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Laboratory for Classical Physics (I)
PHY 133 Fall 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
About
Scope
Overview
Calendar
Reporting Problems

Letter Grade Distribution PHY133 Fall 2016

      The method to calculate the LETTER grade is described below:


    1. Step:
      2. An average numerical grade is obtained for each of you based on the laboratory grades reported to us by your TA.
    2. Step:
      3. A grade given by the grader to each of the sections is then calculated along with statistical deviations.
    3. Step:
      4. We normalize all graders by scaling up section averages to the most liberal grader. The scale factors obtained from these are used to scale up all your averages. (Say grader A had the maximum average for his class of 90, and your grader’s class average was 80, then we scale your grade by a scale factor 90/80).
    4. Step:
      5. All grades are now normalized and equivalent. We now assign letter grades based on a typical curve and the grades got distributed based on your scaled-up average as follows:


Numerical Grade average - Letter grade


=100%   —   A


<100% and >95%   —   A-


<=95% and >90%   —   B+


<=90% and >85%   —   B


<=85% and >80%   —   B-


<=80% and >75%   —   C+


<=75% and >65%   —   C


<=65% and >=50%   —   D


<50%   —   F


The distribution of letter grades can be seen in the provided graph above.
Note: the grading scheme may be differing from the lecture course. The lecture course is absolutely graded, the lab course's grade is scaled.


About

This is the organizational page for the Physics Introductory Labs PHY 133 for Fall 2016.

Instructors                                   Director of UG Laboratory           Teaching Assistants
K. Dehmelt B. Nielsen

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Scope

The scope of the introductory labs is to give an understanding of basic experimental methods applied in physical sciences. The experiments performed during the lab sessions are closely related to the topics covered in the lecture.

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Overview

You will perform each week an experiment as indicated in the Calendar section. You have 2 hr 20 min time to perform each experiment. Each experiment will come with a manual that you can access from this webpage.
Your perfomance in the lab session will be evaluated by your teaching assistant. The evaluation is based on the introduction of your lab report that you have to write up and submit to your TA at the beginning of the session and your performance during the experiment that includes a final written report that will be submitted in the week following the lab experiment. Please refer also to Lab Reports.

Your performance/report will count 100%, of which the introduction is worth up to 10%, toward your grade on the particular lab experiment.
Your final grade will be an average from your single lab grades scaled by a factor that will be determined at the end of the semester. This final grade will be a letter grade ranging from A to F.

Your lab report should give the reader a chance to get a picture of the experiment and what you have done without having the lab manual in their hand. You should not copy excerpts from the manual or only refer to passages in the lab manual. The lab report has to have the following format:

    1. Title sheet
      2. Name, lab-section, TA name, partner name(s), name of experiment, date
    2. Introduction                [10 pts]
      3. In your own words: briefly describe the experiment, DO NOT copy the lab manual
      Describe how to perform the experiment with a short sketch and text
    3. Procedure                   [20 pts]
      4. Describe briefly what you have done during the session
    4. Data sheet                   [20 pts]
      5. Include data taken which has been analyzed, clear and neat
      Have your TA signed your data sheet before you leave the lab
    5. Analysis/Discussion  [40 pts]
      6. Graphs, calculations, uncertainty estimates
    6. Conclusion                  [10 pts]
      7. Brief summary of results: physics implied by the data
      Any caveats or comments
      ---------------------------------
           Σ                    [100 pts]
    IMPORTANT: You have to submit your first lab report 48 hours after your lab experiment finished. Please refer to your Teaching Assistant for details. For and after your second experiment you have to submit your lab report the latest at the beginning of the next lab session following the experiment performed.

    Penalties for late submission
      Any lab report submitted after that deadline will not be considered and receive zero points for the lab experiment.
    Please refer also to Lab Reports.


    You are required to perform each lab experiment by yourself, mostly together with a lab partner.
    If you need to be absent for a lab experiment you will have to provide written documentation for a significant reason to be absent, e.g., a medical note from your doctor, a written document about jury duty, and similar. You will then have the opportunity to make up the lab experiment in the dedicated make-up week. You have to arrange with your TA that make-up session.
    If you are absent for a non-excusable reason your lab grade for that particular experiment will be Zero (0) points!

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Calendar

The first lab sessions will take place in the week starting from Monday, August 29.


Lab 0: August 29 - September 01 Introduction to the laboratory and Uncertainty, Error & Graphs

September 05 - 08: Labor Day Week. No lab classes.

Lab 1: September 12 - 15 The Pendulum

Lab 2: September 19 - 22 Acceleration

Lab 3: September 26 - 29 Projectile Motion

October 03 - 06: Make-up Lab Week for Labs 1 - 3. No lab classes.

Lab 4: October 10 - 13 The Atwood Machine

Lab 5: October 17 - 20 Conservation of Energy

Lab 6: October 24 - 27 Conservation of Momentum

Lab 7: October 31 - November 03 Angular Momentum

November 07 - 10: Make-up Lab Week for Labs 4 - 7. No lab classes.

Lab 8: November 14 - 17 Simple Harmonic Motion

November 21 - 24: Thanksgiving Week. No lab classes.

Lab 9: November 28 - December 01 Standing Waves

Lab 10: December 05 - 08 Ideal Gas Law and Absolute Zero

December 09: Make-up Lab Day for Labs 8 - 10.

LABORATORY SCHEDULE & TEACHING ASSISTANTS:

Please note that some sections are not ordered in time.
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Reporting Problems

Please report any problem to either, your corresponding lab instructor or Professor Dehmelt.                                                                                                   

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