PHYSICS 2225

Physics Lab II
For S & E

Spring 2015

Acknowledgments
Many thanks to those individuals who spent countless hours brainstorming, writing, revising,
and rewriting in an effort to make these lab manuals clear, user-friendly, and instructive.
Individuals of note include Kevin Davenport, Keyton Clayson, Matt Briggs, Jason Farley,
Maureen Gilbert, Mark Hollier, Rick Jacob, Adam Johnston, Nate Jones, Gernot Laicher, Tomo
Nagai, and Sid Rudolph.
Important Information for People with Disabilities
The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for
people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice
needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020
(V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for
accommodations.
All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior
notification to the Center for Disability Services.
For your convenience, please fill in the missing information below
Your Name:

_____________________________________________

Course and Section:

_____________________________________________

Class Meeting Time: _____________________________________________

Lab Director:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Web Page:

Gernot Laicher
410 South Physics
801-585-5553
gernot@physics.utah.edu
http://www.physics.utah.edu/~gernot/gernot.html

There is a website for the Physics Elementary Labs at:

http://www.physics.utah.edu/~gernot/elem_labs/labs.html
This web page contains a lot of important information. Please use it.
In addition to the website we will use Canvas to provide a convenient venue to ask questions and
get answers.
https://go.utah.edu/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Futah.instructure.com%2Flogin%2Fcas
You can also check on Canvas what scores were recorded for you. You should always double
check to make sure the TA did not make a mistake in recording or forgot to record a score. This
is especially advisable towards the end of the semester. Contact your TA to get mistakes rectified
as soon as possible.
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2225 COURSE OVERVIEW

