Physics Lab Course Syllabus

The syllabus of each physics lab course (PHYS 102A, 103A, 111A, 121A, 202A, 203A and 231A) is provided as below:

Phys 102A - General Physics Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Prerequisite: None. This course is the laboratory component of Phys 102 and must be taken concurrently.

• Lab 104: Creating Motion Graphs
• Lab 109: One-Dimensional Motion--Velocity as a Function of Time and Distance at Constant Acceleration
• Lab 111: Projectile Motion
• Lab 112: Newton's Second Law
• Lab 113: Atwood's Machine
• Lab 106: Static and Kinetic Friction
• Lab 131: Centripetal Force
• Lab 122: Conservation of Energy for an Object on an Inclined Plane
• Lab 126: Conservation of Momentum and Impulse-Momentum Theorem
• Lab 127N: Torque and Rotational Inertia
• Lab 120N: Conservation of Angular Momentum
• Lab 103: Translational Static Equilibrium--- Force Table
• Lab 121: Rotational Static Equilibrium - Forces on a Strut

Phys 103A - General Physics Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Prerequisite: Phys 102 with grade of C or better. This course is the laboratory component of Phys 103 and must be taken concurrently.

• Lab A: Young's Modulus-- Elasticity in Length
• Lab 7: Archimedes' Principle and Density
• Lab D: Linear Expansion Coefficient
• Lab E: Specific Heat
• Lab F: Heat of Fusion of Ice
• Lab G: Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
• Lab B1: Simple Harmonic Motion
• Lab W: Transverse Standing Waves on a String
• Lab J: Longitudinal Standing Waves in a Sound Tube
• Lab H: Electrical Equivalent of Heat
• Lab 215: Ohm's Law - Current, Voltage, and Resistance Measurements
• Lab M: Thin Lenses
• Lab N: Grating Diffraction

Phys 111A - Physics I Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Corequisite: Math 111. Laboratory component of Phys 111 and Phys 111H. Lab must be taken concurrently with Phys 111 or Phys 111H.

• Lab 103: Translational Static Equilibrium - Force Table
• Lab 109: One-Dimensional Motion--Velocity as a Function of Time and Distance at Constant Acceleration
• Lab 111: Projectile Motion
• Lab 112: Newton's Second Law
• Lab 106: Static and Kinetic Frictions
• Lab 6a1: Work and Energy
• Lab 125: Conservation of Energy in Spring-Mass System
• Lab 126: Conservation of Momentum and Impulse-Momentum Theorem
• Lab 114: Uniform Circular Motion
• Lab 9a1: Moment of Inertia and Energy in Rotational Motion
• Lab 127: Torque and Rotational Inertia
• Lab 121: Rotational Static Equilibrium - Forces on a Strut
• Lab 7: Archimedes' Principle and Density

Phys 121A - Physics II Laboratory (click for syllabus)

Prerequisites: Phys 111 or Phys 111H or Phys 106 and Math 111 or Math 111H all with grade of C or better. Corequisite: Math 112.

• Introduction to MATLAB: Part I & Part II (click for matlab manual)
• Lab 200: Electrostatics - Electric Charge and Force
• Lab 201: Electric Field by Point Charges
• Lab 202: Numerical Verification of Gauss' Law
• Lab 203: Electric Potential and Electric Field
• Lab 205: Parallel Plate Capacitor
• Lab 215: Ohm's Law - Current, Voltage, and Resistance Measurements
• Lab 217: RC Circuits
• Lab 212: Measurement of e/m for an Electron
• Lab 210: Magnetic Field of Helmholtz Coils
• Lab 223: Faraday's Law
• Lab 218: RL Circuits
• Lab 221: LC Circuits

Phys 202A - Astronomy and Cosmology Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Corequisite: Phys 202. Includes demonstration of physical principles applicable to astronomy. Use of telescope for lunar, solar and planetary observations.

• The Celestial Sphere: Horizon Coordinate System
• The Celestial Sphere: The Ecliptic
• The Celestial Sphere: Equatorial Coordinate System & Sidereal Time
• Motion of Mercury: Drawing the Orbit
• Orbit of Mercury: Kepler's Laws
• The Moon
• Planetary Configuration
• The Synodic Period of the Sun
• Spectroscopy
• Reflection and Refraction
• Thin Lenses and Astronomical Telescope
• The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
• The Hubble Classification of Galaxies and Cosmology

Phys 203A - The Earth in Space Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Corequisite: Phys 203. Optional laboratory course associated with Phys 203.

• Earth's Geography I
• Earth's Geography II
• Rock Identification
• Properties of Water: Latent Heat of Fusion
• Earthquakes: Locating the Epicenter
• Understanding Density
• The Archimedes Principle
• The Acceleration due to Gravity
• Properties of Water: Specific Heat
• Properties of Water: Dissolved Oxygen
• Properties of Water: Salinity
• The Ideal Gas Law: Determining the Absolute Zero of Temperature

Phys 231A - Physics III Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Prerequisite: Phys 121 or Phys 121H and Math 112 or Math 112H, all with grade of C or better.

• Introduction to MATLAB: Part I (click for matlab manual)
• Lab B2: Simple Harmonic Motion
• Lab C: Physical Pendulum with Small Amplitude
• Lab O: Physical Pendulum with Large Amplitudes
• Lab W: Transverse Standing Waves on a String
• Lab J: Longitudinal Standing Waves in a Sound Tube
• Lab K: Refraction, Reflection and Dispersion of Light
• Lab LP: Polarization of Light
• Lab N1: Diffraction Pattern of Light with a Single-Slit
• Lab N2: Diffraction Pattern of Light with a Double-Slit
• Lab N: Grating Diffraction
• Lab P: Photoelectric Effect
• Lab S: Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen Atom
• Lab Q: Electron Diffraction - Wave-Particle Duality
• Lab U: Semiconductor Diode Characteristics