Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - PHYS 234 D100

Physics Laboratory IV (3)

Class Number: 6144

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Tue, 10:30–11:20 a.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 15%
  • Record of lab work: Lab notebooks 35%
  • Technical brief report 20%
  • Lab exam 20%
  • 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

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.