Physics Laboratory A 2

Course Syllabus

During the course the students learn basic techniques in experimental physics, including performance of measurements and data analysis, in various subjects.

List of experiments for the first semester:

1.      Radioactive decay – Poisson distribution.

2.       Cathode ray tube (CRT) – acceleration of particles in an electro-magnetic field.

3.      Magnetism – Faraday's law.

4.      Thermoelectric couple – calibration and temperature measurements applied to water and liquid nitrogen.

5.      Decaying electrical signals – RCL circuit.

6.      Coriolis effect – rotating pendulum in different frames of reference.

7.      Resonance – RCL circuits.

The students will use a special built GUI in Matlab in order to perform the data analysis. The theoretical material is presented in the course website and the statistical booklet (also in the website).

Lecturer: Prof. Erez Etzion

Prerequisite: Physics Laboratory A 1.

Course Objective: Studying the principles of measurements and data analysis in the environment of simple physics experiments.

Syllabus:

1.      Estimation of statistical and systematic uncertainties.

2.      Propagation of uncertainties.

3.      Linear and non-linear fitting of data.

4.      Estimation of goodness of fit.

5.      Quantification of agreement of expectations with data.

Course requirements:

Performing all 7 experiments and submitting all of the reports.

Grade composition:

70% Report

15% Quizzes

15% Instructor evaluation

Recommended books:

-         Statistics booklet "Data Analysis in Lab A". http://physics.tau.ac.il/laba/files/DataAnalysisDraft2Oct2011.pdf

-          Squires, G. L., Practical Physics, 3rd Ed.

-          Wall, J. V. and Jenkins, C. R., Practical Statistics for Astronomers.