PHYS 203A LAB COURSE SYLLABUS

PHYS 203A LAB COURSE SYLLABUS FOR SPRING 2026

Introductory Physics Laboratory

COURSE SYLLABUS                                                     PHYSICS 203A – All sections                                     FALL 2026

INSTRUCTORName: TBA and E-mail: TBA
OFFICE HOURSHours and Location: TBA
TEXTBOOKEarth Science Laboratory Manual (Physics 203A), sold by NJIT bookstore.
DESCRIPTIONPHYS 203A is a laboratory course associated with The Earth in Space course (PHYS 203). The manual is also used as a lab report.
HELP
  • Visit or email your instructor if you are having trouble with the lab course.
  • If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services at OARS@NJIT.EDU, or visit the office in Kupfrian Hall 201 to discuss your specific needs.

GENERAL

INFORMATION

  • There is no exam in the lab course.
  • No make-up for missing labs is allowed.
  • No eating or drinking in the laboratory room.
  • Experiments are a group effort.
  • Laboratory reports should be individual ones submitted by each student.
  • Lab computer login method: Username: your UCID and Password: your UCID password
  • NJIT physics lab website: https://research.njit.edu/introphysics/
DELIVERY MODEFace-to-Face:
Delivery of instruction is structured around in-person classroom meeting times. Instruction is delivered in person, and students are expected to attend class.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

  • Students will master basic physics concepts by performing an experiment relevant to corresponding course work.
  • Students will gain hands-on experiences with experimental processes.
  • Students should develop collaborative learning skills by working in a group.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
  • Students will demonstrate basic experimental skills by practicing setting up and conducting an experiment. 
  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of the analytical methods required to interpret and analyze results and draw conclusions as supported by their data.
  • Students will demonstrate basic communication skills by working in groups on laboratory experiments and the thoughtful discussion and interpretation of data.
ATTENDANCE
  • Attendance policy is very strict. It is a student’s responsibility to confirm his/her attendance with the Lab instructor. 
  • It is required for students to attend all lab experiments since grading is based on attendance, participation, and lab report.
  • It is required for a student to sign the attendance sheet in every lab class. If a student fails to sign it, it is treated as being absent.
  • Attendance will be checked in the beginning and middle of each class by your instructor.
  • If a student does not appeal and resolve his/her attendance within 7 days, no further complaint will be accepted. 
  • If a student makes more than 3 unexcused absences, the student is very likely to fail the lab course.
  • If a student has excusable absences, the student should contact the Office of the Dean of Students to email an official excuse to his/her lab instructor.
  • Students can check their Attendance and Participation grade by appointment with the TA
  • There might be a camera recording by a lab instructor for attendance and participation (It is required for the students to sign a waiver acknowledging that they are being recorded).

GRADING

POLICY

  1. The grading guidelines are as follows:

Attendance (20%); Participation (20%); Laboratory Report (60%)

  1. Attendance Points: Attendance for each lab session is 1 point
  2. Lateness penalties: Late by 10-20 minutes (-0.2 points); Late by 20-30 minutes (-0.5 points); Late by more than 30 minutes (marked as absence).
  3. Participation Points: Active (2 points), Average (1 point), Not participate (0).
  4. A grade of zero (0) will be given for any missed experiment with no excuse.
  5. Submission of the lab report is due the following week class begins – penalty for lateness is 10 % per day.
GRADING SCALE90 - 100 % = A, 85 – 89 % = B+, 80 – 84 % = B, 75 – 79 % = C+, 65 – 74 % = C, 50 – 64 % = D, 0 – 49 % = F

 

LAB COURSE SCHEDULE

WeekPeriodExperiment
1*9/1(T) - 9/8 (T)Introduction
29/9(W) - 9/15(T)Earth’s Geography I
39/16(W) - 9/22(T)Earth’s Geography II
49/23(W) - 9/29(T)Rock Identification
5**9/30(W) - 10/6(T)Properties of Water: Latent Heat of Fusion
610/7(W) - 10/13(T)Earthquakes: Locating the Epicenter
710/14(W) - 10/20(T)Understanding Density 
810/21(W) - 10/27(T)The Archimedes Principle
910/28(W) - 11/3(T)The Acceleration due to Gravity     
10***11/4(W) - 11/10(T)Properties of Water: Specific Heat
1111/11(W) - 11/17(T)Properties of Water: Dissolved Oxygen
1211/18(W) - 11/24(T)Properties of Water: Salinity 
13****11/25(W) - 12/3(R)The Ideal Gas Law: Determining the Absolute Zero of Temperature     
14*****12/4(F) - 12/11(F)No Lab
*9/7 (Monday) Labor Day. University Closed
*9/8 (Tuesday) Conversion Day - Monday Classes Meet
**10/2 (Friday) Wellness Day. No Classes. Labs are skipped and will be made up on 12/11 (Friday)
***11/10 (Tuesday) Last Day to Withdraw from Classes
****11/25 (Wednesday) Conversion Day - Friday Classes Meet
****11/27 (Thursday) and 11/28 (Friday) Thanksgiving Recess. No classes 
*****12/11 (Friday) Friday Classes Meet - Make up for Wellness Day: Lab experiment in Week 5 (which was skipped on Wellness Day) will be performed.
 12/24 (R) Final Grades Due

 

Physics Laboratory Safety

  1. Food and drink are not permitted during class in the lab at any time.
  2. Wear safety glasses all the time during lab experiments.
  3. Do not come into the lab room early unless the instructor is present.
  4. Do not wear loose hair or clothing around moving equipment.
  5. Do not set equipment too close to the edge of the table.
  6. Do not activate any electric circuit or apparatus until the instructor inspects it.
  7. Never touch a possibly live circuit and do not touch electrical equipment with wet hands.
  8. Only use laboratory equipment for the instructional purpose for which it was intended.
  9. Never look directly at the beam of a laser and light from a lamp used for experiment.
  10. All trash and waste materials should be disposed of in the proper container. Do not pour chemicals into the laboratory sink.
  11. Do not shorten the electrical leads on any equipment.
  12. Any equipment except computers not in use should be turned off.
  13. Do not take apart any apparatus or piece of equipment.
  14. All damaged equipment and chemical spills should be immediately reported to a laboratory instructor or laboratory staff.
  15. Accidents and emergencies must be immediately reported to the laboratory instructor. (NJIT Emergency call number: 911)
  16. Be aware that fire extinguishers are in Rooms 406T and 407T.