Introduction to Physics Laboratory and Basics Physics Experiment

Timetable

• the course takes place in the Basics Physics Laboratory at the Faculty of Physics UAM
• total duration of the course is 45h
• there are 15 meetings per 3h each scheduled
• the meetings take place each week of a winter semester

Module aim (aims)

• Developing skills in planning and performing a basic physical experiment
• Developing skills in using simple statistical methods for development and interpretation of measurement data, as well as for proper reporting and drawing final conclusions based on performed experiment
• Enabling students to experimentally verify basic physical phenomena and physical laws
• Developing the habit of using statistical tools for data analysis, presentation and creation of laboratory/research reports
• Developing skills for individual and team in research work

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

• General knowledge of physics at high school level
• General knowledge of mathematics at high school level
• Basic knowledge of differential calculus

Syllabus

• during laboratory classes, student is obliged to perform and analyse 12 basic physics experiments, taking into account such branches of physics as: General Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Vibrations and Wave Phenomena, Thermodynamics, Optics, Modern Physics: Atomic, Nuclear and Quantum Physics
• the student is obliged to: (1) prepare for classes on the theory of the phenomenon under study, (2)  to statistically analyze the measurement data and prepare a summary laboratory report, (3) to comply with health and safety rules during work with measuring instruments and devices located at laboratory
• as part of classes related to General Mechanics section student performs selected experiments regarding such issues as: kinematics and dynamics, principles of momentum conservation, principles of mechanical energy conservation, kinematics and dynamics of a rigid body, hydrostatics and hydrodynamics
• as part of classes related to Electricity and Magnetism section student performs selected experiments including the following topics: electrostatic field, dielectrics, ferroelectrics, direct and alternating current, magnetic field magnetic, electromagnetic induction
• as part of classes related to Vibrations and Wave Phenomenal student performs selected tasks in the following topics: simple, damped and forced mechanical vibrations, mechanical resonance, motion of pendulums, resonance in LRC system
• as part of classes related to Optics section student performs selected tasks regarding topics such as: the diffraction, interference and polarization of electromagnetic waves, geometric optics: plane-parallel plates, optical prisms and lenses
• as part of classes related to Thermodynamics section student performs selected tasks regarding topics such as: calorimetry, ideal gas and the law of thermodynamics as well as thermal conductivity
• as part of classes related to Modern Physics section student performs selected tasks regarding topics such as: photoelectric effect, nuclear magnetic resonance NMR or Zeeman effect, atomic spectra and nuclear radiation

Reading list

• (1) Fundamentals of Physics, David Halliday, Jearl Walker, and Robert Resnick, 2013

  (2) Evaluation of measurement data — Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement, JCGM 100:2008
  

  (3) materials prepared by a lecturer