Physics 5122 W. Weyhmann
Winter 1997 K. Wick

Methods of Experimental Physics: II

Introduction:

This course is the second of a three-quarter sequence on the techniques used in a modern experimental physics laboratory. The laboratory exercises in this course will focus on the use of small computers for experimental control and data acquisition. Some labs will also introduce experimental techniques and data analysis. As part of this course, students who intend to enroll in Phys 5123 will prepare brief research proposals for experimental physics projects. These students will also prepare a poster session on the topics of their research proposals.

Prequisite:

Completion of Physics 5121.

Staff:

The faculty member for this course is:
Walter Weyhmann (Office: Physics 335, 624-3809, weyhmann@physics.spa.umn.edu)

Technical and teaching assistance for the laboratory and course is provided by
Kurt Wick (Office: Physics 69, 624-2831, wick@physics.spa.umn.edu)

The teaching assistant is:
Reinhard Schwienhorst (Office: Physics 50, 624-9321, schwier@physics.spa.umn.edu)

Please check your E-mail on a regular basis as it may be used for announcements.

Lectures:

Three lectures are given per week: M, W, F, 12:20 - 13:10, in 170 Physics.

Labs:

Students must attend two two-hour laboratory sections each week in room 65 of the physics department (Telephone: 625-4829). Students are expected to work in pairs and to attend their assigned laboratory periods. Lab facilities, including computers, will be available after the first lecture, January 6.

In order to keep up, most students will find that a number of hours per week must be spent in the laboratory in addition to their scheduled hours. The laboratory may be used at any time of the week, or weekends, not otherwise scheduled by checking out a key in the physics office, 148 Physics. The keys may be checked out overnight or over the weekend. Since the number of keys is limited, please return them promptly to allow other students access to the lab facilities.

Laboratory Schedule:

Grade Policy:

The grades will be based on a total of 200 possible points distributed as follows:

Laboratory Write-Ups:

Students are required to hand in a lab write-up for each chapter covered in the lab manual. The lab manual will be handed out in class. A list of the chapters covered and the due dates is given in the time table at the end of this syllabus. Tardy presentation of reports will be penalized one point per lab session for each write-up. All write-up's must be completed.

A lab write-up should be in the form of a brief research report: it must be written in clear English and include:

1. A complete description of what was done, including all necessary data tables, graphs and circuit diagrams.

2. A summary of results and observations appropriately displayed.

3. Answers to all of the questions asked in the lab manual or supplements.

Experiments:

All students must complete and write reports on five experiments: "FFT", "Ball Dropper," "Noise," "Diffraction" and "The Half Life of Polonium" (See the lab manual chapters 8 through 12.) Students are expected to work in pairs for these experiments, but each student must write their own separate report including their own analysis. The experiments require the application of what you have learned about electronics, computer interfacing, programming and statistical analysis. These experiments are not 'cook-book' experiments: you are expected to work out much of the details of the experiment for yourself, with more problem solving than in the previous labs. The report should include a brief introduction, sections on your data collection and analysis and a conclusion.

Exams:

The midterm will be held on February 7 and the final exam will be during finals week on Saturday morning, March 22.

Proposals:

Students who will enroll in Phys 5123 will submit a proposal for an experiment to be carried out in that course. The proposal will first be presented as a "letter of intent" which will be discussed with the faculty, after that a full research proposal will be submitted. Students will then prepare a poster describing the experiment which will be displayed at a poster session on the last day of class.

In preparing the proposal students will collaborate with a partner in the writing of the "letter of intent," whereas the research project proposal will be submitted separately. The "letter of intent" is due Monday, January 27, and the proposal is due on Monday, February 24. This allows plenty of time for discussion of the project with faculty members and for revisions of drafts. A sample letter of intent and a list of possible projects will be handed out and examples of reports from previous years will be made available.

In order to ensure the success of these projects, we will lay considerable stress on the quality of the proposals. It will not be unusual for the proposal to be handed back for further work, particularly as it relates to the feasibility of the project, availability of equipment and supplies, proposed analysis of the data, and knowledge of literature in the field. If a proposal is not accepted, an experiment or experiments will be assigned for Phys 5123.

Poster Session:

The poster session will be held in Room 216 on Friday, March 14, and the physics faculty will be invited to attend. As the first draft of your proposals will have been handed in by this time, the projects should be well defined by this time and the preparations should be straightforward. We will provide you with additional details of this event as the time approaches.

Alternate Experiment:

Students who will not enroll in Phys 5123 are required to complete the additional AD experiment in lieu of the letter of intent, proposal and poster session requirements.

Textbook:

Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, P. R. Bevington and D. Robinson, (McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1992). Second edition.
The Art of Electronics, P. Horowitz and W. Hill, (Cambridge University Press). Second Edition.

Timetable:

KW SYLW97_2.doc 01/06/97