Physics 326 - Fall 2013

Computer Based Experimentation and Physics Computing

Textbook: “An Introduction to Error Analysis”, J.R. Taylor, 2^nd Ed. University Science Books.

Web Site for Course:

http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/ugrad/326/

Lab Preparation:

Lab instructions are posted to the 326 web site. Each lab will be discussed in the Wednesday lecture before the lab. You are expected to download, print, and read these instructions before coming to lecture. In addition, you should understand what to do in the lab BEFORE coming to lab.

Lab Reports:

Lab Reports are to be prepared individually and handed in during the lab session of the week following the lab, i.e., you have one week to write your report. No late reports will be accepted. Copied lab reports will not be accepted. Do not write a report if you have not actually done the lab; it will not be accepted. Lab reports must be typed using WORD or LaTeX. No hand written report will be accepted.

Quizzes:

Short quizzes will be given occasionally during the lecture. Topics to be quizzed are lecture and lab contents, reading assignments, and homework. Make-up quizzes will not be offered unless you have a documented medical or religious reason for missing a quiz.

Grading:

The course grade will be based mostly on the lab reports (~90%), with the remainder determined by lab preparation and participation, quiz scores, and lecture attendance. You can view your grades of lab reports and quizzes at Gradebook.

Policy for absence:
Students are expected to attend all classes and labs; if you expect to miss one or two classes, please use the University absence reporting website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ to indicate the date and reason for your absence.  An email is automatically sent to me. Please provide documented evidence for making up labs or quizzes.

Students with Disabilities:

If you have a disability, you are urged to visit the following web site to make the necessary arrangements to support a successful learning experience:
http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/ugrad/disabilities.html

Course Schedule:

 

Week	Lectures (Wednesdays)	Monday and Tuesday (sec. 1,2,3)	Thursday (6:40-9:30pm)
Sept. 1 – Sept. 5 Labor Day week	Lec 1 (ppt, pdf) Sept. 3	No labs	1 - Propagation of Errors
Sept. 8 – 12	Lec 2, (ppt, pdf) Sept. 10	1 - Propagation of Errors	2 - Wavelength of Light
Sept. 15 - 19	Lec 3a, (ppt, pdf) Sept. 17	2 - Wavelength of Light	3a - Distribution Functions (I)
Sept. 22 – 26	Lec 3b, (ppt, pdf) Sept. 24	3a - Distribution Functions (I)	3b - Distribution Functions  (II)
Sept. 29 – Oct. 3	Lec 4,  (ppt, pdf)  Oct. 1	3b - Distribution Functions  (II)	4 - Least Squares Fit
Oct. 6 – 10	Lec 5, (ppt, pdf)  Oct. 8	4 - Least Squares Fit	5 - Damped Harmonic Motion
Oct. 13 – 17	Lec 6, (ppt, pdf) Oct. 15	5 - Damped Harmonic Motion	6a - Forced Harmonic Motion (I)
Oct. 20 – 24	No lecture	6a - Forced Harmonic Motion (I)	6b - Forced Harmonic Motion (II)
Oct. 27 – 31	Lec 7, (ppt, pdf) Oct. 29	6b - Forced Harmonic Motion (II)	7a - Fourier Analysis (I)
Nov. 3 – 7	No lecture	7a - Fourier Analysis (I)	7b - Fourier Analysis (II)
Nov. 10 – 14	Lec 8, (ppt, pdf) Nov. 12	7b - Fourier Analysis (II)	8a - Onset of Chaos (I)
Nov. 17 - 21	No lecture	8a - Onset of Chaos (I)	8b - Onset of Chaos (II)
Nov. 24 – 28	Thanksgiving week	No labs	No lab
Dec. 1 – 5	No lecture	8b - Onset of Chaos (II)	Make up labs
Dec. 8 – 13	All lab reports due. Make up labs