Students work in groups of 3 and 1 lab report is required
to be submitted per group. Each student, however, is encouraged to keep a
copy of the report. The report is graded and return to the group. Each
lab report is required to contain, as a minimum, the following sections:
1. Problem statement: Clear statement of what you are trying to do.
2. Hypothesis: Suggested explanation of the observed phenomenon.
3. Approach: Short summary of how you plan to solve the problem.
4. Data recorded: Data obtained from the experiment – turn in your initialed
data sheet.
5. Analysis of the data: What the data means.
6. Conclusion:
a. What
conclusions do you draw from the above analysis?
b. What are
possible sources of error?
c. What are some suggestions for future work in this area?
Some of the labs
described below incorporate an "open ended" approach in which students have
to determine the relevant data to collect, etc. Each lab is 2 periods in
length (100 minutes).
At least 12
of these or similar labs are completed by the students during the two-semester course.
|
Number |
Area |
Lab Title, Objective,
and Equipment |
|
1 |
I. Newtonian Mechanics
A. Kinematics |
Title:
Projectile Motion
Objective: Determine muzzle velocity of projectile and the angle at
which the maximum range can be obtained
Equipment: Projectile canon, tape measure |
|
2 |
I.
Newtonian Mechanics
B. Laws of
Motion |
Title:
Atwood’s Machine
Objective: Determine acceleration in system and tension in the
string Dynamics
cart and track, meter stick, photo gate, masses, and scale |
|
3 |
I.
Newtonian Mechanics
B. Laws of
Motion |
Title:
Frictional Forces
Objective: Determine static and kinetic coefficients of friction
Equipment: Rectangular blocks of different materials, spring scale,
inclined plane |
|
4 |
I.
Newtonian Mechanics
C. Work, Energy
, Power |
Title:
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Objective: Determine the velocity of the system in order to verify
the conservation of ME
Equipment: Dynamics cart and track, timer gate, masses, meter stick,
scales |
|
5 |
I.
Newtonian Mechanics
D. Linear
Momentum |
Title:
Linear Momentum
Objective: Determine the velocity of each glider pre and post
collision in order to verify conservation of linear momentum
Equipment: Air track set |
|
6 |
I.
Newtonian Mechanics
E. Circular
Motion, Rotation |
Title:
Centripetal Force
Objective: Determine velocity of flying object and tension in string
Equipment: Flying pig, meter stick |
|
7 |
II.
Fluid Mechanics and
Thermal
Physics
A. Fluid
Mechanics |
Title:
Archimedes’ Principle
Objective: Determine the density of two unknown materials
Equipment: Triple beam balance, can , beaker, metal objects, string |
|
8 |
II.
Fluid Mechanics and
Thermal
Physics
A. Fluid
Mechanics |
Title:
Torricelli’s Theorem
Objective: Determine exit velocity of a liquid and range attained
with holes at various heights
Equipment: Clear plastic bottle with holes at various heights,
container |
|
9 |
II.
Fluid Mechanics and
Thermal
Physics
B.
Temperature and Heat |
Title:
Coefficient of Linear Expansion
Objective: Determine the coefficient of linear expansion of two
metal rods
Equipment: Two metal rods, meter stick |
|
10 |
II.
Fluid Mechanics and
Thermal
Physics
C. Kinetic
Theory, Thermo |
Title:
The Ideal Gas Law
Objective: Verify that the pressure of a gas (use air) at a fixed
temperature is inversely proportional to the gas volume and verify
that the volume of a gas at a fixed pressure is proportional to the
gas temperature.
Equipment: Boyle’s law apparatus |
|
11 |
III.
Electricity and Magnetism
A.
Electrostatics |
Title:
Coulomb’s Law
Objective: Determine the charge on 2 spherical polystyrene balls
Equipment: Balls, string, stand, meter stick |
|
12 |
III.
Electricity and Magnetism
B.
Conductors, Capacitors |
Title:
Investigation of Static Electricity
Objective: Make qualitative observations of the behavior of an
electroscope when it is charged by conduction and by induction
Equipment: Electroscope and electrostatic materials set |
|
13 |
III.
Electricity and Magnetism
C.
Electric Circuits |
Title:
Series and Parallel Circuits
Objective: Investigate the behavior of resistors in series,
parallel, and series-parallel circuits.
Equipment: Circuit board set, voltmeter, ammeter, batteries. |
|
14 |
III.
Electricity and Magnetism
D.
