General information
| Course type | AMUPIE |
| Module title | Introduction to Physics Laboratory and Basics Physics Experiment |
| Language | English |
| Module lecturer | dr Małgorzata Wawrzyniak-Adamczewska |
| Lecturer's email | mwaw@amu.edu.pl |
| Lecturer position | lecturer, PhD |
| Faculty | Faculty of Physics and Astronomy |
| Semester | 2026/2027 (winter) |
| Duration | 45 |
| ECTS | 5 |
| USOS code | Introduction to Physics Laboratory and Basics Physics Experiment - 04-W-IPL-45 |
Timetable
Classes will start on 13 October 2026.
Schedule:
Tuesdays, 8:30–11:30 (or other dates to be agreed upon with the course participants)
Location:
Laboratorium Eksperymentu Fizycznego (Physical Experiment Laboratory), Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University (UAM)
Course details:
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Total course duration: 45 hours
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11 meetings, 4 hours each (4x45min), plus 1-hour summary session
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Meetings take place weekly during the winter semester
Module aim (aims)
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Developing skills in planning and conducting basic physical experiments
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Developing skills in using simple statistical methods for the analysis and interpretation of measurement data, as well as for proper reporting and drawing final conclusions based on performed experiments
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Enabling students to experimentally verify basic physical phenomena and physical laws
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Developing the habit of presenting data, preparing laboratory and research reports, and applying statistical tools for data analysis
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Developing skills for individual and team-based research work
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Developing skills in using AI tools for data analysis and visualization
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
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During laboratory classes, students are required to perform and analyze 8 basic physics experiments, covering the following branches of physics: General Mechanics; Electricity and Magnetism; Vibrations and Wave Phenomena; Thermodynamics; Optics; and Modern Physics (Atomic, Nuclear or Quantum Physics).
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The student is required to:
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Prepare by studying the theory of the phenomenon under investigation;
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Analyze the measurement data and prepare a summary laboratory report;
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Comply with health and safety regulations while working with measuring instruments and devices located in the laboratory.
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As part of the General Mechanics section, students may perform selected experiments related to the following topics: kinematics and dynamics; principles of momentum conservation; principles of mechanical energy conservation; kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies; hydrostatics.
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As part of the Electricity and Magnetism section, students may perform selected experiments covering the following topics: electrostatic fields; dielectrics and/or ferroelectrics; direct and alternating current; magnetic fields; and electromagnetic induction.
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As part of the Vibrations and Wave Phenomena section, students may perform selected tasks related to the following topics: mechanical vibrations; mechanical resonance or motion of pendulums.
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As part of the Optics section, students perform selected tasks related to topics such as diffraction, interference, polarization of electromagnetic waves, as well as geometrical optics, including plane-parallel plates or optical prisms or lenses.
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As part of the Thermodynamics section, students may perform selected tasks related to topics such as calorimetry, the ideal gas law, the laws of thermodynamics or thermal conductivity.
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As part of the Modern Physics section, students may perform selected tasks related to topics such as the photoelectric effect; the Zeeman effect; atomic spectra.
Reading list
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Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. Fundamentals of Physics. Wiley, 2013.
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JCGM 100:2008. Evaluation of Measurement Data — Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement.
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Materials prepared by the lecturer.