PY2108 Experimental Methods I (Period 2 2011/20012)

Practicals commence 3pm Wednesday 4th January 2011 in Lab 201.   All students should attend this lab session.

Labs will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays 3-6pm, Room 201 Kane Building.  The students will be allocated to a particular lab slot on Wednesday or Thursday during the first week of practicals.   For the first 4-5weeks, it may be that labs are only held on Wednesdays.  This will be decided during the first week of semester depending on student numbers.

Credit Weighting: 5

Pre-requisite(s): PY1053 or PY1001

Co-requisite(s): None

Teaching Methods: 12 x 1 hour lectures + 12 x 3 hour practicals

Module Objective: To introduce the student to practical experimental techniques.

Module Content: Basic electronics, use of general purpose laboratory equipment, measurement techniques and introduction to computer automation and control.

Assessment: Total Marks 100: Continuous Assessment 100 marks (10 practical assignments incl. lab reports, MCQs and oral presentation).

Compulsory Elements: Continuous Assessment.

Penalties (for late submission of Course/Project Work etc.): No late submission accepted

Pass Standard and any Special Requirements for Passing Module: 40%.

End of Year Written Examination Profile: No End of Year Written Examination.

Requirements for Supplemental Examination: No Supplemental Examination. 

Deadlines for reports and penalties:

• Lab reports should be submitted at the beginning of a practical lab (Wednesdays/Thursdays) 1 week after the respective experiment was performed. A box at the entrance of room 201 will be made available for that purpose. Copying lab reports and general plagiarism may result in zero marks for the lab report. Missing a lab will result in zero marks for the lab.

• Penalty for delayed reports: No late submission accepted.  In exceptional circumstances, a late submission may be accepted with a penalty of 10% for each day late. 

• Repeat labs may only be provided if a lab was missed for medical reasons (medical cert required).  Any other reasons are generally not acceptable.

Note: Experiments will be performed in groups of one or  two, depending on the nature of the work.  Lab reports, even if based on the same data, should always be written independently.  They should be typed!! (Handwritten reports will not be accepted). 

Compulsory elements:

1. Practical Labs, lab report.
2. Oral Presentation, presentation.
   

Details on how to write a lab report are contained here.

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Laboratory 1:  Experiment 1 from the Electronics Manual

Laboratory 2-5:  Wed 11th January 3-6pm - Please check notice on lab door to see which experiment you will do each week
Experiment A1:  Measuring Inductance and Capacitance using AC Techniques
Experiment A2: Photoelectric Effect
Experiment A3: Balmer Series of Hydrogen
Experiment A4: Radioactive Decay

Laboratory 6 and all subsequent sessions:  Students will split into a Wednesday and a Thursday group.  If you are unsure which group you are in, please check the lab door.  The electronics lab manual below will be used each week, starting with Experiment 2.
Electronics Manual