ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE

 

APPROVED COURSE OUTLINE

 

 

PHY    1049L                                 PHYSICS LABORATORY II                                          ___1__

Prefix      Number                                                              Course Title                                                                                Cr.Hrs.

 

 

A.     Course Description:

 

Prerequisite: PHY 1048L. Corequisite: PHY 1054 or PHY 2049. A continuation of Physics Laboratory I, this course provides laboratory experiences in concepts and principles of electricity, magnetism, and light.  This course has a substantial writing requirement. 45 contact hours.

 

 

B.      Major Learning Outcomes:

 

         1.   The student will demonstrate an understanding of the techniques required to observe carefully and to measure precisely.

 

         2.   The student will develop skills in reasoning logically and reporting results concisely from the data obtained.

 

         3.   The student will be able to apply the techniques required to understand physical laws and principles by actual experimentation.

 

         4.   The student will exhibit an ability to use the basic tools of measurement as applied to distance, time, mass, temperature, light intensity, current and potential difference.

 

         5.   The student will be able to apply the techniques of collecting and analyzing experimental data, including graphic and statistical analysis.

 

 

C.     Course Objectives Stated in Performance Terms:

 

         1.   The student will demonstrate an understanding of the techniques required to observe carefully and to measure precisely by:

 

               a.   demonstrating correct graphing techniques.

 

               b.   relating the concept of resistive heating to the techniques of calorimetry.

 

               c.   mapping magnetic fields of bar magnets and/or current bearing elements such as straight wires, solenoids and flat coils, with iron filings.

 

               d.   tracing light rays reflected from and refracted by various optical surfaces.

 

         2.   The student will develop skills in reasoning logically and reporting results concisely from the data obtained by:

 

               a.   constructing a graph on the appropriate scales including units, clearly indicating data points and drawing the best fitting curve.

 

               b.   including as a minimum:

 

                     (1)   Data in a neat and clearly presented form

 

                     (2)   Graphs (where appropriate)

 

                     (3)   Sample calculations

 

                     (4)   Analysis - The student will discuss the results obtained from his/her collected data, comparing these to the theoretical relationships.  In all cases, the student will explain any discrepancies between experimentally derived results and theoretical expectations.

 

         3.   The student will be able to apply the techniques required to understand physical laws and principles by actual experimentation by:

 

               a.   configuring a set of resistors in series, parallel, or mixed pattern, and comparing the results with theoretical predictions.

 

               b.   describing the relationship between current and the amount of material deposited in an electrolysis experiment.

 

               c.   describing the laws of reflection and refraction.

 

               d.   calculating the index of refraction of transparent media.

 

               e.   using the equations for lenses and curved mirrors for the calculation of focal length and describing the images formed by these surfaces for various object distances.

 

               f.    using the appropriate theory and equipment for selected experiments in modern physics.

 

         4.   The student will exhibit an ability to use the basic tools of measurement as applied to distance, time, mass, temperature, light intensity, current and potential difference by:

 

               a.   demonstrating facility in the use of the apparatus by collecting and tabulating data to obtain results within 10% of the accepted standards.

 

               b.   demonstrating the correct use of voltmeters, ammeters, and galvanometers.

 

               c.   demonstrating the correct set up for null devices and using these devices correctly.

 

               d.   setting up and demonstrating the correct use of the tangent galvanometer.

 

               e.   using the oscilloscope to determine A.C. voltages and frequencies.

 

         5.   The student will be able to apply the techniques of collecting and analyzing experimental data including graphic and statistical analysis by:

 

               a.   correctly interpreting these graphs and where possible determining the algebraic equations from the graphs.

 

               b.   producing the mathematical relations and the physical constants from the graphs of data.

 

               c.   demonstrating the technique for presenting and analyzing data by the submission of well written laboratory reports.

 

 

D.     Criteria Performance Standard:

        

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

 

The student will be able to illustrate and utilize elementary laboratory technique in selected areas of electricity, magnetism, optics and light.  Such technique will include, but not be limited to measurement, report writing, error analysis, and graphical construction and analysis.

 

Revised 8/84

DBT 11/15/84

Effective Session 19842

DBT 2/86

Effective Session 19861

Reviewed C&I 2/5/91

3 YR C&I Review 8/94

3 YR Review 1998-99

C&I 11/12/02, BOT 12/17/02, eff20022.