Department of Physics and Astronomy

Faculty member in charge:     Kwok­Wai Ng, CP 385 (7­1782)
                                                    Office hours M 10:00-11:00
                                                    e-mail: kwng@pop.uky.edu

Laboratory supervisor :     Steve Ellis, CP 68 (7-5845)
                                                    e-mail: ellis@pa.uky.edu

Laboratory instructor coordinator  : Alexander Morozov, CP 390 (7-5238)
                                                    e-mail: mymorol@ukcc.uky.edu

Section             Time                     Place
001             T 1:00­2:50 p.m.         CP 165
002             R 1:00­2:50 p.m.         CP 165
003             M 3:00­4:50 p.m.         CP 165
004             T 3:00­4:50 p.m.         CP 165
005             W 3:00­4:50 p.m.         CP 165
006             R 3:00­4:50 p.m.         CP 165
007             F 8:00-9:50 a.m.         CP 165

II. Motivation

Students can have a better understanding of the physical principles they have learned from the lectures by performing experiments to test the validity of these principles. The experiments require curiosity on the subject, careful observation, scientific measurements, result interpretation and report writing. These practices are basically the same as those used in the most sophisticated scientific experiments.

III. Required Materials

The laboratory text is: Laboratory Manual for General Physics, Part I by B. D. Kern (Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1998 Revised Printing). This text and ruled paper will be required in completing most of the experiment assignments. Manual for some supplementary experiments not found in Kern's book will be provided. It is also necessary to bring the lecture text (College Physics by Serway and Faughn, fourth edition.)

In this semester we will try a new sequence of supplementary experiments. Manual for these supplementary experiments are included in Kern's book (except unit 7 to 10 on projectile motion, sound, ballistic pendulum, and conservation of momentum). You are also required to purchase a supplementary package from the Johnny Print Copy Shop (547 S Limestone Street, 254-6139) for the materials that are not covered by Kern's book.

IV. Course Procedures

A. General

You should select a partner at the beginning of the semester. Your partner should remain the same through out the semester. The team should work out one experiment every week. The appropriate schedule is given at the end of this syllabus. One member works out the experimental procedure like setting up the equipment and taking data. The other is in charge of reporting the results, writing and submitting the laboratory report. You should alternate the role with your partner. Your work will be graded according to the criteria listed in section C below. Both students will receive the same grade as a team.

Before coming to the laboratory, students must prepare the scheduled exercise by reading through the procedure described in the laboratory manual and consulting the lecture text for background where necessary. Failure to do so is the primary cause of poor performance and bad reports (and consequently bad grades) in this course. There is a prelab section for the supplementary experiments (unit 1 to 9). Basic knowledge about the experiment is introduced in this section. Students should read this section carefully and complete the exercise before the class. You should discuss with your partner for a proper prelab to be included in the laboratory report at the beginning of the class. Laboratory instructors will examine the answers before students can start to work on the experiment.

Members of the group should gather promptly at the beginning of the two­hour laboratory period, listen to any additional instruction from the instructors, discuss prelab with your partner, and then start performing the experiment. Student have to complete all measurements, enter the data in the data sheets provided by the laboratory text and clean up the station by the end of the period. Students will not be allowed to work beyond the period scheduled. It is recommended to spend about an hour in recording data and entering them on the data sheets, and the second hour to work on the calculations and graphs. For the supplementary experiments, return the hand-held calculator unit to the instructor after finish taking data. The instructor will then sign the data sheets to validate the data, and the students can then proceed to complete their reports.

B. Laboratory reports

In order that each student will benefit from the laboratory experience, all calculations and graphs must be done independently by each student even though the final report is prepared by one student of the group. All data sheets, graphs and calculations, and answer to the prelab section exercise must be submitted as part of the laboratory report. Laboratory reports are due by 4:00 p.m. of the following day. Put your due laboratory reports in the appropriate envelopes hanging outside the wall of the laboratory. The instructors will grade the laboratory reports and return to the students in the next laboratory session.

