Getting Started

SCHEDULING INFORMATION  : :  WHAT TO BRING  : :  LAB GOALS

SCHEDULING INFORMATION

Session Eng. Week Week of Mon. 9 - 12 Wed. 9 - 12 Fri. 9 - 12
  28 Jan. 1     No Lab
1 29 Jan. 8 P0101 P0103 P0106
30 Jan. 15 P0102 P0104 P0105
2 31 Jan. 22 P0101 P0103 P0106
32 Jan. 29 P0102 P0104 P0105
3 33 Feb. 5 P0101 P0103 P0106
34 Feb. 12 P0102 P0104 P0105
  35 Feb. 19 Reading Week
4 36 Feb. 26 P0101 P0103 P0106
37 Mar. 5 P0102 P0104 P0105
5 38 Mar. 12 P0101 P0103 P0106
39 Mar. 19 P0102 P0104 P0105
6 40 Mar. 26 P0101 P0103 P0106
41 Apr. 2 P0102 P0104 P0105
  42 Apr. 9 No Lab No Lab No Lab

WHAT TO BRING

      the Physics Laboratory Manual (PHY140Y and PHY180F/ECE1540S) and the Physics Laboratory Notebook. The manual and Notebook are available as a shrink-wrapped package in the University Textbook store FOR $14.75.

      a SCIENTIFIC electronic calculator.

      a good clear plastic ruler of at least 30 centimetres in length , a sharp pencil, and a pen. You do not, however, need a lab coat!

THE GOALS OF THE LAB

The main goal of the lab is to give you an appreciation of the power of experimental science in the development of our knowledge about the physical world. 

Specifically,  the lab IS DESIGNED to help you develop skills to :

      solve practical problems and  design intelligent experiments


      manipulate equipment and measuring instruments with grace


      keep complete records and analyze data efficiently and accurately


      distinguish between the essential and the non-essential


      display data in tabular and graphical form


      estimate uncertainties in experimental results


      ask the right questions and design and perform further experiments to answer them.

The lab IS NOT DESIGNED to :

     illustrate lecture material (this is a course in experimental techniques)


     train you to follow instructions (within a fairly well defined context you will be expected to create your own direction)

 

    test your memory (you are encouraged to use the references listed in the guide sheets whenever appropriate.)