab 3: 2/3

Intro Lab 4: 2/10

 

Core Lab A:  2/17,2/24,3/3

Core Lab B:  3/10,3/24,3/31

Core Lab C:  4/7,4/14.4/21,4/28

 

Final Presentation

 

The final presentations will be given during the final exam period:  5:00-7:00 PM on Tuesday, May 5.  Alternate final exam times are not possible unless the entire class unanimously agrees to move the time of the exam.  More details regarding the final exam can be found at the bottom of the grading policy page.

P451 Modern Physics Lab