C. Grading A maximum of 100 points can be earned on each week's experiment. To receive the points, you must have all measurements completed, calculations performed, graphs drawn and final results (with discussion of error analysis obtained) that are within acceptable limits. One or more points may be deducted from each week's laboratory for each of the following:

* Incomplete measurements
* Incomplete data sheet
* Calculations or graphs incomplete, nontraceable, or obviously wrong
* Final result missing or obviously wrong
* Wrong argument in discussion and conclusion
* Untidy laboratory station
* Apparatus abused
* Bad laboratory behavior
* Allowing one's partner to do most of the experiment

All experiments carry equal points. Your scores for all experiments will be summed together as the final laboratory score, which accounts for a certain portion of your PHY 211 final score (depends on the lecturer). If you are going to miss a laboratory session for any reason, you must inform your instructor before the missed session. [You may leave a note at the Physics department office if you are unable to reach your instructor or Alexander Morozov.]

D. Make­up experiments

Unavoidable absences must be made up during the following week by attending another laboratory session, with permission of both the student's own instructor and the make­up instructor. Hand in your laboratory report by 4:00 p.m. of the following day to the instructors of your own laboratory session.

E. Special problem

If you have a special difficulty with illness, understanding of laboratory material, or other problems, first discuss it with your instructor. If you feel this was unproductive or inappropriate, consult the laboratory supervisor, Steve Ellis, or the faculty member in charge of this laboratory, Kwok­Wai Ng.

F. Laboratory report style manual

Clearly write down your name, section number, dates and the experiment number and the title on the front page of your laboratory report. The report should follow the format described below:

DATA

Data cannot be discarded without an explanation. An incorrect entry on the data sheet can be crossed out, but should not be left legible. Do not erase. Columns may be headed with quantity and unit so that only numerical value need be entered in the column.

Generally all data should be read to a fraction of the smallest scale. You should estimate this fraction. If you do not believe this accuracy then make the appropriate comments in the discussion section.

CALCULATIONS

Include all calculations in a neat and orderly form. One sample calculation must be made for every formula used, including points 1­6 below. An abbreviation form may be used for other similar calculations. Proceed as follows:

1. State the working equation with only the unknown on the left side.

2. Define all symbols used unless they have previously been defined.

3. Substitute both number and unit for each formula symbol.

4. Solve. Computation normally done on a calculator need not be shown.

5. Underline or set apart the result, both number and unit.

6. Calculate percent error or percent difference for final results when required (see p. iii to iv of manual).

7. Include graphs as required with title, ordinate and abscissa properly labeled.

8. Attach all in­class data and calculation sheets to the back of the report.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

This section should discuss which physical law was proved and to what accuracy. Discuss the questions listed in the manual. Write down what you learn about the physical law from the experiment and finally draw appropriate conclusions. For the supplementary experiments, you answer to the exercise in the prelab section should be included here.

G. Schedule

For all sections except 003:

	Week of	Experiment
JAN	Jan 18	Unit 1: Error in measurements*
	Jan 25	Unit 2: Plotting graphs*
FEB	Feb 1	Unit 3: Velocity and acceleration*
	Feb 8	Unit 4: Free Fall*
	Feb 15	Unit 7: Projectile motion*
	Feb 22	Unit 5: Newton's law of motion I*
MAR	Mar 1	Unit 6: Newton's law of motion II*
	Mar 8	Unit 10: Conservation of momentum**
	Mar 15	Spring break.  No class.
	Mar 22	Unit 9: Ballistic pendulum**
	Mar 29	Exercise 13 : Central force
APR	Apr 5	Exercise 15:  Pendulum
	Apr 12	Exercise 5: Forces
	Apr 19	Unit 8: Sound waves**
	Apr 26	Make up

For sections 003 only:

Week of

Experiment

JAN

Jan 18

( MLK day. No class )

Jan 25

Unit 1: Error in measurements* 

FEB

Feb 1

Unit 2: Plotting graphs*

Feb 8

Unit 3: Velocity and acceleration*

Feb 15

Unit 4: Free Fall*

Feb 22

Unit 7: Projectile motion*

MAR

Mar 1

Unit 5: Newton's law of motion I*

Mar 8

Unit 6: Newton's law of motion II*

Mar 15

Spring break.  No class.

