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)

Prerequisite: None. 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)

Prerequisite: Phys 102 with grade of C or better. 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: Math 111. Laboratory component of Phys 111 and Phys 111H. Lab must be taken concurrently with Phys 111 or Phys 111H.

  • 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 for syllabus)

Prerequisites: Phys 111 or Phys 111H or Phys 106 and Math 111 or Math 111H all with grade of C or better. Corequisite: Math 112.

  • 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)

Corequisite: Phys 202. Includes demonstration of physical principles applicable to astronomy. Use of telescope for lunar, solar and planetary observations.

  • 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)

Prerequisite: Phys 121 or Phys 121H and Math 112 or Math 112H, all with grade of C or better.

  • 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