Matthew M. J. French - Physics Lab Experiments

PHYSICS LAB
EXPERIMENTS

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PHYSICS LAB
EXPERIMENTS

Matthew M. J. French

Reprint and Revision Copyright 2017 by MERCURY LEARNING AND INFORMATION LLC. All rights reserved.

Original title and copyright: Finding Your Way in the Undergraduate Physics Laboratory. Copyright 2013 by M.M.J. French. ISBN 978-0-9549780-8-2. All rights reserved. Published by The Pantaneto Press.

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M.M.J. French. Physics Lab Experiments.

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CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Matthew French studied for an undergraduate physics degree at the University of Bristol. While working there towards a PhD in experimental condensed matter physics, he spent four years demonstrating experiments in the first year undergraduate physics laboratory. Now an experienced school teacher and Head of Physics at Prior Park College, Bath (UK), he is well positioned to bridge the gap between students' knowledge at the end of secondary school and that expected of them at the beginning of their university courses.

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTER

INTRODUCTION

For some students, the experimentalists, their laboratory sessions are the highlight of their undergraduate degrees. It is in the laboratory that the physics they have learnt in lectures begins to make sense to them and the connections between the equations and reality are illuminated. Some of these students will continue working in laboratories to complete doctorates in experimental physics or turn to experimental work in industry. For other students, the theoreticians, the laboratory sessions are something that must be endured, often on a weekly basis. However, separating students into the discrete boxes of experimentalists and theoreticians does not really convey the holistic experience todays undergraduates receive: they must be talented at experiments as well as theory in order to excel at university.

This new book aims to guide both the experimentalist and theoretician through their compulsory laboratory course forming part of an undergraduate physics degree. Some students will have left school believing that physics experiments never work. Designing and performing good physics experiments is a craft, it is a skill developed gradually over time. I hope this book might go some way to persuading all students of the value and beauty within a carefully planned and executed experiment and help them develop the skills to carry out experiments themselves.

Those students who are completing undergraduate research projects and beginning a doctorate will also find helpful and relevant sections. Graduate students supervising laboratory sessions will find this a useful resource: especially the dedicated section on Demonstrating Undergraduate Physics Laboratory.

details a number of common experiments and example laboratory reports.

The idea of learning about experimental physics through reading a book, might at first seem to be tinged with a hint of irony. However, there are many concepts and techniques which a physics student needs to learn and understand. Often these are not specifically written down or taught in lectures: it is up to the interested student to investigate and learn for themselves. While the goal of this book is not to detract from this inquisitive and curiosity driven learning, it aims to provide an overview of the many topics and skills required in the first year undergraduate physics laboratory and beyond. Inevitably, some readers will find detail lacking in one area or another or pages which are currently superfluous to their needs. This book should not be read cover to cover, rather it should be dipped into to gain a basic understanding of a certain topic when necessary. Where needed the reader, then armed with a good grounding in the topic, can use other books or the Internet for further research.