COURSE TITLE: General

Physics Lab
This course is part of the
University of South Floridas
Foundations of Knowledge and
Learning Core Curriculum. It is
certified for Natural Sciences
(Physical Sciences) and for the
following dimensions: Critical
Thinking, Inquiry-based Learning, Scientific
Processes, and Quantitative Literacy.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will
demonstrate the skills to apply mathematics
such as algebra and trigonometry to real
physical problems. (2) Students will display skill
in basic data analysis using Excel. (3) Students
will learn to identify experimental error and
uncertainty from laboratory experiments and
consider this information in their analysis.
Please note: This is a separate course
from your lecture. Though you will learn
(or re-learn) similar concepts, this lab
provides all of the expectations you will
need without having seen them in lecture.
OFFICE HOURS: Your lab instructor will be available
just before and just after your lab class. You may also
contact him/her via e-mail.

REQUIRED TEXTS: A Laboratory Manual for

Introductory Physics, Criss, and Woods.
It can be purchased at the USF
bookstore. Please purchase a
notebook to keep notes of every
lab. Please keep that handy in the
event you also take 2054 or 2049.
ATTENDANCE : Attendance
is required. You
must bring your
lab manual, and
calculator to
every lab. If you
do not bring
your lab manual
you will not be
allowed to
perform the
experiment.
(NOTE: In some cases, we will provide a
handout for that weeks lab.) The lab
will begin and end promptly. If you are
late you may be penalized on your
score for that lab.
Students who anticipate missing class
due to religious observance should
inform the instructor by the second
class meeting.
COURSE GRADING: There are 10 in-lab sessions.
Please follow the instructions including

reading all emails the TA sends you

throughout the semester in knowing
what to prepare for each week. In many
cases, you will be constructing an Excel
spreadsheet to be uploaded into your
TAs course folder for grading. You and
your partner will upload a single
spreadsheet for grading. Furthermore,
your TA will move about the room to
initiate discussion and to make sure
you grasp as much as possible.
Your weekly lab score will also depend
on whether or not you followed
instructions before you leave the lab
room. You are required to clean up
your lab area before leaving the
lab as it counts towards your
grade!
Your course score will be converted to a letter grade
using the scale below:
(A=90-100, A- = 89, B+=85-88.9, B = 80-84.9, B- =
79, C+ = 75-78.9, C = 70- 74.9, C- = 69, and so
forth)
Note: 25 % of your
grade will be from
on-line
assessments and
activities. 75 % will
be from in-lab
performance
including; written

work, participation, your readiness to perform the

experiment, your Excel spreadsheet, and attitude
towards learning. The latter should be given. You
are here to learn about science and so you should be
naturally enthusiastic to come ready, and to interact
with your peers and your Lab Instructor. Always keep
this is mind!
NOTE: If your TA does NOT feel as though you
are coming into the lab prepared and the lab
class is failing to come in to acceptable level of
preparedness, he/she will reserve the right to
quiz you (in the lab) on any given lab day
regarding that weeks experiment.
MAKE-UP POLICY: Make-up opportunities will be
presented at the end of the semester. This
opportunity is only available for students who miss a
lab due to USF functions, a sudden tragedy in the
family for which travel is necessary, or a student who
had fallen ill AND can provide official medical
documentation, such as the USF infirmary. If you
miss two labs, you must see the Lab Director
as you will not be able to make up two labs
and the second missed lab will be an automatic
zero unless a withdraw or incomplete is
granted. If you miss more than two labs, do
not bother to seek either an incomplete or
make-ups from the Lab Director. Please see the
registrars for an ARC petition or medical
withdraw.
The Lab Directors office hours to discuss the
above issues are by appointment only

(gwoods@usf.edu ; subject heading

appointment for lab issue)
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Please read the sections of
the universitys Undergraduate Catalog regarding
cheating and its consequences. We will vigorously
pursue cases of academic dishonesty and will not
compromise. Simple solution: Dont do it.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: You are entitled
to a level playing field and I encourage you to take
the steps necessary to make that happen. A
Memorandum of Accommodations from the Office of
Student Disability Services is a prerequisite for
receiving accommodations. Accommodated
examinations through the Office of Student Disability
Services require two weeks notice. They are located
in SVC 1133 (phone 813-974-4309). There is no way
to make accommodations after work/exams have
been submitted to the instructor.
SOME IMPORTANT NOTES
You are expected to complete the pre-lab
questions before you arrive for lab. Your book,
on-line materials, and classmates are your
resources for the pre-lab questions.
The TA has a right to form the lab groups
as he/she sees fit.
Lab work is due at the end of the lab period. The
TA can/will occasionally ask to explain the data

you had taken (and the basic principles) up to

that point! Note: If the TA deems it fit, he/she
may allow submission of work 46 hours after the
lab ends.
Since you and your partner(s) are working on
the analysis spreadsheets, one of you may
upload it with ALL OF THE NAMES on the
spreadsheet. The TA will discuss with you
regarding this policy.
Things to include in your manual as you perform
the experiment: (1) Notes about the basic
concepts for that lab, (2) Lab predictions and
assumptions you wish to make, and (3)
experimental errors and uncertainties for that
particular lab as well as any computational work
performed.
Note: No photocopies of the lab manual
are accepted. In fact, this is infringing on
copy-rights! Bring the lab manual every
week!
You will lose points on your lab score for being
late or not
following instructions.
Labs are never cancelled. If your instructor is 5
minutes late please report it to Dr. Woods (Rm.
ISA 4219, 974-7351).
Make sure you use
the brooms and

dust pans to clean up your lab area before you

leave!
LAB SAFETY POLICY
You are expected to abide by all of the
safety rules. These safety rules will be
discussed in week one. Failure to do so
may result in expulsion from the lab
session and a score of zero on that days
lab.
There is no horseplay ever in the lab. Please
go to the Magnolia field for that.
Do not handle circuitry of any kind unless your
TA has shown you how to properly operate it.
Wait until everything has been explained
about the lab BEFORE attempting to perform
it.
Do not poke around power outlets.
Make sure you observe the walking area (lots
of computers and cables around) when
performing a lab.
Do not harass any of your classmates or the
TA. Repeat to yourself before you walk into
the lab as to why you are in there. (Answer: To
LEARN!)
Please do not retrieve anything from the
shelves.
No eating or drinking allowed in the
laboratory. This policy is USFs policy. Any

drinks visible on your lab station by the Lab

Supervisor, this will automatically result in a
zero for that lab and an email to the Deans
office.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS IF NEEDED
1. Dr. Gerald Woods
(ISA 4219)
7351

974-

Lab Supervisor
gwoods@usf.edu
2. Campus Police
974-2628 or 911

IN-CLASS POLICY
Your TA is there to facilitate learning. The learning
environment for laboratory work of this kind works
when two things are accomplished; (1) when the

student comes into the lab prepared and has a fiery

spirit to learn, and (2) when the TA comes in
prepared and excited about the growth and wellbeing of his/her students. It is important for you to
understand why the TA will go around the lab and
ask questions about the lab, including both the
methods and data analysis. These questions are not
to intimidate you or ridicule you in any way. They are
to facilitate learning and cognitive growth. Please be
understanding and cooperative in this endeavor.