PHYS 231A LAB COURSE SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR

Name: TBA and E-mail: TBA

OFFICE HOURS

Hours and Location: TBA

TEXTBOOK

Physics 231A Laboratory Manual 1st Edition (New), sold by NJIT bookstore

DESCRIPTION

This Physics III laboratory course involves experiments which demonstrate the principles of waves, optics, and modern physics.

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.
• Grading (A through D and F) is based on attendance, participation, and lab report.
• 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 MODE

Face-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 experience with experimental processes and develop effective written communication skills.
• 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%)

2. Attendance Points: Attendance for each lab session is 1 point
3. 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).
4. Participation Points: Active (2 points), Average (1 point), Not participate (0).
5. A grade of zero (0) will be given for any missed experiment with no excuse.
6. Submission of the lab report is due the following week class begins – penalty for lateness is 10 % per day.
7. Laboratory Report Grading (points):

• Style ; font type, font size, line space, margin, etc.  given by your lab instructor (10) 
• Title (5) 
• Introduction including Objective and Theoretical Background (10)
• Experimental Procedure (10) 
• Results: Experimental Data (15) and Calculation (15)
• Discussion and analysis of results; Answers to questions (20) 
• Conclusions (10)
• Raw Data Sheet (5); unless otherwise instructed, raw data sheets (or photocopies of raw data) should be attached to the lab report. The raw data should be checked and signed by your instructor at the completion of the lab experiment.

GRADING SCALE

90 - 100 % = A, 85 - 89 % = B+, 80 - 84 % = B, 75 - 79 % = C+, 65 - 74 % = C, 50 - 64 % = D, 0 - 49 % = F

Week

Date

Experiment

1

1/24(F)

Introduction, Error Analysis, MATLAB I Introduction

2

1/30(F)

Lab B2: Simple Harmonic Motion

3

2/6(F)

Lab CO: Physical Pendulum with Small & Large Amplitude   

4

2/13(F)

Lab W: Transverse Standing Waves on a String   

5

2/20(F)

Lab J: Longitudinal Standing Waves in a Sound Tube 

6

2/27(F)

Lab K: Refraction, Reflection and Dispersion of Light   

7

3/6(F)

Lab LP: Polarization of Light – Malus’ Law

8

3/13(F)

Lab N1: Diffraction Pattern of Light with a Single-Slit   

9

3/27(F)

Lab N2: Diffraction Pattern of Light with a Double-Slit   

10

4/10(F)

Lab N: Diffraction Grating

11

4/17(F)

Lab P: Photoelectric Effect   

12

4/24(F)

Lab S: Atomic Emission Spectra - Hydrogen and Helium

13

5/1(F)

Lab Q: Electron Diffraction – Wave-Particle Duality

14*

5/5 (T)

Lab U: Semiconductor Diode Characteristics   

1/26 (Monday) Last Day to add/drop a class

3/15 (Sun) through 3/21 (Sat.) NJIT Spring Recess. No Classes.

4/3 (Fri.) Good Friday. No Classes.

4/6 (Mon.) Last Day to Withdraw

*

5/5 (Tue.) Friday classes meet.