Magnetic Fields |
Title:
Magnetic Field Investigation
Objective: Map the magnetic field around a bar magnet and determine
the strength of the magnetic field
Equipment: Bar magnet, compasses, meter stick, protractor |
|
15 |
III.
Electricity and Magnetism
E.
Electromagnetism |
Title:
Electromagnetic Induction
Objective: Qualitatively examine the effects of changing magnetic
field by observing currents induced in a solenoid and determine if
observations agree with theory of electromagnetic induction and
Lenz’s law
Equipment: Power supply, galvanometer, bar magnet, solenoid |
|
16 |
IV.
Waves and Optics
A. Wave Motion & Sound |
Title:
Standing Waves in a String
Objective: Determine the experimental value of the frequency by
using a graph and collected data
Equipment: String vibrator, pulley, meter stick, masses |
|
17 |
IV.
Waves and Optics
B. Physical Optics |
Title:
Interference
Objective: Determine the wavelength of a source of light by using a
double slit and a diffraction grating of known spacing
Equipment: He-Ne Laser, slits, meter stick |
|
18 |
IV.
Waves and Optics
C. Geometric Optics |
Title:
Index of Refraction
Objective: Determine the index of refraction of an acrylic block
Equipment: Optics bench, ray table, light source and acrylic block |
|
20 |
IV.
Waves and Optics
C. Geometric Optics |
Title:
Mirrors and Lenses
Objective: Determine focal length of a converging lens
Equipment: Optics materials, lenses, mirrors, light source |
|
21 |
IV.
Waves and Optics
C. Geometric Optics |
Title:
Concave Mirrors
Objective: Determine locations where a real image can be formed
Equipment: Optics materials, lenses, mirrors, light source |
|
22 |
V.
Atomic and Nuclear Physics
A. Atomic
Physics and
Quantum Effects |
Title:
Measuring Planck's Constant
Objective: Demonstrate that the energy E is proportional to the
frequency f, E = hf with h being Planck's constant
Equipment: LEDs of different colors, graph paper |
Virtual labs,
using Physics Physlets from the references above, are assigned throughout
the course. Since my classroom is in a lab I also use for computer science
courses, each student has access to a computer. Some of the homework
assignments utilize Physlets. These virtual labs complement some of the
actual labs listed above. They are also used to illustrate other topics
covered in the course.
The primary focus, however, is on the hands on labs listed above. Virtual labs are used in the homework portion of the assignments.
|
Number |
Title |
Area |
|
1 |
Compare Position vs. Time and Velocity vs. Time Graphs |
One-Dimensional Kinematics |
|
2 |
Space Probe with Constant Acceleration |
Two-Dimensional Kinematics |
|
3 |
Space Probe with Multiple Engines |
Newton's Laws |
|
4 |
Air Friction |
Newton's Laws |
|
5 |
The Gravitational Force and Work |
Work |
|
6 |
Choice of Zero for Potential Energy |
Energy |
|
7 |
An Explosive Collision |
Momentum |
|
8 |
Non Uniform Circular Motion |
General Rotations |
|
9 |
The Stacking of Bricks |
Statics |
|
10 |
Blood Flow and the Continuity Equation |
Fluids |
|
11 |
Superposition of Two Pulses |
Waves |
|
12 |
Doppler Effect and the Velocity of the Source |
Sound |
|
13 |
Expansion of Materials |
Heat and Temperature |
|
14 |
Kinetic Theory: Microscopic and Macroscopic Aspects |
Kinetic Theory and Ideal Gas Law |
|
15 |
Internal Combustion Engine |
Engines and Entropy |
|
16 |
Dipole Symmetry |
Electrostatics |
|
17 |
Field Lines and Trajectories |
Electric Fields |
|
18 |
Conducting and Insulation Sphere |
Gauss's Law |
|
19 |
Electric Potential Around Conductors |
Electric Potential |
|
20 |
Equivalent Capacitance |
Capacitance and Dielectrics |
|
21 |
Map Field Lines and Determine Forces |
Magnetic Fields and Forces |
|
22 |
Loop in a Time-Varying Magnetic Field |
Faraday's Laws |
|
23 |
Designing a Voltage Divider |
DC Circuits |
|
24 |
Amplitude, Frequency, and Phase Shift |
AC Circuits |
|
25 |
Representation of Plane Waves |
EM Waves |
|
26 |
Ray Diagrams |
Mirrors |
|
27 |
Snell's Law and Total Internal Reflection |
Refraction |
|
28 |
Telescope |
Optical Applications |
|
29 |
Photoelectric Effect |
Atomic an Nuclear Physics |