Experimental Techniques in Physics (PHYS*2180)

Section 1: Course Information

Section 1.1: Course Instructor

Section 1.2: Graduate Teaching Assistant

Section 1.3: Laboratory Technicians

Section 1.4: Lecture and Lab Schedule

Section 1.4.1: Lectures

Section 1.4.2: Labs

Students are responsible for all information presented in lectures and labs. Active participation by students in the tutorials and lectures is required!

Section 1.5: Calendar Description

This course is designed to aid students in the development of core practical skills in physics. Students will be required to conduct a series of experiments exploring fundamental concepts in mechanics, electricity & magnetism, thermal physics, as well as the experimental basis of quantum physics. There will be a strong emphasis on data and error analysis with a variety of software applications.

Section 1.6: Credit Weighting

PHYS*2180 is a 0.50 credit weighted course. Per the University of Guelph Undergraduate Calendar, a 0.50 credit course carries the expectation of 10 – 12 student-effort hours per week, including time allocated to lectures, labs and tutorials.

Section 1.7: Course Aims

This course is not a “lab course”, but rather seeks to introduce students to basic experimental techniques, measurement theory and experiment design. The primary goal is to develop an appreciation of the role and significance of experimentation in the field of science. Students will be exposed to some widely employed experimental techniques and be introduced to some of the instrumentation that is used in experimental physics research. Students will understand how to critically assess the quality of experimental data and begin to develop their skills in the modeling of experimental data and presenting scientific research.

Section 1.8: Learning Objectives

At the successful completion of this course, students will have:

• mastered the use of digital multimeters and oscilloscopes to measure DC and AC voltages and currents.
• mastered the assessment of reasonable experimental uncertainty in a variety of different measurements, and understood how to minimize that uncertainty.
• rigorously analyzed experimental data using accepted error analysis methodologies to verify theoretical predictions.
• developed scientific presentation skills (both verbal and technical writing).
• learned to efficiently search the scientific literature and critically assess the scientific merit of what they read.
• become acquainted with a number of common experimental techniques in physics, many of which will be built upon in PHYS*3510 and PHYS*4500.

Section 1.9: Instructor’s Role and Responsibility to Students

The instructor’s role is to aid students in their performance of various experiments and provide guidance as students develop their mastery of the underlying physical concepts associated with these experiments.

Every student has the right to participate and contribute in the laboratory and other course activities. If a student feels that there is something preventing their full contribution, they must notify the course instructor or teaching assistants as soon as possible. We cannot address problems that we are not
aware of!

The instructor will ensure that the learning environment is free from harassment of any form. Offensive or inappropriate (homophobic, racist, sexist, etc.) comments are strictly prohibited. Offending students will be required to leave the lab or class, and a mark of zero will be given for any
assessments arising from that course activity. More serious cases will also be forwarded to the University of Guelph Judicial Committee, where the maximum penalty is suspension or expulsion from the University of Guelph. For more details, students should consult the University of Guelph’s current Policy on Non-Academic Misconduct.

Section 1.10: Students’ Learning Responsibility

Students are expected to take advantage of the learning opportunities provided during lectures and laboratory periods. Students having difficulty with the course content are advised to consult with the course instructor when they are struggling to understand a particular course concept, not after they
have been assessed – this is too late!

Students who do (or may) fall behind due to illness, work, or extra-curricular activities (including varsity sports, student leadership activities, etc.) are advised to keep the instructor informed such that extra resources or accommodation can be provided, if appropriate.

Students are expected to attend lectures and tutorials and are expected to complete their lab notebooks, formal lab reports and term projects in a timely fashion. Students are provided with deadlines for course materials at the beginning of the semester and are expected to work towards those deadlines accordingly.

Section 1.11: Relationship With Other Courses & Labs

Section 1.11.1: Prerequisite Courses

Students must have completed PHYS*2330. Students are strongly encouraged to take PHYS*2240 prior to this course and be co-registered in PHYS*2310 and PHYS*2340.

Students that have not completed IPS*1500 and IPS*1510 are strongly encouraged to review the error analysis package used in those courses (provided on Courselink).

Section 1.11.2: Restrictions

None.

