PHYSICS 100AL, GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY

SPRING 2004

CLASS #: 18954

Thursdays, 18:00-20:50

Room SC2109

Textbook: PHYSICS 100AL LABORATORY MANUAL   by  Department of Physics and Astronomy California State University, Northridge

 

T. Chen

E-mail: taonian.chen@csun.edu

Office: SC1120C

 

Office Hours:

Mondays: 8:50-9:50

Tuesdays: 9:15-10:15

 

Objective: This course covers the first half of the 100 series laboratory practices. It fulfills the laboratory requirement of General Education Section B.1 in the physical science by covering mechanics, fluids, wave, sound and thermodynamics.

 

Prerequisite: PHYSICS 100A/concurrently-taking 100A preferred.

 

Course Schedule

Date

Experiments

Date

Experiments

2/5

Introduction/Organization

 4/1

E-8 Simple Pendulum

2/12

E-1 Uncertainties in Measurement

 4/8

Spring Recess  

2/19

E-2 Measurement of Length

 4/15

E-9 Density and Specific Gravity

2/26

E-3 Free Fall

 4/22

E-10 Surface Tension

3/4

E-4 Vector Addition of Forces

 4/29

E-11 Specific heat of Solids

3/11

E-5 Uniform Acceleration on an Inclined Plane

 5/6

E-12 Mechanical Equivalent of Heat

3/18

E-6 Centripetal Force

 5/13

E-13 Standing Waves on a String

3/25

E-7 Simple Harmonic Motion

 

 

 

 

  1. There will be 13 experiments. Lab reports are due at the beginning of the lab period the week following the experiment. Overdue reports will not be accepted.

Each report is worth 10 points      

      2.   There will be a quiz for each experiment. Each quiz is worth 10 points.

  1. Students will also be evaluated based on attendance and lab performance.

Absence and non-participation will affect the final grade. The students with full attendance will get 10 points. The students with absence more than twice will fail the course automatically.

      4.   The report/quiz with the lowest score will be dropped.

  1. There will be no make-up session for any missed experiment. However, you have the option of dropping a missing experiment as your lowest score.
  2. The final letter grade is based on the total points accumulated. The highest point is calculated as: 10 x 12 (reports) + 10 x 12 (quizzes) + 10 (attendance)  = 250. The distribution of the grades is A: 225, B: 200, C: 151, D: 125, and F: 100, with +, - at both ends. No A+ will be granted.
  3. A special office hour will be scheduled after the final exam so that the students can review their final grades. When the grades are finalized no change of the grades can be made. Do not send emails for grade inquiry.
  4. The students should strictly follow the laboratory safety rules. Should any accident occur, report the accident to the instructor immediately.