Intermediate Physics Lab I: [Vibrations, Waves & Optics] (Phy205)

Course Objectives:

1. Developing a clear understanding of the basic concepts in oscillations, waves and optics

2. Consolidating the manual skills in dealing with laboratory equipment

3. Developing the skills of using the computer in data collection and analysis

4. Developing physical sense and sufficient practice in data and error analysis

Teaching Techniques:

1. Demonstrating experiments

2. Manually operated experiments

3. Laboratory equipment

4. Computer simulated experiments

5. Films

Teaching Activities:

1. Discussion of the experiments with the students

2. Presenting some related films

3. Introducing computer simulated experiments

4. Performing computer-interfaced experiments by the students

5. Writing Lab reports

Assessments:

1. Laboratory reports and laboratory activities, including practical performance and oral exams (50 %)

2. Mid-semester exam (20 %)

3. Final-semester exam (30 %)

Work Plan

Week No	Activities
1	giving the students a brief description of the course contents and course grade training the students on the commonly used equipment in the lab developing physical sense and sufficient practice in data and error analysis
2	Experiment No 1 (damped oscillations)
3	Experiment No 2 (forced oscillations)
4	Experiment No 3 (Interference of Sound waves)
5	Experiment No 4 (Standing waves)
6	Experiment No 5 (Combination of Two Vibrations at Right Angles)
7	Experiment No 6 (Combination of Two Vibrations Having Different Frequencies)
8	Midterm Exam
9	Experiment No 7 (Spherical mirrors and Thin Lenses)
10	Experiment No 8 (Optical Spectrometer)
11	Experiment No 9 (Interference of Light Waves)
12	Experiment No 10 (Newton’s Rings)
13	Experiment No 11 (Diffraction of Light Waves)
14	Experiment No 12 (Polarization of Light Waves)
15	Revision
16	Final Exam