Labs:
You will be working in groups on most lab activities. Your log book (lab book or lab journal) does not have to be "neat" but it must be organized. Make sure to put all pertinent information in your log book. Staple or tape graphs or data that you have printed so that they do not fall out. If you do not know how a particular piece of apparatus works read a Lab Equipment Manual or ask [other groups are great resources too!].Date |
#
|
Lab Activities
|
Simulations from PhET | |
Tuesday Jan. 12 |
1
|
|
 |
 |
Tuesday Jan. 19 |
2
|
Investige Coulomb's Law. Use the simulator to learn how to control the charged puck using the electrostic forces. Note: Figure 21-21(b) is wrong. It shows a dipole electric field pattern. |
 |
|
Tuesday Jan.
26 |
3
|
Investigate voltage (aka potential difference). Use the simulator to determine the relationship between electric fields and voltage. |
 |
|
Tuesday Feb. 2 |
4
|
Determine the RC time constant for a circuit. Use the simulator to investigate current flow and voltage in a circuit. |
 |
|
Tuesday Feb. 9 |
5
|
Investigate Ohm's observation. Use the circuit simulator you used for the capacitor lab to explore resistance in circuits. |
 |
 |
Thursday Feb. 11 |
|
Lab Combine #1 |
||
Thursday Feb. 18 |
5
|
Finish investigation of Ohm's observation. |
||
Tuesday
Feb. 23 |
6
|
Use the circuit simulator to explore more complex DC circuits. Investigate the difference between resistors in series and in parallel. |
 |
|
Tuesday March 2 |
7
|
Use the faraday simulator to explore magnetism. |
 |
 |
Tuesday
March 9 |
|
Lab Combine #2
|
 |
|
Tuesday March 23 |
8
|
Useful Oscilloscope and Function Generator knobs |
 |
|
Tuesday March 30 |
9
|
You need AC voltage to appreciate how an LCR circuit can resemble a simple harmonic oscillator. |
|
|
Tuesday April 6 |
10
|
You may find the experimental tutorial for the Ocean Optics Spectrometer useful. External references on illumination and spectral lines can be useful. Determine the primary additive and subtractive colors. |
 |
 |
| Tuesday April 13 |
|
Lab Combine #3 (b) LCR Circuit Redux |
||
Thursday April 15 |
|
Lab Combine #3 (a) Optional Make a simple motor |
||
Tuesday April 20 |
|
Student Academic Conference | Attend 3 physics presentations and turn in a summary for extra effort. | |
Thursday April
22 |
11
|
Refraction |
Useful demos: Dispersion through Prism | |
Thursday April 29 |
12
|
Lenses
Determine the focal length of a simple lens. |
 |
|
| C-level: Conceptual
diagram and summary due on lab day. Students must receive a 3 (out of 4) on
the C-level to move on to the B-Level. B-level: Basic lab must be checked on lab day for A-level work to earn credit. Edited lab summaries due by following Tuesday (best to get feedback on lab day). Students must receive a 2 (out of 4) on the B-Level to move on to the A-level. A-level: Advanced lab summaries due by following Tuesday. |
| Labs are evaluated on 0=not present, 1=poor, 2=needs improvement, 3=meets expectations and 4=exceeds expectations. |
| Your percent lab grade is given by %=(5*C + 3*B + 2*A + 42)/82*100%. You may find it easier to look at a table of scores. |