Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2023 - PHYS 234 LA01

Physics Laboratory IV (3)

Class Number: 2821

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Tue, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    PHYS 233 and PHYS 255, both with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduction to modern techniques in experimental physics, including computer-aided data acquisition, electronics, control theory, and statistical data analysis. Students with credit for PHYS 231 may not take this course for further credit. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Lectures: Mondays 4:30-5:20pm
Labs: Tuesdays/Thursdays 1:30-5:20pm (2 offerings are subject to enrollment)

Lecture: in person
Laboratory: in person, 4 hours per week
Tutorial: not applicable
Final exam: in person; date: TBA

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Laboratory experiments will cover the following topics:

 

  • Introduction to computer-aided data acquisition
  • Analog/digital signal conversions
  • AC circuits
  • LCR resonance circuits
  • Mechanical resonance
  • Radioactive decay and probability distributions
  • Curve fitting
  • Simple control theory
  • Computer-aided data analysis

 

Each laboratory will be preceded by a 1 hour weekly lecture covering the subjects of the experiment for the week

Grading

  • Prelab assignments 20%
  • Record of lab work: Lab notebooks 30%
  • Technical brief report 15%
  • Lab exam 25%
  • Lab skill 10%

NOTES:

Grading Scheme is tentative and is subject to change.

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students who cannot write their exam during the course's scheduled exam time must request accommodation from their instructor in writing, clearly stating the reason for this request, within one week of the final exam schedule being posted.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html