Welcome to the Introductory Physics Laboratories! Please take note of the following.
FOREWORD
The laboratory program that you will undertake in this course and the succeeding one is
designed to introduce you to multiple components of the experimental nature of physics. Of
course, you will learn to use the "tools of the trade": timers, meter sticks, balances,
thermometers, power supplies, electrical meters, the PC, and others. Finally, you will synthesize
all the above skills in designing one or more experiments, executing them, and then writing a
complete report according to the protocol provided.
We make an attempt to have the program of lab activities follow the lecture program in the
lecture sequence. However, please realize that different lecturers move through the subject
matter at different paces. Therefore, it is possible that a lab activity deals with physics not yet
covered in the lecture course. When this happens the lab TAs can spend extra time during the
introduction explaining the physics you need to know to do the lab. It is even possible that one
or more lab activities will deal with subject matter that is never covered in the lecture sequence.
It is imperative that you study the lab before coming to class. This will help you
manage your time in the lab.
PREREQUISITES
This course is designed to accompany the Physics 2210 and 2220 sequence. Physics 2215 should
be taken concurrently or after you take 2210 and Physics 2225 should be taken concurrently or
after you take Physics 2220. Physics 2215 should be taken prior to Physics 2225.
ADDING, DROPPING, WITHDRAWING
Last day to add without permission code: Monday, January 19th.
Last day to drop (delete) classes: Wednesday, January 21st.
Last day to register: Monday, January 26th.
Last day to withdraw from classes: Friday, March 6th.
Permission codes to add this class will be required starting on Tuesday, January 20th.
Contact the Elementary Lab Director for the permission code.
PLEASE NOTE: You will NOT get a permission code before January 20th and there is no
waiting list for permission codes. Before January 20th you can add the class without permission
code, as long as the section has less people enrolled than specified by the enrollment cap
(typically 24 ). If the enrollment cap has been reached, you cannot add the class. You should
keep looking at the enrollment numbers (people keep switching sections) and quickly add the
class as soon as the number drops below the enrollment cap. If on or after January 20th a space
becomes available in that section, you may contact the lab director (gernot@physics.utah.edu
801-585-5553) to ask for a permission code for the open seat.
FIRST Week of Classes
Physics 22255 will not meet during the first week of classes. However, you need to go on Canvas
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and watch the introductory video for this class. In this video, course policies and objectives are
discussed. You will also need to do homework 1 (it is due at the beginning of the first lab
activity). In the first week of classes, your lab TA (if already assigned at that time) will be
available during the first hour of the regularly scheduled lab time in the elementary lab area (for
any 7:30am class the TA will be there from 9:30am-10:30am). In addition, the lab director will
have office hours (see lab directors web page for current office hours).
LAB STRUCTURE
In preparation for an upcoming lab, you are expected to do the following at home:
1. Do any homework that is due for this lab.
2. Familiarize yourself with the scope of the Physics subjects by reading through the
upcoming lab activity.
3. If necessary, refresh your knowledge of the relevant Physics topics by reading/studying a
suitable Physics textbook.
4. Contact your TA (or any other TA teaching another section of the same course) by e-mail
or during office hours regarding questions on how to do the homework or about
questions regarding the Physics subject matter.
The lab session is structured as follows:
1. At the beginning of the lab session any homework associated with the current lab must
be submitted. Each student must submit his/her own homework.
2. There will be a short discussion at the start of every lab session. Be sure to be on time,
because this discussion will be vital to your ability to complete the lab.
3. The lab work will follow the discussion and will be performed in groups of two students.
4. The lab TA will be available to answer questions and help you when you get stuck.
5. At the end of the lab session a lab write-up must be submitted by each group. Please
write both names of the participating students on this lab write-up.
IMPORTANT: Once your homework and lab reports are graded you will receive
them back TEMPORARILY. After you have had a chance to look at your grade you
need to return your homework/lab reports to your TA, who will keep them. You
should return these reports and homework within a week. The lab reports and
homework will become property of the Physics Department.
ATTENDING OTHER SECTIONS
You must do your lab in the section for which you are registered. In general, you may not attend
other sections. Exceptions are only granted by the lab director in some severe circumstances
(see also the section on MISSING A LAB below).
CONTENT OVERVIEW
There are three distinct kinds of activities you will encounter this term: Homework,
Minilabs, and Experiments. Homework consists of a reading assignment and a set of
problems. The Minilab is an experimental activity, done in the lab in groups of two or three
students (no more than 3 - unless very specifically authorized by the TA in advance), and the lab
write-up is normally turned in at the end of the lab session in which the work was done. An
Experiment is a lab activity for which less detailed instructions are given. To a greater extend
(compared to a Minilab) you are put in charge of designing the Experiment. In addition, an
experiment involves a detailed lab report, written by you in the form of a scientific paper. The
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experiment is still done in groups of two or three. However, each member of the group must
write their own report (a copy or a close rephrasing of your lab partners report is unacceptable).
DUE DATES
Homework:
Labs:
Experimental
lab reports:

Due before each weekly lab activity is started. Each individual must turn in
their own homework.
Due at the end of the lab period. Each group only turns in one lab write-up.
Make sure both names are written on the lab write-up.
Due one week after the experiment was performed. Late reports will have 5% of
their score deducted for each day that they are late. A lab report that is 20 days
late will thus receive an automatic zero credit.

GRADING
Physics 2225 is a graded one credit hour course. Grades of A, B, C, D, and E will be assigned on
the basis of your performance in the course.
Homework is graded on a scale of 0-10 points by the TA.
Lab write-ups are graded on a scale of 0-20 points by the TA.
Experimental lab reports are graded on a scale of 0-40 points by the TA.
There are no quizzes, midterm exams, or final exams. Therefore, your grade will depend solely
on your homework and lab write-up grades.
The final grade you receive is determined by the lab director at the end of the semester. The lab
director determines your final grade using a method that takes into account the average score in
all the sections taught by your TA. This method ensures that you are not favored or punished by
an excessively lenient or harsh TA.
PROCEDURE FOR DISPUTING A RECEIVED GRADE
Any grievances about received grades in homework, lab write-ups, and experimental lab reports
should initially be addressed to your TA. Please explain to the TA in detail where and why you
disagree with his/her grading and submit the assignment in question to your TA for a re-grade.
In cases in which you and the TA are not able to resolve the dispute about the grading, you may
contact the lab director for further advice. The lab director will make a final decision on the case
after consulting both the TA and the student about the matter. The lab director may request that
both the TA and the student meet with him in his office to discuss the issue.
Complaints about the final grade received in the class should be addressed directly to the lab
director.
IMPROPER CONDUCT
Improper conduct may result in zero or reduced credit for a homework or lab write-up and may
result in a failing grade for the class.
Improper conduct includes, but is not limited to:
1. Copying results of lab activities from other groups and submitting them as your
own.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Copying results of homework from others and submitting it as your own.

