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PHYS 3220 3.0 Experiments in Modern Physics

A selection of experiments in fluid mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, and atomic, nuclear, and particle physics. Analysis of the data and detailed write-ups are required. One lecture hour which is devoted to techniques of data analysis and three laboratory hours per week.

Course Director

Dr. Cody Storry

253 PSE

codys@yorku.ca

Teaching Assistants

To be determined	To be determined	To be determined
000 PSE	000 PSE	000 PSE
@yorku.ca	@yorku.ca	@yorku.ca

Laboratory Technologists

Matthew George	Nick Balaskas
122 PSE / 309 PSE	122 PSE
mgeorge@yorku.ca	nickolaos@yorku.ca

Text Books

All are available in the library.

Required Text

• An Introduction to Error Analysis, J.R. Taylor (1997), (also available in the library)

Additional useful text

• Data Reduction and Error Analysis, P. R. Bevington and D. K. Robinson, (2003)

References

• Experiments in Modern Physics, A. Melissinos.
• Experimental Physics, R.A. Dunlap.
• The Art of Experimental Physics, D.W. Preston and E.R. Dietz.

Prerequisite

• SC/PHYS 2020 3.0
• SC/PHYS 2060 3.0
• SC/PHYS 2213 3.0

Corequisite

• SC/PHYS 3040 6.0

Important Information

• Labs: Open Format - Monday through Friday, Rooms PS108, PS111, PS123, PS126 and PS209. (8:30am - 4:30pm) (special arrangements may be requested for other times)
• Classroom components: Thursdays 2:30pm-3:30pm.
• Lectures on error analysis: FRQ020
• Library Research Techniques Labs: 021 Steacie - Enter through library main entrance.
• Grading

  Laboratory work and reports 4 x 20%	80%
  Written test on error analysis	8%
  Oral quiz on the laboratory work	7%
  Library Research	5%

  Bibliography compiled using library resources composes 5% of each of the final 3 labs.

• Schedule of Laboratory Reports

  Hand in 1st report	September 22
  1st lab returned	September 29
  1st lab resubmitted	October 3
  1st lab returned	October 6
  2nd lab submitted	October 20
  2nd lab returned	October 27
  3rd lab submitted	November 3
  3rd lab returned	November 10
  4th lab submitted	November 17
  4th lab returned	November 24
  Oral exams	December 5, 6
  Error analysis exam	December 1

• Schedule of Lectures

  September 8	intro to course and library
  September 15	Error analysis Lecture 1
  September 22	Library lecture 1
  September 29	Library lecture 2
  October 6	Library lecture 3
  October 20	Library lecture 4
  October 27	Error analysis Lecture 2
  November 3	Error analysis Lecture 3
  November 10	Error analysis Lecture 4
  November 17	Error analysis Lecture 5
  November 24	Error analysis Lecture 6

• Late policy: All labs are due on Thursdays before 4:00 PM. If a lab is submitted after 4:00 PM on the due date, and up to 7 days late there will be a 20% penalty. Labs submitted up to 14days late 40% …. And so on.

  This penalty should provide incentive to keep from falling behind, a historic problem in upper year labs. We strongly suggest that you write the report immediately after you do the experiment while the topics and the hands on details are still fresh.

• How to Write Reports
• Lab Expectations
• Lab Book
• Student Procedures for Labs
• Lab Safety

Laboratory Manual

To sign up for an experiment : Experiment Sign-up

• 3-1 Measurement of the Gravitation Constant G: The Cavendish Experiment
• 3-2 A Measurement of the Velocity of Light: The Foucault-Michelson Experiment
• 3-3 Coupled Oscillatory and Rotational Motion
• 3-4 Viscosity
• 3-5 Determination of the Electric Charge Unit e : The Millikan Oil Drop Experiment
• 3-6 Thermionic Emission
• 3-7 The Excitation Potentials of Mercury: The Franck-Hertz Experiment
• 3-8 The Michelson Interferometer
• 3-9 The Visible Spectrum of Hydrogen
• 3-11 Radioactive Decays
• 3-12 Particle Tracking Simulation
• 3-13 Rutherford Scattering I
• 3/4-3 Digital Storage Oscilloscope
• 3/4-5 High-TC Superconductivity
• 3/4-6 Semiconductors I

Library Research Session

Physicists observe and test occurrences in the natural world. They analyze the results, share their discoveries with colleagues and communicate their findings in scholarly publications. Writing is an important part of this process and can help to instruct and convince the reader while helping to facilitate the future development of science by building on the work of others.

A vast amount of information is available today in libraries and on the web and we need to develop the skills to use this information. The instruction sessions that your professor and I have organized will help you navigate the body of scientific literature that exists. You will become proficient in identifying reliable sources of information and critically evaluating these for the purposes of inclusion in your lab reports.

There will be in-class exercises and marked assignments based on the content covered. A total of 5% of your final mark for the course will be assigned for library research sessions, of which 1% will be allotted for participation.

Instructor: Dana Craig; e-mail: dcraig@yorku.ca, telephone 416-736-2100, ext 22835.

Sessions

All sessions are at 2:30pm in room 021 Steacie Library, and will last for 60 minutes. Enter through the main library doors.

1. September 8, 2011 Introduction to RefWorks
2. September 22, 2011 Scientific Publication Cycle
3. September 29, 2011 Peer review and the scientific method
4. October 6, 2011 Searching the physics literature
5. October 20, 2011 Organizing your information using reference management software.