The Chinese University of Hong Kong
PHY 2811 Physics Laboratory I
General Instruction
1 Titles of Experiments
0. Introduction of Physics Laboratory I
1. Measurement of g
2. Torsional Pendulum
3. Forced Oscillation
4. The Cavendish Experiment
5. Distance Measurement with Sound Waves
6. Measurement of Thermal Conductivity with a Thermocouple
7. Heat Engine
2 Schedule
2.1 Dates of Laboratory Sessions
PHY 2811A
Sep 20 Sep 27 Oct 4 Oct 11 Oct 18 Oct 25 Nov 1 Nov 8 Nov 15 Nov 22
Experiment 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PHY 2811B
Sep 21 Sep 28 Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct 26 Nov 2 Nov 9 Nov 16 Nov 23
Experiment 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PHY 2811C
Sep 22 Sep 29 Oct 6 Oct 13 Oct 20 Oct 27 Nov 3 Nov 10 Nov 17 Nov 24
Experiment 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
PHY 2811D
Sep 23 Sep 30 Oct 7 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 28 Nov 4 Nov 11 Nov 18 Nov 25
Experiment 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
If any one of the sessions cannot be held as scheduled, this and all subsequent sessions would be
postponed one week so as to maintain the original order of doing the experiments.
2.2 Time-table
2:30 - 2:40 pm Introduction of experiment
2:40 - 5:30 pm Experiment
5:30 - 6:30 pm Writing report
0.1
3 Preparation before laboratory session
Experiment reports should be handed in before the end of the laboratory sessions of Physics Laboratory
I. Students are asked to be well prepared before the laboratory sessions. In average, students should
spend about two hours to prepare for each experiment.
Try to understand the theory.
Get a clear idea of the experimental method.
Hand in the answers of the assignment by 2:30 p.m. on Monday before the experiment.
Write part of the report (including object, method and diagram of experimental setup).
Bring your own calculator, ruler, graph paper and A4 size paper.
4 Points to note during laboratory session
Examine the apparatus and be sure you know how to use each item. Ask if you have any doubt.
Record all raw data in the data sheets and plot the data on graph papers. All raw data sheets and
graph papers must be included in the experiment report.
Tidy up and restore your apparatus to its initial condition when the experiment is finished.
5 Laboratory report
Laboratory reports must be presented on A4 size paper.
All reports are due at the end of the laboratory session.
Marked reports can be collected one week after the submission.
If one gets caught copying others, or even having a previous report nearby, he/she will be penalized
with a F grade.
A student who gets F for three or more reports will automatically get a F for the course.
6 Writing of laboratory report
1. Purpose
The purpose of an experiment report is to describe:
why and how the experiment was done;
what the results were; and
your analysis and interpretation of these results.
2. Language
Either Chinese or English may be used. However, in any one report, use one language only. Be
concise, precise, and objective. You must write your own report and must not copy any sentence or
paragraph from laboratory manuals, pervious reports, or instructional materials.
3. Length
The length of your report should be as short as possible. For the kind of experiments you will
perform, a report of three to four handwritten pages is usually appropriate.
4. Organization
Object
0.2
Describe the purpose of the experiment in one or two short sentences.
Method
Describe setup and the basic idea of the experiment in one or two paragraphs. A hand-sketch
diagram of the experiment diagram should be included. The theory or equations to be studied
should be stated.
Data
These are the numbers you obtained in the experiment, and should be presented in tabulated
form whenever suitable. If data are already presented in the data sheets, you can simply refer to
the attached data sheets. You should always include proper units and uncertainties for the
measured data.
Data analysis
The raw data do not mean anything until they have been properly analyzed. This consists of
average the readings of several trials for the same measurement; using formulae to compute
other physical quantities; doing graphical analysis; etc. Try to get as much information from
the raw data as possible and present the results in a clear, systematic manner. For error
estimation, you are required to workout the experimental error for the final results and compare
the results with the theoretical predictions or accepted values.
Discussion
This is for whatever you want to say about the whole experiment. You should point out the
main sources of errors and give suggestions to improve the experiment.
Conclusion
Write down the experiment results (together with their experimental errors) and the comparison
with the theoretical predictions or accepted values. Give a brief comment on the results.
7 Marking Scheme
Preparation and performance (30 points)
Prepare part of the report before the laboratory session (10 points)
Finish the assignment before the laboratory session (5 points)
Performance during the laboratory session (10 points)
Tidy up after the experiment (5 points)
Presentation (20 points)
Object (3 points)
Method (8 points)
Diagram of experiment setup (4 points)
Grammar (3 points)
Neatness (2 points)
Data (15 points)
Raw data (10 points)
Uncertainties of the raw data (5 points)
Data analysis (15 points)
Graphs (4 points)
Results (4 points)
Significant figures (2 points)
Experimental errors (3 points)
Comparison to the theoretical predictions or accepted values (2 points)
0.3
Discussion (5 points)
Major sources of errors (3 points)
Suggestions for improvement (2 points)
Conclusion (5 points)
Assignment (10 points)
8 Staff
Teacher in charge Dr. Lee Yuk Yan Room 347
Technician Ms. Cheng C S Chan Room 214
Instructors (2811A)
(2811A)
(2811B)
(2811B)
(2811C)
(2811C)
(2811D)
(2811D)
Report graders (Exp. 1)
(Exp. 2)
(Exp. 3)
(Exp. 4)
(Exp. 5)
(Exp. 6)
(Exp. 7)
0.4