Physics 263a Laboratory

University of Maryland

Physics 263a Spring 2003 Guide: 

 Faculty 

Handout 

Teaching Assistants 

Spring 2003 Schedule 

Spring 2003 Meeting Times 

Latest Information 

Other Links 

 

Faculty

Teaching Assistants



Schedule of Labs for Spring 2003
 
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
8:00
9:00 Sect 0102 Sect 0114
10:00 Sect 0102 Sect 0114
11:00 Sect 0102 Sect 0107  Sect 0114
12:00 Sect 0103 Sect 0107
13:00 Sect 0103 Sect 0107 Sect 0116   TA meeting
14:00 Sect 0103 Sect 0112  Sect 0116
15:00 Sect 0104  Sect 0112 Sect 0116
16:00 Sect 0104 Sect 0108 Sect 0112
17:00 Sect 0104 Sect 0108
18:00 Sect 0106 Sect 0108
19:00 Sect 0106 Sect 0120
20:00

21:00

 Sect 0106 Sect 0120

Sect 0120

 
 
 

Labs meet in room 3220 of the physics building

Spring 2003 Handout

Physics 263a
Dr. H. Jawahery x56062

Physics 263A is the laboratory part of Physics 263, and meets in room Z-3220. This course carries one credit and the grade is folded in with the Physics 263 course grade. You must pass Physics 263A in order to pass the entire course. If you do not pass this part of the course you will be required to repeat the entire course. The labs meet for three hours a week. You must complete all of the labs, including the culminating labs in order to pass the course. You are expected to attend each class and will be allowed to make up labs only under exceptional circumstances.

The Physics 263A laboratory uses the Excel spreadsheet to analyze data while in the lab. If you have taken Physics 262A within the last few semesters and have learned to use the spreadsheet you will be fine. If you have not had spreadsheet experience or would like an opportunity to review the spreadsheet the first week of lab will be an optional tutorial. You might find it useful to stop by and meet your TA this first week even if you don't need the tutorial.

During the three hour laboratory period, you will have a brief introduction about the lab, perform the experiment, do your analysis and write-up and turn in your report. The experiment should take less than two hours to perform (including the introduction), but in order for you to complete your work in the allotted time you must read the lab write-up before coming to class and answer the prelab questions.

Our aim in this lab is to enhance the understanding of the laboratory experiments you perform while at the same time minimizing the amount of time spent on analysis and write-ups. In order for this to work we have placed more emphasis on preparation for actual laboratory work and prelab assignments. This means it is not necessary to do extensive write-ups. Overly long or padded lab reports will be penalized. Each week's lab includes a prelab assignment. The culminating labs are special labs where you will be given questions about a number of the experiments you performed during the semester. The list of possible questions is included in the manual and you should review the ones for each lab after you have completed that experiment. This will make the culminating lab much easier! More questions may be handed out during the semester.

The course grade for Physics 263A will be determined as follows:

70% for the eight regular labs

30% for theculminating laboratories.

The scoring on the regular labs will be based approximately as follows:

Prelab 20% ( 0, 10%, 20%)

Data 40%

Analysis 25%

Questions 15%

The prelab will be graded in units of 10%. In order to get 20% on the prelab you must make a sincere attempt to do the prelab completely. Incomplete or poorly done prelabs will be graded at either 0 or 10%.. You will work with lab partners and will share data with them. However, you will be responsible for doing your own analysis. It is therefore essential that you make a copy of the data for each lab for your own use. Each person in the group will also be required to demonstrate proficiency with the spreadsheet, oscilloscope and multimeter. You will be tested on these basic skills during the lab sessions. You must buy the current lab manual available at the bookstore.

The first labs will be held the week of Feb.3-7

Spring 2003Schedule of Labs

Lab Schedule for Spring 2003










Jan. 28-31         No Lab.

Feb. 3-7                 Experiment 0 --- Optional Review of Excel

Feb.10 -14             Experiment 1 --- The Oscilloscope and Multimeter

Feb. 17-21             Experiment 2 --- The Resistors and Capacitors

Feb. 24-28             Experiment 3 --- Faraday's Law of Induction

Mar. 3-7                Experiment 4 --- LR and LRC Circuits

Mar. 10-14        Discussion and Make-up Week

Mar. 17-21        First Culminating Lab. (Experiments 1-4)

Mar. 24-28           Spring Break

Mar. 31-Apr. 4       Experiment 5 --- Diffraction

Apr. 7-11               Experiment 6 --- Polarized Light

Apr. 14-18             Experiment 7 --- The Hydrogen Spectrum

Apr. 21-25             Experiment 8 --- The Radioactive Half-Life of Indium

Aprl. 28- May 2       Make-up and Discussion Week

May. 5-9           Second Culminating Lab. (Experiments 5-8)
 
 

Latest Information

Missed Labs - If you have missed a lab for an excused reason (illness, religious holiday, etc) try if possible to attend another lab that same week. Most TA's will be accommodating. Check with the Professors if you have questions.

Pictures of Experiment 2 Equipment

Pictures of Experiment 3 Equipment
 

University of Maryland Physics page

University of Maryland College Park Information