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 the 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 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
- Lab 131: Centripetal Force
Phys 103A - General Physics Laboratory(click here for the 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 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 K1: Reflection and Refraction of Light
- Lab M: Thin Lenses
- Lab N: Grating Diffraction
Phys 111A - Physics I Laboratory(click here for the syllabus)
Corequisite: Math 111. Laboratory component of Phys 111 and Phys 111H. Lab must be taken concurrently with Phys 111 or Phys 111H.
- 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 103: Translational Static Equilibrium - Force Table
- 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 the 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 & II
- 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 thre 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 the 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 the 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
- 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