| Module Identifier |
PH15010 |
| Module Title |
BASIC LABORATORY TECHNIQUES |
| Academic Year |
2004/2005 |
| Co-ordinator |
Dr Andrew Evans |
| Semester |
Semester 1 |
| Other staff |
Dr David P Langstaff, Professor Keith Birkinshaw |
| Pre-Requisite |
Normal entry requirements for Part 1 Physics |
| Co-Requisite |
Part 1 Core Modules |
| Mutually Exclusive |
None |
| Course delivery |
Practical | 11 laboratory sessions (4 hours) |
| Assessment |
| Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
|---|
| Semester Assessment | Course Work: Math CAD assignment Due in week 8 | 25% |
| Semester Assessment | Course Work: Errors assignment Due in week 5 | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | Course Work: Laboratory dairy and laboratory reports | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Course Work: WORD/Excel assignment Due in week 4 | 15% |
|
Learning outcomes
After taking this module students should be able to:
-
keep a laboratory diary
-
write laboratory reports using a word processing package
-
understand the causes of experimental uncertainty
-
present a value of a physical measurement together with its associated error
-
use and appreciate the limitations of simple laboratory instruments
Brief description
Science involves observing the world and finding ways of understanding it. In order to make such observations, instruments are used to determine a quantity or variable. This module will instruct students in the use of instruments from the simplest vernier callipers to sophisticated microcomputer control systems. The factors involved in the selection of the correct instrument for a particular application will be stressed. In order to extract the maximum information from the data acquired by an instrument, data handling and processing techniques are essential. These will include error analysis, curve fitting and data rejection and the use of microcomputers in such procedures will be an integral part of the module.
Content
Introduction to the Web, WORD for Windows, Excel and MathCAD
Basic error analysis.
Keeping laboratory diaries and writing reports.
Basic laboratory instrumentation
a) verniers and micrometers
b) travelling microscopes
c) analogue and digital meters.
Transferable skills
Use of SToMP (computer aided learning) for error analysis.
Reading Lists
Books
** Recommended Text
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4