PHY1011 Physics Laboratory

1999-2000

Code: PHY1011
Title: Physics Laboratory
Instructors: Dr S.J. Matcher
HE credits: 10
ECTS credits: 5
Availability: unrestricted
Level: 1
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: none
Background Assumed: AS level Physics or equivalent
Duration: Semesters I and II
Directed Study: 10 laboratory sessions of 3 hours
Private Study: 70 hours
Supports Programme Aims: 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8
Supports Programme Objectives: none

Assessment Methods

Refer to the Undergraduate Handbook for details. Briefly, laboratory notebooks are marked in one-to-one discussion between the student and a demonstrator; oral presentations involve moderated peer assessment; the formal report is marked by the Year 1 Laboratory Co-ordinator.

Rationale

Experiment is one of the central activities of a scientist. Experimental observations form the basis for new hypotheses, and also test scientific theories. It is therefore essential that all Physicists understand the experimental method and develop the ability to make reliable measurements.

This module provides a broad foundation in experimental physics, upon which experimental work for the second year and for projects in the third and fourth years builds.

Intended Learning Outcomes

During this module, students will develop the following subject-specific skills:

• planning and execution of experimental investigations
• accurate and thorough record keeping
• critical analysis and discussion of results, including the use of computers for data analysis
• minimisation of experimental errors

and will acquire knowledge of:

• a variety of experimental techniques
• how to identify, estimate, combine and quote experimental errors

Teaching and Learning Methods

Laboratory work conducted in pairs, with support from demonstrators. Three lectures on error analysis and graph plotting. Private study in writing up experiments and preparing the formal report. Group work in preparing and delivering oral presentation.

Transferable Skills

• delivery of written and oral presentations (experiment write-ups, formal report, group talk)
• team work (working in pairs on experiments and in larger groups for talks)
• time management (meeting deadlines for assignments)
• use of computers (for data analysis and collection)

Assignments

Experiments, written up in laboratory notebooks (60%); one group oral presentation (13%); one formal report (27%).

Module Text

Not applicable

Supplementary Reading

Not applicable

Syllabus Plan and Content

Students are provided with a Laboratory Manual in which the experiments for this module are summarised. There is some choice of which experiments are undertaken. Each experiment is described in detail in a 2-4 page manuscript.

Note: The final section of the Year 1 laboratory is the Communication Skills training component which is held over three days following the examinations at the end of Semester-II; this exercise is described in the PHY0000 "module" description.

Feedback to Students

General supervision and assistance are available in the laboratory from the demonstrators. In addition, each demonstrator is assigned a group of about twelve students and monitors their progress, taking a pastoral role and reporting any problems to the Head of Laboratory. Feedback is given on each experiment during a 15-minute one-to-one marking session with a demonstrator.

For the formal report and oral presentation, written feedback is given by the Year 1 Laboratory Co-ordinator to each student.

Feedback from Students

A suggestions box in the laboratory enables specific problems to be identified and remedied quickly. In addition, feedback from students on the module is gathered via the standard student representation mechanisms.