Section 1.11.3: Follow-on Courses

PHYS*2180 is the first in a sequence of three experimental physics courses in the physics major. PHYS*3510 builds upon the scientific instrumentation learned in PHYS*2180, and is itself followed by PHYS*4500.

Some experiments in PHYS*2180 complement material taught in PHYS*2240, PHYS*2310, and PHYS*2340; however, this is not the primary role of this course.

Section 2: Assessment

Section 2.1: Final Grade Breakdown

All assessments submitted late without legitimate cause (see Section 2.3) will be penalized 10% per late day, to a maximum of 50%. After five days, the late work will no longer be accepted and the student will receive a grade of 0 for that assessment.

Section 2.1.1: Lab Notebooks

Students will submit their lab notebooks one week after completing each experiment, and these will be evaluated based on the criteria developed during their first lab session.

Section 2.1.2: Formal Lab – Outline

Each student will hand in two outlines for their formal lab reports (see Section 2.1.3). Outlines are commonly used while preparing scientific documents and generally streamline the process of writing scientific papers. Following the guidelines given in PHYS*2180 lectures (which will be posted on Courselink), outlines should demonstrate the intended flow of the document and indicate which equations, tables and/or graphs, and figures need to be included in the final paper. Please note that a rough draft of your paper does NOT constitute an outline. Outlines will be submitted via Courselink Dropbox one week before the science papers are submitted.

Section 2.1.3: Formal Lab – Science Paper

The student’s evaluation on this performance assessment will be based on students’ ability to give rationale for, to interpret, and to discuss the data that they generate during the labs. Each student will hand in two written formal lab reports, written in the style of a scientific paper. Each formal lab will be submitted via Dropbox as a PDF file.

The first formal lab (Driven Damped Oscillators experiment) will be submitted on Monday, February 26th.

The second formal lab (Current Balance experiment) will be submitted two weeks after the experiment was completed, either in Week 8 or Week 9.

Section 2.1.4: Group Project – Popular Science Article

During the semester, students will work in groups of two, randomly assigned by the course instructor. Each group will submit a collaborative popular science article in the style of Scientific American (see Courselink for example) describing advanced experimental technique in physics. This non-technical article, aimed at a target audience of the students’ peers in other programs or their parents, will provide an overview of the relevant physics and describe at least one research paper where that technique was used. A list of suitable experimental techniques will be provided by the course instructor on Courselink, but students who wish to discuss a different technique can do so if they receive permission from the instructor. One essay per group will be submitted (via Dropbox as a PDF document) by midnight on Friday, April 5th.

Section 2.1.5: Group Project – Oral Presentation

During the assigned lab periods in Week 12, each group of students will present their chosen research technique to their classmates. The presentations shall be limited to 12 minutes, with 3 minutes for questions.

Section 2.1.6: Group Project – Peer Evaluation

During the student presentations in Week 12, each student will use a provided rubric (see Courselink) to grade the oral presentations of their peers. Students will be evaluated on the quality of their comments.

Section 2.1.7: Lab Skills & Performance

Throughout the semester, the lab instructor and teaching assistants will be monitoring student attitudes and initiative in the laboratory. Students will be assessed on their willingness to try to understand experiments on their own (within reason – we do not want students wasting their time when they have no idea what to do next), their preparedness for labs throughout the semester, and their ability to adhere to established lab safety protocols (e.g. no food or drink of any type in the lab room).

Section 2.2: Time Conflicts Between Courses

Sometimes students will have a time conflict between a midterm exam in another course and either a lecture or a lab in this course. The University has a very clear policy to cover this situation: the regularlyscheduled lecture or lab holds priority. In other words, it is the responsibility of the faculty member who has scheduled the midterm exam to make special arrangements with students who have conflicts.

Section 2.3: Course Grading Policies

Section 2.3.1: Missed Assessments

If you are unable to meet an in-course requirement due to medical, psychological, or compassionate reasons, please email the course instructor or TA. See the undergraduate calendar for information on Regulations and Procedures for Academic Consideration.

Section 2.3.2: Accommodation of Religious Obligations

If you are unable to meet an in-course requirement due to religious obligations, please email the course instructor within two weeks of the start of the semester to make alternate arrangements. See the undergraduate calendar for information on regulations and procedures for Academic Accommodation of Religious Obligations.

