GENERAL PHYSICS I (LAB)

MARIA LOURDES BAUTISTA                                                       PHYSICS 170L

OFFICE: KOKI’O 202D                                                                 FALL 2008      

TEL: 734-9265                                                                                                             

E-MAIL: mariab@hawaii.edu

HOMEPAGE: http://www2.hawaii.edu//~mariab

CONSULTATION HOURS: MWF –10:00 – 11:00

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Experimental analysis, physical observation and measurements in classical

mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, emphasizing in error analysis, measurement techniques, and report writing.

 

COURSE COMPETENCIES:

   Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

  1. give examples of some direct experiences of the concepts and principles covered in the course

    2. identify the interactions between theory and experiments

    3. design procedures for acquiring information from experimentation

    4. record, analyze data, and extract information from data acquired

    5. use of laboratory instruments and equipment

    6. prepare and write a laboratory report

 

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS: pencil, eraser, calculator, protractor, a folder which shall be used to keep

returned laboratory reports.

 

OPEN LABORATORY: Information on what an open lab setting is and what is required of students registered

in these labs can be obtained from http://www2.hawaii.edu/~pseng/labs/info/index.html. The Assumption of Risk

and Release Form (Waiver) must be downloaded from http://www2.hawaii.edu/~pseng/labs/index.html, printed,

signed, and brought to the first week of lab class. The lab projects are to be downloaded from

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~pseng/labs/phys170/index.html.

 

In the open lab model, the students will receive via email the lab experiment that is scheduled for the following week.

(It is therefore important that the student check their hawaii.edu mail.) The students are expected to READ the experiment

before coming to Koki’o 209 to conduct the lab.  There will be NO lectures. All the information needed is in online. You are

expected to follow instructions, familiarize yourself with the equipment and complete the experiment with your group. Instructors

and lab mentors will be available to answer questions concerning the set-up, calculations, and analysis. Additional help can be

obtained from the “resource” link in the lab website.


ATTENDANCE: Laboratory courses require hands-on experiences. There will be one experiment per week. Exercises that will

require two weeks to complete cannot work on the project in one week. Each part must be conducted in the designated week.

Students should allot at most 3 hours per week to work on the exercise for the week. Students should sign-in before working on

the experiment and sign-out when he/she is done. Failure to do so means that you did not come for the week’s exercise and therefore

one cannot turn in a lab report. Open lab is Monday to Thursday (1:45pm – 6:00pm) – entry to the Koki’o 209 lab is from 1:45 – 4:00.

After 4pm, you will be not be allowed into the lab room to complete the exercise for the week as you will not have enough time. I will be

in the lab room on Mondays and Wednesdays (1:45 – 4:45). I encourage you to choose your group (2 – 3 max) and set your schedule so

that you can come to lab on these days and times. Otherwise, another instructor will be around to help you out and answer your questions.


PROJECT REPORTS: An individual report is required of each student for all of the projects even if you are working in groups. Four lab

reports must conform with the REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING (below). For most experiments, students are

required to turn in their lab write-up which included the data collected, the calculations performed, and the analysis (answers to questions).

Data collection and calculations are encouraged to be done with your group, but analysis/ essay questions are to be completed

individually. Students with the same answers for the analysis/essay questions will forfeit all points for that exercise. More

information on what is required for each report will be sent out to your hawaii.edu address. Project reports can only be submitted for projects

performed. Reports must be submitted on time. The time line for submission of reports is at noon on Friday of the following week.

Lab reports are to be placed in the wooden shelf in the left front corner in the Physics Lab room. Late lab reports are not going to be accepted.

 

Graded lab reports should be picked-up in Koki’o 202 D.

 

There will be one final project that will be due on Dec. 1, 2008.  This project is meant for the students to experience what is involved in

writing a research proposal. Suggested topics for the project will be provided.  Three weeks during the semester will be dedicated for the

groups to work on the project. The weeks are as follows:

               Week 1 - Sept. 15 – 19

               Week 2 - Oct. 20 – 24

               Week 3 – Nov. 17 – 21

The time line for the project is as follows:

               Submit and decide on the topic by Sept. 10

               First draft         Sept. 26       20% of the 30% allocated for this final project

               Second draft    Oct. 31        30% of the 30% allocated for this final project

               Final Project     Dec. 1         50% of the 30% allocated for this final project

More information on the final project will be provided .

