PHYS 364 Modern Physics Lab Syllabus Spring 2016
Department of Physics Duquesne University
Instructor: Michael Huster, PhD
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Office: 323 Fisher Hall |
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Phone: 412-396-1783 |
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E-Mail: |
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Office Hours: |
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Tue., Wed., Thu. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Class Schedule
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Location: |
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Fisher 221 |
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Section 1: Tue. 3:05 – 5:55 PM |
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Open Lab: Thu. 3:00 – 5:00 PM |
Texts
None
Course Description
Experiment demonstrating principles and applications of quantum physics. Students have the opportunity to reproduce historically crucial experiments such as the photoelectric effect, the Frank-Hertz experiment and the Millikan oil drop experiment, and to experiment with nuclear decay, superconductivity, and pulsed NMR spectrometry. Three hours. Prerequisites: PHYS 364 (can be taken concurrently) and C or better in PHYS 212L. Spring. Laboratory.
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
model
modern physics phenomena, including describing simplifications, deriving predictive equations, and understanding limitations, and
measurement systems including effects of sensors, noise, and resolution;
design, troubleshoot and conduct an experiment using modern laboratory equipment;
demonstrate modern laboratory technical skills, such as
analyzing data from an experiment using graphs, data fitting, uncertainty and computer-aided analysis tools, and
interfacing equipment using micro-controller boards, such as the Arduino;
communicate in the styles used in scientific and industrial environments, like
keeping timely lab notes,
writing reports about a lab experiment, and
making oral presentations.
Course Structure
The course will be structured in two-week rotations. At the end of each rotation, written lab reports will be due, and new partners will be assigned for the next rotation.
The experiments in this course are more difficult to do than in previous physics course you may have taken. The apparatus are harder to learn to use and the data analysis is often more difficult. So, in addition to the scheduled three-hour lab time, there will be open lab time on Thursdays. You are required to log two hours working in the lab in addition to the scheduled course time. You must sign in and out of the open lab time. Other hours are negotiable with the instructor.
In the first rotation, everyone will work on the same modern physics experiment measuring e/m for electrons. The second rotation will involve using Arduinos to interface with the apparatus to record data to the computer. Starting with the third rotation, different partners will work on different experiments. Finally, the last several weeks of the course will be a project for which you have to do an experiment that is either an extension of one of the experiments already done or different than the experiments already done.
Course Requirements (Assessments of Learning)
There will be several requirements for the lab course including attendance & participation points, skill exercises, daily lab notebook, lab write-ups, and one presentation.
Attendance & Participation
Attendance is mandatory at all labs. You must sign-in during open-lab times. If a lab must be missed, please inform the instructor before the lab begins. If you miss a lab, you will have to rely on your partner's notes to fill in what you missed. You are still responsible for the concepts and skills covered in the lab. Any lab reports are due regardless of whether you missed the labs involved.
Missing more than three labs meetings
will result in failure of the course.
Skill Exercises
There are several technical skills you will learn in the course, including computer-aided data analysis, computer interfaced data acquisition, and graphing data. There will be several graded skill exercises you have to do and hand in.
Lab Notebook Entries
In this course you will use a web-based lab notebook. The lab notes will be commented on and graded by the instructor. An important part of scientific lab culture is being able to reconstruct exactly what you did and how you did it. One customary way to do this is to keep lab notes on a daily basis. Record all of your thoughts, calculations, drawing, etc. in your lab notes. If you generate any paper results, take a photo and insert it in your lab notebs.
The Lab Notebook Handout will give you details on what is expected for your Lab Notebook.
Lab Reports
You will prepare one lab report after each rotation. The Lab Report Handout will give you details on how to write it.
Presentation
For your final project, you and your partner will produce a conference-style poster and give an oral presentation of your work. This will be during the course final exam period. Each presentation will be 10 minutes long. This is a very stringent time constraint, so you have to be concise, yet get to the heart of your project.
Grade Breakdown
The following table lists the points per graded item and the approximate number of items and points in the course. Note that the actual number of items may vary slightly from this list.
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Item |
# of Items |
Points/Item |
Points |
Percentage |
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Attendance, Participation, & Notes |
14 |
10 |
140 |
26.42 |
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Lab Reports |
6 |
40 |
240 |
45.28 |
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Skill Exercises |
6 |
15 |
90 |
16.98 |
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Presentation |
1 |
60 |
60 |
11.32 |
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Total |
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530 |
100 |
Grading Scale
The grading scale is based on the percentage of possible points earned. The following scale is used:
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A-: 90 – 92 |
A: 93+ |
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B-: 80 – 82 |
B: 83 – 86 |
B+: 87 – 89 |
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C: 70 – 76 |
C+: 77 – 79 |
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D: 60 – 69 |
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F: < 60 |
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All grades will be reported in Blackboard.
Behavior Guidelines
Late arrival & early departure. Please come to lab on time and do not leave early. The lab is only two hours long, so it starts promptly. Repeated late arrivals or early departures will result in points lost from your participation score.
Respect your classmates. Everyone attending class has the right to expect the best possible learning conditions. Please stay on your lab tasks and avoid disruptive behavior. Web searches will be encouraged to support lab activities, but please avoid non-course related browsing. The same with texting and messaging. Before checking or answering a text or message, ask yourself if it will be distracting to your lab partner or the class.
Do not eat in the lab. You may drink a beverage from a spill-proof container.
Academic Honesty
Integrity is an important part of the scientific process and is required by school policy. Violations will be handled according to the Bayer School Policy. It can be found at http://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/natural-and-environmental-sciences/about-the-bayer-school/academic-integrity.
Information for Students with Disabilities
“Duquesne University is committed to providing all students with equal access to learning. In order to receive reasonable accommodations in their courses, students who have a disability of any kind must register with the Office of Freshman Development and Special Student Services in 309 Duquesne Union (412-396-6657). Once a disability is officially documented, the office of Special Student Services will meet with you to determine what accommodations are necessary. With your permission, your instructors will receive letters outlining the reasonable accommodations they are required to make. Once I have received this letter, you and I should meet to coordinate the way these accommodations will be implemented in this course. For more information, go to www.duq.edu/special-students.” (Statement recommended by Academic Affairs and Special Student Services, updated December 07, 2012)
Schedule
Note: The actual experiments done may change.
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Date |
Lab |
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1/12, 14 |
Rotation 1 – e/m Experiment |
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1/19, 21 |
Rotation 1 – e/m Experiment |
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1/26, 28 |
Rotation 2 – Photo-Electric Effect |
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2/2, 4 |
Rotation 2 – Photo-Electric Effect |
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2/9, 11 |
Rotation 3 – Photo-Electric Effect & Arduinos |
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2/16, 18 |
Rotation 3 – Photo-Electric Effect & Arduinos |
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2/23, 25 |
Rotation 4 – Frank-Hertz |
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3/1, 3 |
Spring Break |
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3/8, 10 |
Rotation 4 – Frank-Hertz |
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3/15, 17 |
Rotation 5 – Nuclear Counting Experiments |
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3/22, 24 |
Rotation 5 – Nuclear Counting Experiments |
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3/29, 31 |
Project |
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4/5, 7 |
Project |
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4/12, 14 |
Project |
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4/19, 21 |
Project |
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Final Presentations |
To Be Determined |
Note:
Rubrics
The weekly lab notes are graded holistically for completeness, content, methodology, and participation.