Discovering Physics Laboratory

Physics is an experimental science. This means that we don't guess about the way that nature behaves, rather we carefully craft theories which are meant to predict what will happen in very specific circumstances. Physics can predict the future with enough knowledge about the present. It is the role of the laboratory and experiments to test this ability to predict.

Requirements:

  • 1 bound, quadrille ruled composition book (Boorum \& Pease \#APA--0--048--128) for a laboratory journal. It is important that this book is bound to keep all of your notes together and that it has little squares on each page to aid in graph making. All laboratory work and reports are to be written in this journal. The laboratory journal is not to be taken home and will remain in the laboratory at all times (except when used for studying for the tests).
  • 1 small ruler. This is important and used to make straight lines in graphs and will not be used for measurements in the the lab.
  • 1 calculator is also useful but not necessary. No fancy functions are needed. It will be used only for simple arithmetic. Please put your name on the calculator. Calculators can also be used in tests, though in general they should not be needed.

    Most of the data collection in each experiment will be done in a group of two to four students or with the class as a whole. You are encouraged to discuss among yourselves your methods, analysis, and purpose. But each of you must record all of your data, and your journal will be graded independently from your lab partner's. Data should be entered directly into the book, you should not use bits of scrap paper or a rought draft. You can always cross out and start a data table over. There are no points for neatness, but if the grader cannot read your book, it is the same as not writing anything.

    The following minimum structure is required for each laboratory write-up and for the proper upkeep of your journal.

  • 1. Each experiment should have a TITLE and a date.
  • 2. There should be a few sentences which describe the PURPOSE of the experiment.
  • 3. There should be enough DESCRIPTION of what you actually do that some one unfamiliar with the lab and the lab handout, but familiar with physics, can read your report and understand what you did. A labeled diagram is often helpful.
  • 4. DATA that is taken should be entered neatly in your journal. Nice columns, made with your ruler, look good. Any measurement that you make has some unit associated with it. If there is a number in your book it should be clear what your units are and what the number means. It is always a good idea to repeat any measurement you make to get an idea about how accurate it is.
  • 5. The data ANALYSIS is the comparison of your measurements with the predictions of the laws of physics. If it is appropriate (and it usually is), then a simple graph of your data should be made. Make the graph BIG, label the axes and the tick marks, include units, give a title to the graph, and use your ruler for the axes. We try and choose the scale of the graph so that it is convenient, and it should never occupy less than half a page.
  • 6. At the end of the write-up should be a CONCLUSION, stating what has been learnt from the experiment. Also this should contain intelligent comments about how what the main sources of error in the experiment, and how they might affect the result.