WINTHROP UNIVERSITY
Department of Chemistry, Physics, & Geology
 
Semester: Fall 2009    Course: PHYS 201L - General Physics I Laboratory.

The laboratory will be held in Sims 205. Students need to register for one of the lab sections, PHYS 201L.

 

LAB SCHEDULE                    

Lab # Week Experiment Pre-Lab Quiz
1 Sept. 1 Spread Sheet & Graphing Pre-Lab Quiz 1
2 Sept. 8 Density Problem #5, Chap-11
3 Sept. 15 Vector Addition Problem #42, Chap-1, Page 24
4 Sept. 22 Data Collection with a PC Pre-Lab Quiz 4
5 Sept. 29   Friction Pre-Lab on Friction
6 Oct. 6 Energy Pre-Lab on Energy
7 Oct. 13 Ballistic Pendulum Pre-Lab on BP
8 Oct. 27 Torque Pre-Lab on Torque
9 Nov. 3 Rotational Motion Pre-Lab on RM
10 Nov. 10 Hooke's Law and SHM Pre-Lab on SHM
11 Nov. 17 Archimedes' Principle Pre-Lab on AP
12 Nov. 24 Vibrating String Pre-Lab on Strings
13 Dec. 1 Speed of sound in air Pre-Lab on Sound

Textbook: Physics, Cutnell & Johnson, 8th  Edition, John Wiley Publishing.

Course Objectives


Include the following in the same order for your lab report:

1) Lab write-up from the web-link. 
2) Graphs, calculations, answers for questions, etc.
3) Conclusion.
4) Staple the report at the top left corner making sure nothing is hidden under the staple.

Rules for the laboratory

  1. You must read the web-link  and the relevant materials from the textbook before the lab period and be prepared for the laboratory.
  2. Bring the textbook and do not come late.
  3. You will work in a group of two. Both partners should actively take part in collecting the data and in the experimental process.
  4. At the end of your lab work you need to return all the laboratory equipment to the appropriate places where you took them.
  5. You need to handle the equipment carefully, giving special attention when warranted.
  6. When you leave the laboratory, you need to make sure the laboratory table is clean and free of any materials.
  7. Do not miss any laboratory. You will receive "0" for all missed laboratories.
  8. Lab reports are due at the end of the lab period.
Guidelines for conclusion

Conclusion should state things that are unique for your investigation. In length it should not less than half a page and more than a page. Just remember that you cannot write your conclusion without completing your experiments or investigations. A general statement like "I have determined the densities of given solids" is not acceptable. You need to refer to your data, methods, and results in your conclusion. First you may state your results for the purpose. Then you may discuss about the errors and their possible causes. Describe your reasoning using physics terminology and principles. You should explain as completely as possible what goes through your mind that leads you to your conclusion. While we encourage you to discuss your physics experiments with your partners, your written lab report must be your own work.