 

GRADES: The grading scheme is as follows:

Full Reports - 40 % of the final grade
 Reports are 15 points each.

Other Reports - 30 % of the final grade
                        Reports are 10 points each.

Final Project - 30 % of the final grade
              

 Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
                        100 % - 89 %           A
                          88 % - 76 %           B
                          75 % - 63 %           C
                          62 %  - 50 %          D
                         Below 50 %            F
        Student’s current class standing will be available at any time.

 

 MATH/SCIENCE DEPARTMENT POLICY ON WITHDRAWALS  (W GRADE) AND INCOMPLETE (I GRADE):

1.        WITHDRAWALS (W GRADE) - After the "last day for all withdrawals," November 3, 2008,  the instructor will sign

withdrawals only in cases of extreme or unusual circumstances. Grade related excuses are unacceptable. 

Examples of extreme or unusual circumstances are:
                       a) a certified medical reason
                      b) a death in the immediate family.

 

2.        INCOMPLETE (I GRADE) - Students must present the "Request for Incomplete" form prior to the last day of instruction.

"I" grades will be given only to students who are achieving passing grades and are very close to completing the course.

In addition, the students must have a very good reason for not being able to complete all the work on time.

Examples of good reasons are  the same as those listed under the withdrawal policy above.

 

KCC POLICY:

  

1.   Kapi’olani Community College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.

        

2.      If you have a disability and have not voluntarily disclosed the nature of your disability and support you need, it is

the student’s responsibility to contact the Special Student Service Office, 734-9552 (V/TTY), Ilima 105,

 for assistance.

 

3.      Students are expected to attend all classes for which they are registered. If a student is unable to attend class,

he or she should contact the instructor in advance to give notification of the absence and make the necessary

            arrangements.

 

4.      For those students who receive financial aid and fail to attend the first week of classes without making arrangements

with the instructor, the instructor will submit the student’s name to the Financial Aid Office. The student will be denied

 financial aid for the class that he/she is no attending. In addition, it is solely the student’s responsibility to withdraw

from the class or attend the class and pay tuition.

 

TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION DEVICES:

These devices are not allowed in the classroom. Please see to it that these devices are turned off while in class

 

UH POLICY ON EMAIL COMMUNICATION:
The electronic communications policy adopted in December 2005 establishes the University of Hawai'i Internet service as an official

medium for communication among students, faculty, and staff. Every member of the system has a hawaii.edu address, and the

associated username and password provide access to essential Web announcements and email. You are hereby informed of the

need to regularly log in to UH email and Web services for announcements and personal mail. Failing to do so will mean missing

critical information from academic and program advisors, instructors, registration and business office staff, classmates,

student organizations, and others.

 

 REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING:
  1. FORMAT FOR COVER PAGE:

                  PROJECT REPORT: (TITLE OF PROJECT)

     NAME:

     DATE: (of the project)

     OBJECTIVE : Statement of the purpose of the project.

2. TEXT:  The body of the report shall include the following:

    a: RESULTS -statement and information of the actual results and/or outcome (as obtained in class).  Introduce each block

of information verbally and provide clear and accurate verbal labels.    

1.  Results - all data and results should be presented clearly in tabular and/or graphical form.

2.  Calculations – show at least one example of all calculations performed with units.

3.  Answers to questions.

 b: DISCUSSION - You must explain, analyze, and interpret your results. Try to explain any errors or problems clearly.

This is the most important part of the report, since it is here that you demonstrate that you understand and can explain what

you have done. You may also criticize the lab experiment and make recommendations for improvement. Such criticisms and

recommendations, should focus on the lab as a learning experience and not complaints about faulty equipment or amount

of time spent.

c. CONCLUSIONS – Draw conclusions from the results and discussions that answer the question, “So What?”

Your conclusions should address the objectives of the exercise.

      d. REFERENCES - if appropriate

 

3. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS – answer the questions at the end of each exercise. 

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF REPORTS:

     1. Reports shall be complete and clearly written for readers who are not familiar with the project.   

     2.  Reports should be neat, brief, concise, well organized and technological.

     3. The information included should be in the form that is easy to understand.

     4. Tabular information and graphs shall conform to common standards.

     5. Reports shall be stapled and submitted without cover or folder.

OBJECTIVES OF THE REPORT:

      1. to provide knowledge of scientific and technical reporting
      2. to acquire experience in the preparation of technical reports and information

      3. to assist in the learning of the subject material of the projects