Lab Intro
Physics 1A03 Lab Intro
The purpose of labs is to learn some physics (of course!) but also to gain experimental skills that are applicable well beyond the field of physics. Throughout the labs, you will be recording and analyzing data, graphing relationships between variables, and interpreting results. Occasionally, you may need to retest your results, determine why something didn’t work, or reason whether your results were logical (always keep this one in mind!). It is during these times, when thinking critically and problem solving, that learning happens. Do not be discouraged, enjoy the trial-and-error, it is all part of the experimental process. We are here to help!
The four labs in this course will cover:
- Proportionality and Kinematics
- Forces and Free-Body Diagrams
- Conservation of Energy and Momentum
- Light and Snell’s Law
An important step when performing the labs is to make sure you are prepared before beginning. To do this, ensure you read the lab instructions in their entirety prior to starting the lab. By reading the lab in advance, you’ll save yourself time, stress, and exercise planning and organizational skills. Each of the labs have warm-up exercises to begin. This is similar to a pre-lab and is low stakes (not worth any marks), since the purpose of the the warm-Up exercise is to introduce you to the important concepts covered in the lab and aid in your understanding of them. The warm-up is a helpful exercise that will make performing the lab easier and faster. If you can do those questions, you should be well prepared for any calculations required for the lab itself.
Hybrid Labs
The labs in this course are completely hybrid – we have designed labs that offer maximum flexibility without compromising learning outcomes. Allow us to explain the rationale behind this innovative approach:
Introductory undergraduate physics courses attract a diverse range of students. Many students take this course to fulfill a pre-requisite with no intention of taking any further physics courses (although we encourage you to consider it!). As such, we recognized the importance of providing labs that give students applicable skills beyond physics. Understanding methodology, knowing how to interpret and analyze data, and realizing shortcomings and next steps for an experiment is useful for all science students. We realized that the best way to learn these essential skills is through hands-on experiments that use simple, everyday equipment. Be prepared to take charge of creating your own graphs, as no “black box” measurements will be provided; recording your data measurements will be an integral part of the learning process.
We also acknowledge that every student has a unique set of circumstances that may impact their preferred mode of lab completion. Factors such as care giving responsibilities, commuting time and costs, job commitments, and extracurricular schedules can all play a role. We grant you the freedom to choose how you wish to perform the labs. If you wish to come in-person to the lab room to perform the labs with TA support, you can follow your lab schedule on Mosaic. If instead you wish to perform the labs on your own time at home, that’s fine too! If you wish to perform the lab individually, no problem. If you want to work with a partner or in a group of three, go for it! And if you want to try something different for each of the labs this is also okay!
There is also flexibility in time to completion. The labs are designed to be completed in two hours. However, if you wish to take longer (or shorter!) that is okay. Our goal is to ensure that you have the best possible learning experience while maintaining a healthy balance with your other commitments. So good luck and reach out whenever you need!
Lab Material
To help complete the labs, you will need:
- Bouncy ball
- Measuring tape
- Protractor
- Clear plastic box
Note that all of the equipment you need to perform the lab is provided to you in the lab room. You are welcome to source material yourself to perform the labs at home.
Submission Instructions
The labs will be submitted using the Crowdmark platform. For more information on Crowdmark and how submissions will work, you may go over the Crowdmark Instructions.
Marking
Labs 1 – 4 are cumulatively worth 25%, while practice Lab 0 is worth 1% for a combined total of 26% of the final course grade.
The lab due dates can be found on Avenue to Learn in the course schedule, course outline, and Crowdmark.
If you fail to submit by the due date, there will be a 10% grade deduction per day late to a maximum of 50% deducted (5 days late). Labs that are submitted after 5 days will receive a grade of zero. For example, if a lab is due on a Monday, submitting on Saturday will get you a 50% deduction, but a submission on Sunday will no longer be eligible for grading and submission. Note that submitting a McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF) will extend the deadline of the lab by three days. Late penalties will not occur during the three-day extension if a MSAF has been received.
Note that marks will NOT be deducted for improper significant figures or error calculations. Error bars are not required on graphs and error analysis is not required for any calculations. While, error calculations are very important, they are not the focus of these labs. Instead, we encourage you to focus on your conceptual understanding of physics, which might include thinking about where errors might arise.
You will however be asked to submit graphs you have created. You can create graphs using whichever means you are most comfortable (Excel, Numbers, hand-drawn on graph paper, using a tablet…). Should you choose to hand-draw your graph you must use graph paper. To see how to properly create graphs, see Creating Good Graphs.
Discussion Questions
The final question of each lab is a discussion question. These questions are meant to help you think deeply and are not necessarily ‘easy’ questions. Please feel free to discuss with your TAs and/or partner(s). You must keep your answer to half a page or less. You will not need more than this (perhaps quite a bit less!) to answer the questions fully. Diagrams and equations are also encouraged here and are included in the half page limit. The grading of these questions will focus on whether you accurately described all of the relevant physics concepts. Describing things that are not relevant, or incorrect will result in mark deductions.
Academic Integrity
Physics is not to be done in solitary confinement. Seeking help when you have difficulties and discussing physics with your colleagues is encouraged and common in research. However, the laboratory report you submit must be the work of yourself and your group of two or three, if you chose to complete in groups. Consult your course coordinator if there is any doubt about what is acceptable.
It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3, located at http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity/.