University of Maryland Department of Physics Fall 2009 Prof. Ian Appelbaum Physics 375 Title: PHYS 375 Experimental Physics III: Electromagnetic Waves, Optics and Modern Physics. Third course in the three-semester introductory sequence. Methods and rationale of experimental physics. Experiments chosen from the areas of electromagnetic waves, optics and modern physics. In keeping with efforts to improve the department curriculum, this course is evolving into a hybrid Lecture/Laboratory optics course. It will nominally consist of lectures on topics in optics, and a series of six labs. This is a 3 credit course. Prerequisite: PHYS 273 and PHYS 276. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: PHYS 375 or former PHYS 296 Instructor: Prof. Ian Appelbaum, Room 1368 (Physics / Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials). You can find the Center either by 1) going through the blue door labeled “Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials” in the basement of the physics building, or 2) entering from the plaza between the Math and Physics buildings. Phone: x5-0890 e-mail: [email protected], or [email protected] WWW: http://appelbaumlab.umd.edu Schedule: One meeting weekly: W....... 2:00pm- 5:50pm (PHY 3104) 0201; or Th...... 2:00pm- 5:50pm (PHY 3104) 0401 Required Text: Introduction to Optics (3rd Edition) by F. L. Pedrotti, L. S. Pedrotti, L. M. Pedrotti. ISBN: 0-13-149933-5. 2 Lab Notebooks (Computation Notebook, 11 3/4” x 9 1/4”, 4x4 Quad., approx. 75 sheets, bound, numbered pages that are not perforated for tear-out) Overview: PHYS375 is a three (3) credit course that meets four hours a week. In a new configuration, it will include a substantial lecture component, so that students learn optics in a coherent fashion. The primary laboratory objective consists of learning physics through experimental investigation. Topics to be covered include electromagnetic waves, geometrical optics, polarization, interference and interferometers, diffraction, and atomic spectra. There will be six experiments, each lasting for two class periods, as well as lectures. This course will allow you to develop practical laboratory skills including experimental design and experimental uncertainty inherent in all measurement. You will be required to submit lab reports for each experiment completed, along with homework submitted on those weeks when a lab report is not due. There will be no final exam. Lectures: The lectures are a required component of this class. This is an excellent opportunity to learn optics and to make connections to your other courses (electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, etc.) and deepen your understanding of physics. Important topics directly related to the lab will be covered in lecture. Note that no student shall be allowed into the lab unless they have participated in that week’s lecture. Computers: Developing a working knowledge of computers in the context of physics problem solving is an important skill. You will accumulate data with a computer-based data acquisition system. You can use your software package of choice for data analysis, but expert help may only be available in Matlab/ GNU-Octave (my preference). Additional information: Regular communication is essential in this laboratory. Besides face-to-face discussions during the required attendance on your scheduled lab day, email is the next easiest way to stay in touch. You are expected to check your email and the course web page regularly for announcements. Dropping the Course: Note: the last day to drop without a “W” is September 14. The last day to drop with a "W" is November 9.Grading: Your final grade will be based on 1000 points determined by your lab reports, laboratory skill and homework according to the following scheme: Lab reports @ 125 pts each 750 pts Homework 250 pts TOTAL 1000 pts Phys 375 Lab Manual: Because the course is in transition, we will not be using a traditional Lab Manual (no more cookbooks!). Information necessary for each lab will be posted on the course website for download. Lab Reports: The lab report should consist of two main parts – the record of what you did in the lab, including notes on the apparatus, how you acquired data, and the raw data. The second part is data analysis, including plots, extraction of the actual quantities to be measured, and uncertainty analysis. It should end with a discussion of ways to improve the measurement. This may be a different form for a lab report than you are used to – rather than having you repeat the material we already know (what the problem is, what the equipment is,…) you should focus on what you did and what conclusions you drew. The grading will be as follows: Laboratory record 50 pts Data analysis 60 pts Discussion of uncertainties and ways to improve 15 pts TOTAL 125 pts You have 1 week to turn in your lab report after completion of the lab. The reports will be due by at the beginning of class on the Wednesday/Thursday following the completion of the lab. Any lab reports submitted after the deadline will suffer an automatic 50% reduction if they are up to 1 week late, and a 100% reduction if they are more than 1 week late. No Exceptions!!!! Given that you have at least a week to turn in all assignments, and the fact that this assignment due date schedule is given to you on the first day, makes this is a ZERO EXCUSE CLASS. If you should miss any lab for any reason, you should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make an arrangement for makeup. Any missing lab will result in failing the entire course. Homework: Homework is assigned for every week that a lab report is not due. This material is designed to compliment the lecture and laboratory segments of the course. Late homework will not be accepted and will receive a grade of 0. As recompense, the single lowest homework grade will be dropped before the final homework grade calculation. Academic Dishonesty (cheating): Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that may result in suspension or expulsion from the
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