Syllabus for Physics 332
W 1:00-4:00, additional self-scheduled time

This is a three-credit laboratory class. Your grade will be equally dependent on five intensive laboratories and a Science Festival project, and your final project will count as two labs. Additionally, your lab notebook will count as half a lab.

• Objectives:

  • Students will understand the function of research design and experimentation.
  • Students will understand the role and nature of theory explaining and predicting events and phenomena.
  • Students will be able to implement classroom and laboratory safety rules and procedures and will take appropriate safety precautions.
  • Self-checking mechanisms used by science to increase objectivity including peer review
  • Students will engage in research projects and experiments that include the applications of the design process and technology.
  • Students will engage in problem-solving, and will apply physics to solve practical problems.
  • Students will understand the contributions of physics to society, including its social, cultural, and economic significance.
• Attendance: You must attend class class and lab. This is an intensive class, and you cannot afford to get behind. Theory and lab technique will be discussed in the first hour or more of the lab period. You will be assigned to work in groups of two, and we will discuss lab groups on the first day. When you work on labs outside of class, the entire group must be present at all times.
• Taking Notes: Taking notes in this class is required. It is as important as coming to class. You must take notes by hand, if possible. (For reasoning and evidence, see this link.)
• Lab: The class is based on the laboratory work, write-ups, and associated questions to be answered. Labs are expected to take longer than the scheduled lab time - it is a three credit laboratory, so you should expect to spend six hours on the lab outside of scheduled time, you should make sure you finish the lab during the second lab period, and then take another three to six hours writing it up. You will also be expected to read a given week's lab ahead of time. These are just guidelines - obviously different labs will take different amounts of time, but you will need to put in significant effort. The lab work needs to be finished by the end of the second Sunday for that particular lab (that is when the equipment will be put away). The write-up is due the following Wednesday, before the next lab starts. General write-up format is here. Additional Expectations and Safety Regulations are here. Late labs will be penalized 10 percent per day.
• Space: Remember that the laboratory space needs to be shared with other labs and classes and general use of the room. In particular, you will not be able to use the lab space on any Monday afternoon except for March 1. Be sure to keep your area neat and uncluttered; it is advisable to put away, or neaten up, or at least clearly demark your equipment when you are not using it. Use ONLY the side counters, not the main lab tables, for experiments. The lab will be cleaned and de-cluttered DAILY, so be sure to be clear what you are still using. 5% of your lab grade will depend on equipment being put away in the right place by the end of Sunday before the lab is due. Report broken equipment.
• Lab notebook: The importance of learning to keep a proper lab notebook cannot be over-emphasized. You must have a bound lab notebook by week 2. You must take all your notes and put all your data and observations in this notebook. It must be clear and well-organized. Here are some great guidelines from MIT. 
• Office hours are open, subject to my schedule. Please feel free to try any time (including evenings) or to make an appointment.  My schedule is here.
• Be sure to read and be aware of College-Wide Policy.

• Additional Possible Experiments (subject to apparatus acquisition) are at this link