Section 2.3.3: Mark Adjustments

If you have questions about any grade, please inquire promptly after the material has been returned to you. Students are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the grades on all submitted material were entered properly in Courselink – check the entered grades frequently throughout the semester and report any discrepancies to your teaching assistant or course instructor.

Section 3: Learning Resources

Section 3.1: Course Website

Course material, news, announcements, and grades will be regularly posted to the PHYS*2180 Courselink site. You are responsible for checking the site regularly. Please ensure that your grades are recorded correctly and notify the course instructor of any discrepancies.

Section 3.2: Primary Course Reference

None.

Section 3.3: Recommended Course References

• A.C. Melissinos and J. Napolitano. Experiments in Modern Physics (2nd Edition), Academic Press, 2003. (University of Guelph Library Call #: QC33.M52 2003)
• D.W. Preston and E.R. Dietz. The Art of Experimental Physics, Wiley, 1991. (University of Guelph Library Call #: QC33.P74 1991)
• J.R. Taylor. An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements (2nd Edition), University Science Books, 1997. (University of Guelph Library Call #: QC39.T4 1997)
• J.R. Taylor, C.D. Zafiratos, and M.A. Dubson. Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers (2nd Edition), Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. (University of Guelph Library Call #: QC21.3.T39 2004)

The above books are not required for PHYS*2180, but students may find them useful at various points in the course. These books are also very useful references for PHYS*3510 and PHYS*4500. As the experiments in the laboratory courses frequently complement other courses in the physics curriculum, textbooks from those courses will also be excellent resources.

Section 3.4: Communication and Email Policy

Laboratory sessions are your primary opportunity to ask questions about the course. If you wish to obtain help from the course instructor at another time, please email to make an appointment or see them before or after labs to arrange a mutually convenient time. Short questions can often be handled in the lecture room just before or after lectures.

As per university regulations, all students are required to check their <uoguelph.ca> e-mail account regularly: email is the official route of communication between the University of Guelph and its students.

Section 4: Teaching and Learning Activities

Section 4.1: Provisional Content Schedule

Section 4.2: Other Important Dates

Friday March 8th is the fortieth class day, the last day to drop one semester courses.

Section 5: Lab Safety

Section 5.1: Department of Physics Laboratory Safety Policy

The Department of Physics is committed to ensuring a safe working and learning environment for all students, staff and faculty. As a student in a laboratory course, you are responsible for taking all reasonable safety precautions and following the lab safety rules specific to the lab you are working in. In addition, students are responsible for reporting all safety issues to the graduate teaching assistant or course instructor as soon as possible. Students are not required to work in an environment that they deem to be unsafe. If you have any concerns whatsoever, please consult your teaching assistant or course instructors!

In this course, students may be exposed to the following potential hazards:

• \(\gamma\)-radiation and x-ray sources
• intense light, including laser light and strobe lights
• voltages and currents that can be harmful if proper precautions are not taken
• compressed gases
• cryogenic liquids: liquid nitrogen and liquid helium

All experiments have been designed such that students have minimal (but not zero!) risk if proper laboratory protocols are followed. At all times, students must be aware of the risks of their experiment and the positioning of their fellow students and behave accordingly.

Section 5.2: Food and Drink in the Laboratory

As with all laboratories on the University of Guelph campus, ALL food and drink is strictly prohibited in the laboratory. This applies to all faculty, staff, and students. In the PHYS*2180 laboratory, this rule is strictly enforced as a criterion for lab certification with the Radiation Safety Office at the University of Guelph. Students must not, under any circumstances, bring any food or drink into the laboratory. If students have water bottles or food in their backpacks, these must be left at the front of the room and not be accessed within the room at any time.

Section 5.3: After-Hours Access to the Laboratory

Students who need to work on their experiment outside normal course hours may sign out a key to MacNaughton 417 from the course instructor, on a case-by-case basis. Students must ensure that they are never in the laboratory alone, and must obey all safety rules. Should a course instructor, teaching assistant or lab supervisor come across students with food or drink in the laboratory, the offenders will be removed from the lab and receive a mark of 0 on that experiment.

