Overview of the Experimental Programme
Description of the Free Choice Experiments
Table of the Free Choice Experiments, with Links to the Guide Sheets
Computing: DataStudio, work at home, the use of Faraday for Fitting Data, etc.
Overview of the Experimental Programme
At the beginning of both Fall and Spring term, you will do a couple of required experiments; during the rest of the term you can select experiments from a wide choice of "free choice" experiments. Hard copies of the guide sheets for the required experiments are included in the LABORATORY MANUAL; all others can be downloaded as required from the web site.
Required Experiments.
Fall Term - Classical Mechanics.
These experiments will enable you to investigate some of the theoretical ideas you are studying in lectures. The instruments you will use are connected via an interface to a PC, with which you will record and analyse your data. There are two sets of experiments, A and B. Each set will take two lab periods and each set counts for two weights. Note: you can download the PASCO software so that you can do some of your analysis of data at home. Click here for instructions.
Spring Term - Simple Electric Circuits and The Oscilloscope and Noise.
These experiments are designed to teach you some of the experimental techniques that will be essential for your later studies. These include basic electrical circuits and the use of an oscilloscope. Each of these experiments counts for one weight.
Free Choice Experiments.
There is a large selection of free choice experiments - for some you will be competing for access with students from PHY110Y/PHY138Y. Normally, you will do two such experiments in the Fall term, and four in the Spring term, for a total of six experiments per term - including the compulsory ones at the start of each term. . Availability allowing, do choose experiments that sound interesting to you rather than ones you think are easy! I strongly encourage you to do at least one of the Classical experiments. The list below gives a brief description of every experiment. The following Table of Experiments has links to the full guide sheets, which you can download once you have booked the experiment. Book your experiment by following the link at the top of the table.
You must have your demonstrator’s permission to start any new experiment. Such permission will not normally be given until you have completely finished the previous experiment.
Summary
List of the Free Choice Experiments
This listing includes a brief summary of the experiments available to you once the required experiments have been completed.
COLOUR CODING:
the experiments highlighted in blue are available ONLY in the Spring term
WEIGHTS:
The numbers in square brackets following these term indicators, e.g., [1 wt.], [2 wt.], etc. indicate the number of weights credited to the experiment. One weight normally requires one lab session to complete; a two weight experiment about two sessions.
To view and/or print the full guide sheet for an experiment in .pdf format, go to the Table below.
(M) Mechanics and Mechanical Systems
Conservation of Angular Momentum: Investigate conservation of angular momentum using the DataStudio software by dropping objects on to a rotating disk and measuring the angular momentum before and after the "collision". [1 wt]
Free Fall: Measurement of g by determining the distance a body falls in a measured time. [1 wt]
The Gyroscope: A study of this fascinating instrument, in which angular momentum, torque, precession, nutation, etc., can be measured. [1 wt]
Mechanical Oscillations - Resonance and Ringing in a Tuning Fork: An investigation of vibrations in a tuning fork subject to damping, using a storage oscilloscope. [1 wt]
The Mechanical Equivalent of Heat: Joule's classic experiment. [1 wt]
Moment of Inertia: Using the DataStudio software, the moments of inertia of various objects are determined by applying varying torques to a body and measuring the corresponding angular accelerations.[1 wt]
Oscillations of a Sphere on a Concave Surface: Measurement of the radius of curvature of a concave surface using a simple harmonic motion system. [1 wt]
The Torsion Pendulum: Measurement of the torsional constant of a wire and the moment of inertia of various solids. [1 wt]
Wilberforce Spring: A fascinating study of mechanical resonance between two types of simple harmonic motion. [1 wt]
(PM) Properties of Matter
Similarity: The study of the motion of solids in viscous fluids in both laminar and turbulent regimes. Emphasis is placed on considerations involving the changing of scales of the physical quantities. [2 wt]
Surface Tension: Measurement of the surface tension of a number of liquids. Temperature dependence may be studied. [1 wt]
Vapour Pressure of Water: An ingenious experiment with several subtleties. [1 wt]
Viscosity of Water by Capillary Flow: Measurement of the coefficient of viscosity of a fluid. [1 wt]
(W) Wave Phenomena
Acoustic Analog Model of Seismic Reflections: An acoustic analogue of seismic reflection measurements similar to those used in exploration geophysics. [2 wt]
The Acoustic Interferometer: Study of the interference of sound waves using a classic Michelson-type interferometer. Measures the velocity of sound in air. [1 wt]
Electron Diffraction : Diffraction patterns of pyrolitic graphite and poly-crystalline aluminum can be observed and photographed for measurement; lattice constants may be determined. [1 wt]
Interference & Diffraction (Using a Laser): Single and multiple slits are available on photographic plates, and some two-dimensional patterns and gratings for the study of Fraunhofer diffraction. Quantitative comparisons with theory can be made. [1 wt]
Lens Optics: Focusing properties of thin lenses. [1 wt]
Microwave Optics: Wave effects observed using microwaves with a wavelength of 3 cm. A fairly qualitative experiment. [1-2wt]
Physics of Sound: A six experiment package on the physics of sound, music and sound reproduction. Topics investigated include Decibels, Beats, Amplitude and Frequency Modulation, Fourier Analysis and Synthesis, Loudspeaker Dispersion, Impedance, Resonance and Frequency Response. Totally open ended. [1-2 wt]
Polarization of Light: I. A verification of Malus’ law (the intensity of light transmitted through polarizer and analyzer is measured); II. A study of reflection of polarized light at an air-glass interface. [1-2 wt]
Refraction of Light, Optical Fibers: The use of optical fibers for the transmission of light signals is investigated. The speed of propagation and the attenuation of the light are measured. [1 wt]
Speed of Sound in a Solid: Using an oscilloscope, the time taken for a mechanical pulse propagated along a measured length of a solid rod yields a value for the speed of sound in the rod.