Fabricating data.
Deliberate destruction of laboratory equipment.
Stealing laboratory equipment.
Deliberate activities that impair the operation of the computers (e.g., deliberate
installation of computer viruses/worms, etc.).
7. Not following safety advice.

To clarify, the following behavior is not considered improper:

1. Working on homework together with another student - as long as both students are
gaining a full understanding of the results and are both contributing to the results.
Nevertheless, each student must still submit a separate homework to the TA.
2. Asking another group in the lab: How did you do that? However, after you have gained
such knowledge from another group, please return to your lab setup and do this activity
yourself.
3. Accidental destruction of equipment. Please notify your TA immediately so that we can
replace the destroyed or malfunctioning equipment for you and those in the following
groups.
MISSING A LAB OR HOMEWORK / MAKING UP A MISSED LAB OR MISSED
HOMEWORK
Due to the large number of students and sections, we have a fairly strict method of dealing with
missed labs:
1. At the end of the semester, there will be a lab session for which we have not scheduled
any regular lab activity. If you have missed lab activities during the preceding weeks, you
will be allowed to make up one of these missed lab activities.
2. We drop the lowest scores of your lab write-ups (Minilabs). If you did all the
labs, this will be the lowest of your scores. If you missed a lab and didnt make it up, the
zero is the dropped score.
3. Labs which were missed due to participation in University-sponsored activities
(e.g., if you are a member of a University athletic team and had to be at a competition
during your lab time) can all be made up. Please contact the lab director in such
circumstances and provide him with advance notice (at least 1 week in advance) of your
absence so that proper arrangements for making up the missed lab can be made.
4. Severe circumstances: If you feel that severe circumstances are preventing you from
missing more than two lab activities, you may contact the lab director. He will hear your
case, discuss your options, and may grant permission to make up a missed lab.
In cases of up to two missed lab activities (or one missed experiment) your options are
generally limited to having them considered the dropped labs thus, in principle you
can still get 100% credit in the class in such cases. Exceptions are only granted by the lab
director in some severe circumstances
5. Homework cannot be made up at the end of the semester.
6. If you participate in a lab activity, the homework is due at the beginning of that lab
activity. You will not be able to submit it at a later point.
7. If you miss a lab, you have two options on how to deal with the missed
homework:
a) Submit the homework early to your TA if you know in advance that you will miss
the lab.
a. Submit the homework as quickly as possible, but no later than 1 week late to your
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TA if you miss a lab but didnt know in advance about it (e.g., you overslept or
your car broke down on the way to the University).
In either case, please make sure you e-mail to your TA that you want to submit
this homework to his/her mailbox. Then drop it into the TAs mailbox, after
having it dated and signed by the Physics Department Secretary. Do not submit
your homework/lab reports to the Lab Director's mailbox. Get it to
your TA. All TA's maintain mailboxes in the vicinity of room 201 JFB (North
Physics). If you cannot find a mailbox, please ask the secretary for help.
\
Printing please read before printing!
Please, before you print out anything on our printers in the lab, always use Print Preview to
make sure that you are only printing what you need to print.
For example, when you want to print out a graph from a spreadsheet, do not simply select
Print from the menu of Excel because you might be printing out reams of paper filled with
numbers.
If you first use Print Preview you will find out that this is what would happen.
In this example, if you first click on the graph and thus select it you will see that the Print
Preview only shows the graph. You can then also still adjust other printer options to optimize
the print.
By following this simple precaution, you can help reduce the waste of paper resulting from
printing out unwanted things.
Thank you!