Mar 22

Unit 10: Conservation of momentum**

Mar 29

Unit 9: Ballistic pendulum**

APR

Apr 5

Exercise 13 : Central force

Apr 12

Exercise 15: Pendulum

Apr 19

Exercise 5: Forces

Apr 26

Unit 8: Sound waves**

    *   Supplementary experiments.      
    ** Supplementary package available at local print shop.  Details will be announced later.   
    + Note that this schedule is subject to change, pending availability of equipment.  Consult your instructor on a weekly basis.

H.  Background Material

        Before the start of the second lab exercise the student should study pages iii-v of the Laboratory Manual, in addition to the material necessary to prepare for that exercise.

        The sections from your textbook (Physics by Douglas C. Giancoli, fifth edition) that will aid in preparing for a given laboratory exercise, and help you understand the physics that the exercise is examining, are tabulated below:

                Exercise                                Material in textbook            

                Unit 1                                  1.4-1.6
                Unit 2                                  Appendix A
                Unit 3                                  2.1-2.4, 2-11
                Unit 4                                  5-2.7
                Unit 5                                  4.1-4.4
                Unit 6                                  4.4-4.8
                Unit 7                                  3.5-3.6
                Unit 8                                  11.7-11.8;12.1-12.2;12.5 
                Unit 9                                  6.3-6.6;7.1-7.4
                Unit 10                         7.1-7.4
                Exercise 1                              1.4-1.7; Appendices A
                Exercise 2                              1.4-1.7; Appendices A
                Exercise 3                              1.4-1.7; Appendices A
                Exercise 4A                             2.5-2.7
                Exercise 5                              3.1-3.4;4.1-4.8
                Exercise 6                              3.1-3.4;4.1-4.8
                Exercise 8                              7.8
                Exercise 9                              4.1-4.8
                Exercise 10                             6.1-6.9
                Exercise 11                             6.4, 9.6
                Exercise 12                             9.6-9.7
                Exercise 13                             5.1-5.2;5.8-5.9
                Exercise 14                             11.1-11.6
                Exercise 15                             11.1-11.6
                Exercise 16                             10.1-10.5
                Exercise 17                             10.1,10.6
                Exercise 19                             14.1-14.5
                Exercise 20                             14.1-14.6
                Exercise 21                             14.1-14.6
                Exercise 22A                    13.1-13.2,13.4-13.6
                Exercise 23                             14.7-14.9
                Exercise 25                             3.9-13.12;14.8
                Exercise 26                             12.1-12.5
                Exercise 27                             12.1-12.5
                Exercise 28                             14.1-14.6

Another commonly used textbook is College Physics by Serway and Faughn, fourth edition:

                Exercise                                Material in textbook            

                Unit 1                                  1.4
                Unit 2                                  Appendix A
                Unit 3                                  2.1-2.5
                Unit 4                                  2.6-2.7
                Unit 5                                  4.1-4.4
                Unit 6                                  4.4-4.7
                Unit 7                                  3.5
                Unit 8                                  14.1-14.3
                Unit 9                                  5.1-5.5;6.1-6.3
                Unit 10                         6.1-6.3
                Exercise 1                              1.1-1.7; Appendices A
                Exercise 2                              1.1-1.7; Appendices A
                Exercise 3                              1.1-1.7; Appendices A
                Exercise 4A                             2.1-2.7
                Exercise 5                              3.1-3.3;4.1-4.6
                Exercise 6                              3.1-3.3;4.1-4.6
                Exercise 8                              8.3
                Exercise 9                              4.1-4.7
                Exercise 10                             5.1-5.9
                Exercise 11                             13.1-13.2
                Exercise 12                             9.1-9.2
                Exercise 13                             7.1-7.8;13.1
                Exercise 14                             13.1-13.5
                Exercise 15                             13.1-13.6
                Exercise 16                             9.3-9.5
                Exercise 17                             9.3-9.7
                Exercise 19                             11.1-11.3
                Exercise 20                             11.1-11.4
                Exercise 21                             11.1-11.4
                Exercise 22A                    10.3
                Exercise 23                             11.5-11.7
                Exercise 25                             13.8-13.11;14.8
                Exercise 26                             14.10
                Exercise 27                             14.10
                Exercise 28                             11.4