Standing Waves and Acoustic Resonance: A moveable microphone is used to detect the positions of maxima and minima in a standing wave pattern of sound waves. The speed of sound in air is measured and the quality factor (Q) of the resonant system is determined. [1wt]
Velocity of Sound in a Pure Gas: Determination of the important constant gamma which is the ratio of the specific heat of a gas at constant pressure to the specific heat at constant volume. [1 wt]
Waves - Steady or Pulsed, Standing or Travelling: An introduction to wave phenomena. Standing and travelling waves are investigated in a torsional wave apparatus, using the aid of your eyes, your hands, an oscilloscope and a signal generator. [1 wt]
(E) Electric and Electronic Circuits
Current Balance : This experiment defines the ampere. A fundamental measurement of current in terms of the force between two current carrying conductors. [2 wt]
Digital Electronics parts I & II: In part I, one-transistor amplifiers are combined to make AND gates, binary adders, etc. In part II, TTL Integrated Circuits are used to investigate flip-flops, memories, bistables, etc. Another experiment capable of being very open ended. [1-2 wt]
The Electrocardiogram: The electrical signals from the heart are investigated using an oscilloscope with associated electronics.
Faraday’s Law and the AC Generator: An introduction to the AC generator and several quantitative aspects of Faraday’s Law. [1 wt]Hall Effect in Thin Films : The transverse voltage produced when a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field is called the Hall effect. In this experiment the Hall constant is measured for different materials and the charge carriers are identified for those materials. [2 wt]
Hall Effect in Thin Films : The transverse voltage produced when a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field is called the Hall effect. In this experiment the Hall constant is measured for different materials and the charge carriers are identified for those materials. [2 wt]
Thermistors and Diodes: Extending the required Simple Electric Circuits to study thermistors, diodes, lamps. [1 wt]
(AN) Atomic and Nuclear Physics
Radioactivity in Our Environment : A high resolution gamma-ray spectrometer is used to identify some radioactivity in the structures around us, in the air we breathe, in the wood we burn, in the dishes we use and in depleted uranium. [2 wt]
Radioactivity in the Air : A sample of some hundreds of litres of Toronto air is filtered, and the radioactivity collected in the filter is studied. Another open ended experiment [2 wt]
Scattering: A model of a two-dimensional scattering process. The experiment simulates the scattering of a beam of particles from a fixed target. [1-2 wt]
Spectra: A number of sources of emission and absorption spectra is available. The hydrogen spectrum (Balmer series) is studied and the Rydberg constant determined. Gases and mixtures of gases can be identified by study of the spectral lines. [1 wt]
X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Absorption in Matter: The radiation-absorption properties of various materials, at various X-ray or gamma-ray energies, are studied. This experiment illustrates the physical basis of radiology and radiation protection. [1 wt]
(F) Fundamental Constants
The Cavendish Experiment : The classic experiment to measure the Universal Gravitational Constant. [2 wt]
e/m for an Electron: Measurement of the charge-to-mass ratio of the electron. The experiment requires measuring the radius of the trajectory of electrons in a magnetic field. It gives scope for particularly critical analysis. [1 wt]
The Millikan Oil Drop Experiment: The classic experiment which shows the quantification of electric charge. [2 wt]
The Speed of Light: A modification of Fizeau’s classic experiment. This is a straightforward but challenging experiment. Great care is needed to set up the apparatus correctly. A careful experimenter can get ±5% results. [2 wt]
Table of the Free Choice Experiments, with links to the Guide Sheets
The free Choice experiments are listed in the following table; the experiments highlighted in blue are available ONLY in the Spring term. The guide sheets are available in portable data format (pdf) for reading or downloading. You can read and print these .pdf files using Acrobat Reader, which can be freely downloaded to your PC from the Adobe Acrobat web site. To book an experiment, click on the link at the top of the table; your login name is your nine-digit student number, and your password is your case-sensitive ROSI last name.
