PHY 370: Experimental Physics, Fall 2003

 

Text: An Introduction to Error Analysis 2nd Ed.( John Taylor), The Art of Electronics 2nd. Ed. (Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill)

Instructor: Dr. Matt Marone Room 112 Willet Science Center

                  Phone 301-2597, e-mail: marone_mj@mercer.edu

Office Hours: M 2:00-2:50, R 12:15-1:30, outside of these hours by appointment

Class: TR 10:50-12:05, TR 1:40-4:20

Prerequisite: Phy 306

General:

Introduction to experimental techniques including computerized data acquisition, data analysis, analog and digital electronics and instrumentation. Students will also learn the LabVIEW programming language. This is a very hands on class.  The nature of experimental work is such that you may find it necessary to work in the laboratory for additional time beyond what is now scheduled.  I will be happy to open up the laboratory for you, outside of the regularly scheduled times.  The computers and experimental equipment are not for personal use, but only for use on authorized projects.  Do not down load your e-mail onto laboratory computers, surf the web or otherwise use the equipment in a manner that has not been approved by the instructor.

 

Grades: Your Final class grade will be derived from the following percentages:

 

Electronics/ Instrumentation Experiments (20%)

Programs (20%)

Modern Physics Experiments (20%)

Class Project- Interactive optics experiment (30%)

Lab. Notebook and Documentation (10%)

 

                       

A (90 and above), B+ (85-89), B (80-84), C+ (75-79), C (70-74), D (60-69) F (below 60)

 

    Lab. Notebook and Documentation:

Keeping an accurate laboratory notebook is very important in experimental work.  You must document all your experiments, circuits and programs.  Even the things that do not work should be written down for future reference.  Should you come up with a new idea or invention, the documentation will be especially important in establishing rights to your invention.  Please purchase a laboratory notebook.  The Bookstore has a large supply of notebooks that are used for chemistry classes.  Notebooks should be bound and have numbered pages.  Spaces should be available for signatures, dates and witnesses.  Remember that 10% of your grade will come from you ability to keep a good notebook.

 

    Laboratory Reports/Programs:  Laboratory reports and computer programs are to be the individual work of the student.  You may work together with your lab. partner, but the report must be written by you, and you alone.  The format of the reports will be explained in the laboratory class.  Laboratory exercises fall into three groups: LabVIEW programs, Modern Physics experiments, electronics/ Instrumentation experiments. No late laboratory reports or projects will be accepted!

 

     LabVIEW programs are to be fully documented including help information for all front panel items.  You will submit the program to me on a disk.  I will run your program to see how, and if it accomplishes the required task.  Part of the grade assigned for the program will reflect the ease by which the user may interact and use the program for the desired objective (“user friendly”).  The logic and organization of the program diagram will also enter into the grade as well as help items and documentation.

 

     Modern Physics experiments:  We will recreate two classic physics experiments.  The exact details of each experiment will be provided to you in class. Before you are allowed to start an experiment, you must pass a short oral interview, which demonstrates your basic knowledge of the experiment. There are, however, some general ideas, which govern these reports. You should provide a historical context, which indicates why the original experiment was so important to physics.  You will describe experimental techniques and equipment used.  Theory, mathematical analysis of data, and a logical chain of thought resulting in a conclusion are all important parts of experimental work, and will be covered in your report.

 

     Electronics/ Instrumentation experiments: You will conduct several electronics experiments and learn how to use some common laboratory instruments.  Laboratory reports are required for these experiments.  In some cases you will simply be learning how to use a particular instrument and make some basic measurements. Work sheets and notebook entries must be included.

   

 

     Class Project:  The class project will tie together many of the skills you have learned and will provide an important resource to the educational community.  We will build an online diffraction experiment.  The device will consist of light sources with different wavelengths and a single slit diffraction aperture.  The width of the slit will be variable and can be remote controlled through the Internet.  A CCD will be used to measure intensity as a function of position.  Remote users will be able to download the data and analyze it in their classroom.  Students will design the device and write the necessary programs.

 

Honor code: You are bound by the Mercer honor code. The College’s academic misconduct policy will be followed.  All work, for which a grade is received, must be the original work of the student without aid or assistance of another party, or any printed and or electronic data/information. Academic misconduct cases will be referred to the honor council and the student will automatically receive a grade of incomplete (IC) pending an ruling by the honor council. 

 

Cell Phone and Pager Usage: Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event

Classroom etiquette: You are expected to conduct yourself as a mature student, respectful of your classmates and instructor.  You may be asked to leave the room if your behavior is disturbing the instructor or your fellow students.

Documented Disability Statement:

Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting.  The instructor will refer you to the office of Student Support Services (SSS) for consultation regarding evaluation, documentation of your disability, and recommendations for accommodation, if needed.  Students will receive from SSS the Faculty Accommodation Form.  On this form SSS will identify reasonable accommodations for this class.  The form must be given to the course instructor for signature and then returned to SSS.

 

To take full advantage of disability services, it is recommended that students contact the Office of Student Support Services, immediately.  The office is located on the third floor of the Connell Student Center.

 

 

Tentative Schedule of Experiments

 

Date

Experiment

Aug 21

LabVIEW Intro 1

Aug 26

LabVIEW Intro 2

Aug 28

LabVIEW Intro 3

Sept 2

Oscilloscope, function generator

Sept 4

Lock-in Amplifier, Electrometer

Sept 9

Millikan Oil Drop

Sept 11

Millikan Oil Drop

Sept 16

Millikan Oil Drop

Sept 18

Op-Amps, Preliminary design for optics experiment

Sept 16

Op-Amps

Sept 18

LabVIEW Multifunction I/O

Sept 23

LabVIEW Multifunction I/O and Diode I-V curve

Sept 25

LabVIEW GBIP

Sept 30

Logic Gates

Oct 2

Digital I/O, Final Design For Class Proj.

Oct 7

Franck-Hertz Experiment

Oct 9

Franck –Hertz Experiment

Oct 16

Franck-Hertz Experiment

Oct 21

Vacuum Systems, Evaporator

Oct 23

Machine Shop

Oct 28

Class Project

Oct 30

Class Project

Nov 4

Class Project

Nov 6

Class Project

Nov 11

Class Project

Nov 13

Class Project

Nov 18

Class Project

Nov 20

Class Project

Nov 25

Class Project

Dec 2

Class Project

Dec 4

Class Project

Dec 9

Demonstration of Online optics experiment