Course Description

Physics is an experimental science; that is, the nature and validity of the theoretical framework that physicists use is informed by the outcomes of experiments which can be performed repeatably.

Phys 112L is the laboratory accompanying Phys 112. In this course you will conduct experiments and make observation on various physical systems. There are two objectives in this component of the course:

  1. gain hands-on experience with physical phenomena and
  2. understand the relationship between experimental observations and the corresponding theory.

Course Number: PHYS 112L

Instructor: Prof. David Collins, Physics

Contact Information:

Classroom: Wubben Science 214

Prerequisites: Phys 111 and Phys 111L.

Syllabus: Pdf Format


Course Structure

Class will meet once during each of the weeks listed below. During each meeting you will be given specific tasks and an assignment to complete. Some of the laboratories consist of traditional experiments in these you will set up an apparatus, gather and analyze data and reach conclusions about the underlying physics based on your analysis. In other laboratories you will conduct qualitative, computational or ``thought'' experiments these are accompanied by a worksheet consisting of a series of questions that you will answer.


Laboratory Schedule

Lab Number Dates Title
1 18-20 January 2012 Electric Charges.
2 25-27 January 2012 Electric Dipoles and Polarization.
3 1-3 February 2012 Electric Potential Difference.
4 8-10 February 2012 Electric Potential and Electric Fields.
5 15-17 February 2012 Electric Circuits.
6 22-24 February 2012 Currents and Magnetic Fields.
7 29 Feb-2 March 2012 Moving Charges and Magnetic Forces.
8 7 -9 March 2012 Induction and Faraday's Law.
-- 14-16 March 2012 No lab
9 21-23 March 2012 Polarization of Light.
10 28-30 March 2012 Interference of Light.
11 4-6 April 2012 Reflection and Refraction of Light.
12 11-13 April 2012 Image Formation by Lenses.
13 18-20 April 2012 Optical Instruments.
14 25-27 April 2012 Wave Properties of Matter.
-- 2-4 May 2012 No lab



This page is maintained by David Collins
Last modified: 9 January 2012