University of MarylandDepartment of PhysicsFall 2005 Prof. Steven Rolston Physics 375Title: PHYS 375 Experimental Physics III: Optics. Third course in the three-semesterintroductory sequence. In keeping with efforts to improve the department curriculum,this course is evolving into a hybrid Lecture/Laboratory optics course. This is the firstsemester of this new format, and the course will most likely evolve over the semester,depending on the input of the students. It will nominally consist of lectures on topics inoptics, 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: PHYS375 or former PHYS 296Instructor:Prof Steven Rolston, Room 2125 (Physics Building).Phone: 5-7189e-mail: [email protected] hours: by appointment or drop in.Schedule:One meeting weekly: W........ 2:00pm- 5:50pm (PHY 3104)We will not be meeting on August 31.Required Texts:Optics, 4th edition by E. Hecht ISBN 0-8053-8566-52 Lab NotebooksSuggested Additional Reading:Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences (2nd Edition) by P. R.Bevington and D. K. Robinson ISBN 0-07-911243-9An Introduction to Error Analysis by J. R. Taylor. 0-935702-75-XOverview:PHYS375 is a three (3) credit course that meets four hours a week. In a newconfiguration, it will include a substantial lecture component, so that students learn opticsin a coherent fashion. The primary laboratory objective consists of learning physicsthrough experimental investigation. Topics to be covered include electromagnetic waves,geometrical optics, polarization, interference and interferometers, diffraction, and atomicspectra. There will be approximately six experiments, each lasting for two class periods,as well as lectures. This course will allow you to develop practical laboratory skillsincluding experimental design and experimental uncertainty inherent in all measurement.You will be required to submit lab reports for each experiment completed, along withhomework submitted on those weeks when a lab report is not due. There will be a finalexam, but no midterm exams.ComputersDeveloping a working knowledge of computers in the context of physics problem solvingis an important skill. You will accumulate data with a computer-based data acquisitionsystem. We will provide some elementary Mathematica notebooks for use in dataanalysis.Grading:Your final grade will be based on 1000 points according to the following scheme:Lab reports @ 100 pts each600 ptsHomework200 ptsFinal exam200 ptsTOTAL1000 ptsPhys 375 Lab ManualBecause the course is in transition, we will not be using a traditional Lab Manual (nomore cookbooks!). Information necessary for each lab will be posted on the coursewebsite for download.Lab Reports:The emphasis in the lab reports will be to learn how to keep a laboratory notebook. Thisshould be a record of what you did in the lab (including mistakes – never erase!). The labreport should consist of two main parts – the record of what you did in the lab, includingnotes on the apparatus , how you acquired data, and the raw data. The second part is dataanalysis, including plots, extraction of the actually quantities to be measured, anduncertainty analysis. It should end with a discussion of ways to improve themeasurement. This may be a different form for a lab report than you are used to – ratherthan having you repeat the material we already know (what the problem is, what theequipment is,…) you should focus on what you did and what conclusions you drew. Thegrading will be as followsLaboratory record50 ptsData analysis40 ptsDiscussion of uncertainties and ways to improve10 ptsTOTAL100 ptsYou have 1 week to turn in your lab report after completion of the lab. The reports willbe due by at the beginning of class on the Wednesday following the completion of thelab. Any lab reports submitted after the deadline will suffer an automatic 50% reductionif they are up to 1 week late, and a 100% reduction if they are more than 1 week late.No Exceptions!!!!If you should miss any lab for any reason, you should contact the instructor as soon aspossible to make an arrangement for makeup. Any missing lab will result in failing theentire course.Lab Notebook:You will be required to purchase two lab notebooks , so that you have one to work inwhile the other is graded. Purchase the quad-ruled coop-style notebooks (brown covers)but avoid those with carbon paper. The Book Exchange usually stocks these.Homework:You will be given a modest homework assignment every two weeks, due at class on thedays when a lab report is not due. Late homework is disallowed (you get 0 points),however you will be able to drop your lowest homework grade. The assignments will beposted on the course website.Academic Dishonesty (cheating):Academic dishonesty is a serious offense that may result in suspension or expulsion fromthe university. In addition to any other action taken, the normal sanction is a grade of“XF”, denoting “failure due to academic dishonesty,” and will normally be recorded onthe transcript of the offending student.Office HoursWhile I won’t be scheduling regular office hours, please feel free to arrange a meetingtime, or just stop by my office.Course Web Site:The course web site is located at:http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys375/RolstonFall05/All of the course notebooks are located there, along with helpful notes about erroranalysis, keeping a lab notebook, contact information, this syllabus, etc.Nitty Gritty:Please do not bring any food or drink into the lab under any circumstances.Before leaving the lab for the day, I may inspect your lab notebook and yourMathematica notebook to insure that your data is sound and valid. Please remember thatthe laboratory equipment is taken down each week and you have very limitedopportunities to take the data again.Tips For Doing Well In This Course:1) Read the material before class.2) Freely ask questions in lecture and lab. Also discuss problems with your friends andlabmates.3) Keep a readable and well-organized lab notebook. It is good to learn this nowbecause you will be required to use one in PHYS 405.How You Can HelpThe changing format of this course is in response to both the need to put opticsback into the Physics