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2012- PHYSICS 388/389 EXPERIMENTS IN MODERN AND APPLIED PHYSICS
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INSTRUCTOR Prof. Eva Y. Andrei (114W Serin Physics Bldg, eandrei@physics.rutgers.edu ) TEACHING ASSISTANT Junno Grant (NPL 5) (grant.junno@gmail.com)
COURSE OBJECTIVES The purpose of this
course is to acquire hands-on experience in the experimental aspects of
modern
physics and to develop an understanding of the relations between
experiment and theory. You will carry
out experiments which, when first performed, led to seminal
discoveries on the fundamental laws of physics. In the process
you will acquire a set of basic skills
essential to becoming a scientist. You will use advanced laboratory
equipment
to acquire data that probe the laws of physics at atomic and sub-atomic
scales. This data will have the inevitable systematic and
random errors that obscure the relations between the macroscopic
observables
of our sensory experience and the physical laws that govern the
microscopic
world of atoms and nuclei. You will be challenged to learn how each of
the experimental setups works and to master its manipulation so as to
obtain
the best possible data. You will learn to
carry
out data analysis and error estimation and to interpret the data
in light of theory.
You
will acquire the skills to produce credible records of scientific data, and you wil llearn how to
disseminate
scientific findings through written reports and oral
presentations.
GUIDELINES - for detailed information click links o Class schedule.
Students will work on experiments in groups of three, carrying
out four experiments during the semester. Groups and lab
schedules will be assigned on the first day of class.
o Laboratory notebook. Obtain your own bound lab notebook. Each student will be required to keep an individual lab book. Record all data and all procedures in your own lab book no later than before leaving the lab each day. o Experiment writeups. Obtain the writeup for each experiment from the course webpage o Preparing for the experiment. Download the preparatory questions and writeup. Read the suggested references or find your own. The preparatory questions often refer to experimental procedures and apparatus. During the first session familiarize yourself with the equipment and start answering the preparatory questions. In your lab book enter a summary of objectives and procedures. Submit your answers to the TA by email.You willl be allowed to start the experiment only after handing in your answer set. o In the lab. As a courtesy to the next group leave your work area at least as tidy as you found it. Return reference material and tools at the end of each lab. o Lab report. Each group should submit a lab report to the course instructor, preferrably by email, for each completed experiment on or before the due date listed on the course schedule The report should be written in collaboration with all the lab partners. o Oral presentation. Following the fourth experiment each student will make an oral presentation before the entire class .
COURSE POLICIES AND GRADING Grading: Grades will be determined by class participation, preparatory questions, notebook, lab reports and oral presentation.
COURSE MATERIALS Textbook: Experiments in Modern Physics, by A.C. Melissinos and J. Napolitano, 2'nd edition Available for purchase in University Bookstore. BOOKS ON RESERVE in the SERC Library :
If you have a disability, you must arrange for me to receive a letter from your College's Disability Concerns Coordinator. A list of the College Coordinators can be found at: |
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