MODERN PHYSICS LABORATORY PHY33320 Supervisor: Robert Friedfeld Email: rfriedfeld@sfasu.edu Office: 322I or 126 Miller Science Building Phone: 468-2197 Office Hours: [MW (8 10) AM (3-5) PM], [T,R (9:30-10:30) AM] Aug. 31 Dec.10, 2010 Department: Physics & Astronomy Course meeting time and place: W (12:00-12:50)pm, Miller Science 323 Prerequisites: PHY 132 (or 242) and MTH 233 Co-requisites: PHY 333 Textbook: Modern Physics Lab Manual. Authors: In House Publication by the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy Term: Fall 2010 Instructors: Jonathan Belew and Andrew Kocurek. Course Description: 1 semester hour, 3 hours lab per week. Computation of lecture and laboratory grades into one grade; same grade recorded for both lecture and laboratory. Co-requisite: PHY 333. Lab fee required. Course Objectives: Investigate some of the classic experiments in twentieth century physics that contributed to changing our world view from Newtonian physics to quantum mechanics and relativity Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, a successful student will be able to: Demonstrate ability to work effectively with laboratory partners in a team. Demonstrate effective writing skills through written laboratory reports. Demonstrate good experimental technique in the laboratory by following directions and properly using the equipment in performing the experiments. Course Assessment: The lecture and laboratory grades are computed into one grade, and the same grade is recorded for both lecture and laboratory. Three lecture exams count as 25% of the overall grade. A comprehensive final exam counts as 25% and homework assignments count as 25% of the overall grade. Lab experiment grades count as 25% of a student s overall grade.
TENTATIVE CALENDAR Group I Schedule Date Experiment Due Date 01 Sept. Statistics 15 Sept. 15 Sept Absorption of Radiation 29 Sept 29 Sept Blackbody Radiation 13 Oct 13 Oct Electrostatic Deflection 27 Oct 27 Oct Critical Potentials 10 Nov 10 Nov Electron and X-ray Diffraction 01 Dec 01 Dec Eigenvalue Problem* 08 Dec Group II Schedule Date Experiment Due Date 08 Sept. Statistics 22 Sept. 22 Sept Absorption of Radiation 06 Oct 06 Oct Blackbody Radiation 20 Oct 20 Oct Electrostatic Deflection 03 Nov 03 Nov Critical Potentials 17 Nov 17 Nov Electron and X-ray Diffraction 01 Dec 01 Dec Eigenvalue Problem* 08 Dec *NB: Both groups do this experiment on Dec. 01. Only one week allowed for the write up on this experiment.
ELEMENTS OF A GOOD REPORT Avoid Noise Text Writing for Readability Poor grammar and punctuation Unknown terms or jargon Filler Unsupported statements Poor page layout Use ragged right edge (not justified) Use Ariel or Times New Roman font, 12-point, 1.5 line spacing (leading) Use headings in a different style Justify your claims Show relevance of what you write Build a logical argument Write clearly Write short, simple words when they are sufficient Write with vigor Use specific, concrete language Avoid slang or jargon Be concise - avoid redundancy Vary sentence length Sentences with new ideas should, perhaps, be shorter. Sentences used to support an idea can be longer. LATE POLICY: A penalty of one point per minute (maximum of 11 points) will be charged for labs turned in after 12pm on the due date. For each additional day late 10 points will be deducted from the grade. Students are expected to have read the lab before class starts. In each lab the instructor will demonstrate safe laboratory procedures and experimental setup. The student is responsible for doing their own research to gain an understanding of the theory behind the experiment and then producing a professional report of their findings. Lab reports are due on the due dates listed in the Calendar. With the exception of the last lab, you will have two weeks for each lab write up. All reports should be turned in stapled and in the order listed on the General Report Requirements pg. 1 of your lab manual.
HELPFUL NOTES ON REPORT REQUIREMENTS: Each section of your lab should start on a new page with title in upper left and underlined. Title page: Needs to be centered on first page. The date should be the date due. Abstract (10 pts): Generally only one paragraph. State what the experiment was, significant instruments used, and all significant values with necessary error measurements. Note that the abstract does not get a page number. Table of Contents (3 pts): Section title on left with page numbers aligned on the right edge. Introduction (10 pts) 1-2 pages: The purpose of the experiment should be stated here. The rest of the introduction should be a brief history of the experiment. Page numbers start here centered in a footer. Theory (20 pts) 5 pages: Theory of the lab. Explain in detail and make sure you answer all questions in the lab. Quality is more important than quantity but realize that each page of theory is worth approximately 4 points. Experimental Procedure (5 pts): I should be able to repeat your experiment exactly as you did it from these instructions with no other aids. Take your time and write in detail. Use your notes that you take as you perform the lab. With good notes this should be the easiest part of the lab. It may also be helpful to include computer drawn or imported photos for clarity. Graphs and Data (10 pts): List all data in an orderly fashion to make it easy to read. Make sure to use proper graphing techniques. I recommend using EXCEL to make graphs.
Calculations (5 pts): Start by using an equation editor to give the formula then work one example, step by step from your lab, of the calculation. Repeat for each new calculation you perform. Analysis and Conclusion (20 pts) 2 pages. Take some time to explain the results you found. Give reasons for peculiarities in your results and explain why you manipulated any data. Discuss reasons for error and methods of improvement. This section counts for the most points per word, so make each word count. Bibliography (5 pts): Five sources, three preferably out of the library, one may be internet, and then the lab manual and the class notes. Should be listed in alphabetic order, with the second lines of each entry indented and a space between each entry. ** Due to the increasing concerns about plagiarism proper in text documentation (last name, pg#) is required for all quotations, thoughts and ideas that are not original. Note that SFA s policy on plagiarism allows punishment from a reduced grade on the lab, failure of the class, to possible expulsion from the university. Simply put, when in doubt document it. Overall Format (12 pts): Given for format of the lab. Here I will be looking for small details such as did you use Arial or Time Roman font, 1.5 line spacing, numbering pages, etc. Acknowledgement: Thanks to former graduate student Kris Byboth for suggested changes & additions to this laboratory syllabus. FINAL TIPS: DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Get started on your data analysis and report writing during the first week of the experiment & before the second week. Remember, your lab average carries a weight of 20% of your final course average- more than an in class semester exam.
CELL PHONES & OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Cell phones and other electronic devices are to be turned off upon entering the classroom and stowed in a zipped up book bag or brief case. An unsecured cell phone during class or during an exam is subject to confiscation and in the case of an exam, will result in an automatic zero for the exam. Any programmable calculator used on an exam must have its memory wiped before the exam. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY (A-9.1): Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism. Definition of Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class (homework, clicker, exams, lecture or lab); (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit. Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academicintegrity.asp Penalties may include no credit or failure in the course. WITHHELD GRADES SEMESTER GRADES POLICY (A-54): Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average.
The circumstances precipitating the request must have occurred after the last day in which a student could withdraw from a course. Students requesting a WH must be passing the course with a minimum projected grade of C. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/. DEAD WEEK: The term Dead Week pertains to the last week of classes before final exam week. The instructor of this course reserves the right to give tests and assignments during Dead week. ATTENDANCE POLICY: You are expected to attend ALL laboratory meetings.