Physics Lab Course Syllabus

The syllabus of each physics lab course (PHYS 102A, 103A, 111A, 121A, 202A, 203A and 231A) is provided as below:

Phys 102A - General Physics Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Corequisite: PHYS 102. This course is the laboratory component of PHYS 102 and must be taken concurrently.

• Lab 104: Creating Motion Graphs
• Lab 109: One-Dimensional Motion--Velocity as a Function of Time and Distance at Constant Acceleration
• Lab 111: Projectile Motion
• Lab 112: Newton's Second Law
• Lab 113: Atwood's Machine
• Lab 106: Static and Kinetic Friction
• Lab 131: Centripetal Force
• Lab 122: Conservation of Energy for an Object on an Inclined Plane
• Lab 126: Conservation of Momentum and Impulse-Momentum Theorem
• Lab 127N: Torque and Rotational Inertia
• Lab 120N: Conservation of Angular Momentum
• Lab 103: Translational Static Equilibrium--- Force Table
• Lab 121: Rotational Static Equilibrium - Forces on a Strut

Phys 103A - General Physics Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Prerequisites: PHYS 102/PHYS 102A or PHYS 111/PHYS 111A all with grade of C or better. Corequisite: PHYS 103. This course is the laboratory component of PHYS 103 and must be taken concurrently.

• Lab A: Young's Modulus-- Elasticity in Length
• Lab 7: Archimedes' Principle and Density
• Lab D: Linear Expansion Coefficient
• Lab E: Specific Heat
• Lab F: Heat of Fusion of Ice
• Lab G: Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
• Lab B1: Simple Harmonic Motion
• Lab W: Transverse Standing Waves on a String
• Lab J: Longitudinal Standing Waves in a Sound Tube
• Lab H: Electrical Equivalent of Heat
• Lab 215: Ohm's Law - Current, Voltage, and Resistance Measurements
• Lab M: Thin Lenses
• Lab N: Grating Diffraction

Phys 111A - Physics I Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Corequisite: PHYS 111. Laboratory component of PHYS 111. Lab must be taken concurrently with PHYS 111.

• Lab 103: Translational Static Equilibrium - Force Table
• Lab 109: One-Dimensional Motion--Velocity as a Function of Time and Distance at Constant Acceleration
• Lab 111: Projectile Motion
• Lab 112: Newton's Second Law
• Lab 106: Static and Kinetic Frictions
• Lab 6a1: Work and Energy
• Lab 125: Conservation of Energy in Spring-Mass System
• Lab 126: Conservation of Momentum and Impulse-Momentum Theorem
• Lab 114: Uniform Circular Motion
• Lab 9a1: Moment of Inertia and Energy in Rotational Motion
• Lab 127: Torque and Rotational Inertia
• Lab 121: Rotational Static Equilibrium - Forces on a Strut
• Lab 7: Archimedes' Principle and Density

Phys 121A - Physics II Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Prerequisites: PHYS 111/PHYS 111A and MATH 111 all with grade of C or better. Corequisites: PHYS 121 or PHYS 122. Lab must be taken concurrently with PHYS 121 or PHYS 122. Laboratory component of PHYS 121 and PHYS 122.

• Introduction to MATLAB: Part I & Part II (click for matlab manual)
• Lab 200: Electrostatics - Electric Charge and Force
• Lab 201: Electric Field by Point Charges
• Lab 202: Numerical Verification of Gauss' Law
• Lab 203: Electric Potential and Electric Field
• Lab 205: Parallel Plate Capacitor
• Lab 215: Ohm's Law - Current, Voltage, and Resistance Measurements
• Lab 217: RC Circuits
• Lab 212: Measurement of e/m for an Electron
• Lab 210: Magnetic Field of Helmholtz Coils
• Lab 223: Faraday's Law
• Lab 218: RL Circuits
• Lab 221: LC Circuits

Phys 202A - Astronomy and Cosmology Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Includes demonstration of physical principles applicable to astronomy. Use of telescope for lunar, solar and planetary observations. Optional laboratory course associated with PHYS 202.

• The Celestial Sphere: Horizon Coordinate System
• The Celestial Sphere: The Ecliptic
• The Celestial Sphere: Equatorial Coordinate System & Sidereal Time
• Motion of Mercury: Drawing the Orbit
• Orbit of Mercury: Kepler's Laws
• The Moon
• Planetary Configuration
• The Synodic Period of the Sun
• Spectroscopy
• Reflection and Refraction
• Thin Lenses and Astronomical Telescope
• The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
• The Hubble Classification of Galaxies and Cosmology

Phys 203A - The Earth in Space Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Corequisite: PHYS 203. Optional laboratory course associated with PHYS 203.

• Earth's Geography I
• Earth's Geography II
• Rock Identification
• Properties of Water: Latent Heat of Fusion
• Earthquakes: Locating the Epicenter
• Understanding Density
• The Archimedes Principle
• The Acceleration due to Gravity
• Properties of Water: Specific Heat
• Properties of Water: Dissolved Oxygen
• Properties of Water: Salinity
• The Ideal Gas Law: Determining the Absolute Zero of Temperature

Phys 231A - Physics III Laboratory (click here for syllabus)

Prerequisites: PHYS 111/PHYS 111A; PHYS 121/PHYS 121A and MATH 112, all with grade of C or better. Corequisites: PHYS 231H or PHYS 234. Optional course associated with PHYS 234 and PHYS 231H.

• Introduction to MATLAB: Part I (click for matlab manual)
• Lab B2: Simple Harmonic Motion
• Lab C: Physical Pendulum with Small Amplitude
• Lab O: Physical Pendulum with Large Amplitudes
• Lab W: Transverse Standing Waves on a String
• Lab J: Longitudinal Standing Waves in a Sound Tube
• Lab K: Refraction, Reflection and Dispersion of Light
• Lab LP: Polarization of Light
• Lab N1: Diffraction Pattern of Light with a Single-Slit
• Lab N2: Diffraction Pattern of Light with a Double-Slit
• Lab N: Grating Diffraction
• Lab P: Photoelectric Effect
• Lab S: Emission Spectrum of Hydrogen Atom
• Lab Q: Electron Diffraction - Wave-Particle Duality
• Lab U: Semiconductor Diode Characteristics