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2225 COURSE CONTENT

# Homework Name

Page #

1 Standing Waves and Excel Spreadsheet

1-4

2 Working With Electronic Equipment

35-38

3 Analog Circuits / Digital Circuits

83-112

4 An Investigation Into RC Circuits

129-140

Experiment 1 (ungraded but required homework no number)

5 Diffraction Grating and the Spectrometer
# Mini Lab Name

167-170
227-238
Page #

1 Standing Waves

5-24

2 A Look at Sound

25-34

3 Working with Electronic Equipment

39-82

4 Analog Circuits / Digital Circuits

113-128

5 Resistors, Capacitors, and RC Circuits

141-152

6 Magnetic Fields

153-166

7 Faraday's Law

181-190

8 Optics I: Activities with Light Rays

191-206

9 Optics II: Spherical Lenses and Optical Instruments

207-216

10 Optics III: Physical Optics

217-226

11 The Spectrometer

239-250

# Experiment Name

Page #

1 Measurement of e/m for the Electron

171-180

Instructions for / example of an experiment lab report

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251-262

2225 Course Schedule

Activity Please, look at the lab schedule tables on the

# following pages for the exact dates of lab activities.
Homework is always due before the start of the lab
with which it is associated.
Watch introductory video on Canvas. Do homework 1.
Homework 1: Standing Waves & Excel Spreadsheet
1 Minilab 1: Standing Waves
2 Minilab 2: A Look at Sound
3

Homework 2: Working with Electronic Equipment

Minilab 3: Working with Electronic Equipment

Homework 3: Analog Circuits / Digital Circuits

Minilab 4: Analog Circuits / Digital Circuits

Homework 4: An Investigation Into RC Circuits

Minilab 5: Resistors, Capacitors, and RC Circuits

6 Minilab 6: Magnetic Fields

7

Homework (no number): e/m Experiment

(Do the e/m-experiment in this week, report due next week)

Experiment: Measurement of e/m for the Electron (report

8 due)
Minilab 7:Faradays Law
9 Minilab 8: Optics Lab I: Activities with Light Rays
10

Minilab 9: Optics Lab II: Spherical Lenses and Optical

Instruments

11 Minilab 10: Optics Lab III: Physical Optics

12

Homework 5: Diffraction Grating

Minilab 11: The Spectrometer
Make up a missed lab activity

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Lab Schedule for Thursday Sections (1, 2, 3)

Lab #

Name of Lab

Date

Watch introductory video on Canvas. Do homework 1.

1/15/2015

ML 1

Standing Waves

1/22/2015

ML 2

A Look At Sound

1/29/2015

ML 3

Working With Electronic Equipment

ML 4

Analog Circuits / Digital Circuits

2/12/2015

ML 5

Resistors, Capacitors, and RC Circuits

2/19/2015

ML 6

Magnetic Fields

2/26/2015

E1

e / m Experiment

ML 7

Faradays Law

3/12/2015

ML 8

Optics I: Activities With Light Rays

3/26/2015

ML 9

Optics II: Spherical Lenses and Optical Instruments

4/2/2015

ML 10

Optics III: Physical Optics

4/9/2015

ML 11

The Spectrometer

4/16/2015

Make up one missed lab

4/23/2015

2/5/2015

3/5/2015

Lab Schedule for Friday Section (4)

Lab #

Name of Lab

Date

Watch introductory video on Canvas. Do homework 1.

1/16/2015

ML 1

Standing Waves

1/23/2015

ML 2

A Look At Sound

1/30/2015

ML 3

Working With Electronic Equipment

ML 4

Analog Circuits / Digital Circuits

2/13/2015

ML 5

Resistors, Capacitors, and RC Circuits

2/20/2015

ML 6

Magnetic Fields

2/27/2015

E1

e / m Experiment

ML 7

Faradays Law

3/13/2015

ML 8

Optics I: Activities With Light Rays

3/27/2015

ML 9

Optics II: Spherical Lenses and Optical Instruments

ML 10

Optics III: Physical Optics

4/10/2015

ML 11

The Spectrometer

4/17/2015

Make up one missed lab

4/24/2015

2/6/2015

3/6/2015

4/3/2015