Section 6: Academic Misconduct and Collaboration

Section 6.1: Collaboration

Collaboration and communication are essential for progress and advancement; much of modern society is built upon these skills. Students are encouraged to collaborate and discuss course concepts! However, all material submitted for grading must be each student's own work. Plagiarism is a form of academic misconduct, and will not be tolerated.

A good guideline when it comes to crossing the line from collaboration to academic misconduct is that a student must never look at another student’s written work. For students seeking help from their peers, ask conceptual questions as opposed to, “How do you derive Equation 4?” For student helping their peers, never give the answer explicitly, but explain your reasoning.

Section 6.2: Academic Misconduct

The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and it is the responsibility of all members of the University community – faculty, staff, and students – to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as possible to prevent academic offences from occurring. University of Guelph students have the responsibility of abiding by the University's policy on academic misconduct regardless of their location of study; faculty, staff and students have the responsibility of supporting an environment that discourages misconduct. Students need to remain aware that instructors have access to and the right to use electronic and other means of detection.

Please note: Whether or not a student intended to commit academic misconduct is not relevant for a finding of guilt. Hurried or careless submission of assignments does not excuse students from responsibility for verifying the academic integrity of their work before submitting it. Students who are in any doubt as to whether an action on their part could be construed as an academic offence should consult with a faculty member or faculty advisor. The Academic Misconduct Policy is detailed in the Undergraduate Calendar .

Section 6.3 Turnitin

In this course, your instructor will be using Turnitin, integrated with the CourseLink Dropbox tool, to detect possible plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration or copying as part of the ongoing efforts to maintain academic integrity at the University of Guelph.

All submitted assignments will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the Turnitin.com service is subject to the Usage Policy posted on the Turnitin.com site.

A major benefit of using Turnitin is that students will be able to educate and empower themselves in preventing academic misconduct. In this course, you may screen your own assignments through Turnitin as many times as you wish before the due date. You will be able to see and print reports that show you exactly where you have properly and improperly referenced the outside sources and materials in your assignment.

Section 7: Accessibility

Section 7.1: Accessibility

The University of Guelph is committed to creating a barrier-free environment. Providing services for students is a shared responsibility among students, faculty and administrators. This relationship is based on respect of individual rights, the dignity of the individual and the University community's shared commitment to an open and supportive learning environment. Students requiring service or accommodation, whether due to an identified, ongoing disability or a short-term disability should contact the University of Guelph’s Accessibility Services as soon as possible.

For more information, contact Accessibility Services at 519-824-4120 ext. 56208, email accessibility@uoguelph.ca, or visit their website: https://wellness.uoguelph.ca/accessibility/

Section 7.2: Electronic Recording of Classes

The electronic recording of classes is expressly forbidden without the prior consent of the instructor. This prohibition extends to all components of courses, including, but not limited to, lectures, tutorials, and lab instruction, whether conducted by the instructor or teaching assistant, or other designated person. When recordings are permitted they are solely for the use of the authorized student and may
not be reproduced, or transmitted to others, without the express written consent of the instructor.

Section 7.3: Posting Course Materials on Websites

Posting any course materials, including lecture notes or experiment outlines, is strictly prohibited. These materials are copyright of the course instructors, Department of Physics, and University of Guelph.

Section 8: Course Evaluation

Section 8.1: Course Evaluation

The Department of Physics requires student assessment of all courses taught by the Department. These assessments provide essential feedback to faculty on their teaching by identifying both strengths and possible areas of improvement. In addition, annual student assessment of teaching provides part of the information used by the Department’s Tenure and Promotion Committee in evaluating the faculty
member's contribution in the area of teaching.

The Department's teaching evaluation questionnaire invites student response both through numerically quantifiable data, and written student comments. In conformity with University of Guelph Faculty Policy, the Department’s Tenure and Promotions Committee only considers comments signed by students (choosing "I agree" in question 14). Your instructor will see all signed and unsigned comments after final grades are submitted. Written student comments may also be used in support of a nomination for internal and external teaching awards.

Note: No information will be passed on to the instructor until after the final grades have been
submitted.