PHY 142 Lab syllabus - Dr. Peters

Introductory Physics II Lab (PHY142L)
Syllabus, Spring Semester 2007, Physics Department-Mercer University

Instructor: Dr. Randall D. Peters

Office: WSC Room 115, Office phone: 301-2747
Office hours: MW 09:00-10:00, F 15:00-16:00, or by appointment
e-mail: peters_rd@mercer.edu
Personal homepage: http://physics.mercer.edu/hpage/peters.html

Text: all laboratory materials are online http://physics.mercer.edu/labs/DEFAULT.HTM

Meets at: 9:25-12:05 Thursday (section 002)

This course is the laboratory counterpart to PHY 142, which is the second in the two-semester sequence PHY141/142 Introductory Physics I/II, an algebra-based introduction to physics. In this course, students will learn to think scientifically about numbers representing the physical world. This will involve preparation of the experimental apparatus, taking the data itself, computing derived quantities from the data, performing a statistical analysis of the data and the other quantities, and arriving at sound conclusions based on all the above. Although we will investigate a number of specific physical systems, students' goal should be to learn to think about nature and perform experiments as physicists (scientists) do. This course is intended for pre-med, pre-pharmacy majors, and others with reasonable mathematical aptitude in algebra and trigonometry. Corequisite is PHY142.

Lab Reports: A write-up of the previous week's experiment will be submitted at the beginning of each lab period. This report will consist of: (1) [50%] Data table and graphs discussed in the lab manual, (2) [30%] Typed conclusion that briefly describes the experiment that was performed, explaining features of any graph produced, and the effect of uncertainties (errors), and (3) [20%] Answers to specific questions found in the lab manual. A single group report may be submitted by the team responsible for the experiment; however, each member of the team must answer all questions.
Grading Scale: Your final grade will be determined by the following scale:
60-D-70-C-80-B-90-A-100

Policies
Cell phones and Pagers: 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.
There are no make-up labs. However, if a student has an official excuse for a missed lab, such as a note from a Dean's office, or a doctor's note, their grade will not suffer; i.e., their lab grade will be pro-rated. For misses known in advance (such as authorized athletic events), every effort should be made to do the lab before the miss, with a different instructor.
There will be no dropped grades. All work done in the course will be counted.
There will be no extra-credit work.
The college of Liberal Arts' academic misconduct policy will be followed. In addition, all students are bound by the Mercer University Honor Code.
Students are strongly encouraged to discuss with the instructor all their work during the course, regardless of their grades. Questions about point awards should be brought up as soon as possible, as all grades will be final one week after the materials are graded and returned to students.
If you have a problem of any kind, my door is open to you. If your schedule should be in conflict with my office hours, then attempt to arrange an appointment either: (i) during class, or (ii) by a chance meeting using the information posted on my door.
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 theoffice 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 SSS immediately. The office is located on the third floor of the Connell Student Center.