1st Year Physics Lab Goals

1. Connecting theory to physical world experiences
   • first hand experiences with experimental equipment
2. Reporting
   • formal report components (procedure, data, results, …)
     • understanding what is involved with each component
   • following required specifications
3. Uncertainties
   • role of uncertainties in significance of a value
     • random versus systematic errors
     • data contributions to final result uncertainty
   • uncertainty in data/measurements
     • estimates
     • statistical (calc, center/spread description, histograms)
     • digital and analogue
   • uncertainty in a result
     • propagation of uncertainties (with addition/subtraction/multiplication/division/powers/log/trig)
     • quoting a result (rounding, sig figs, percent/absolute uncertainty)
4. Graphical analysis
   • error analysis from graphs (best/worst fits)
   • linearizing equations (power/exponential) for graphing
   • graphing fundamentals (scaling, presentation, slope calc, …)
5. Comparison of values
   • percent difference, absolute difference
   • role of the uncertainty, agreement of values
6. Measurements
   • reading a analog scale including an uncertainty
   • developing a sense of scale (eg. how much is a kg)
   • importance of units
   • viewing data through graphs (ie. “rough” graphing while conducting the experiment)
   • measuring time, mass, distance (including small separations)
7. Lab environment
   • working with colleagues
   • working in a shared environment (eg. leaving a cleared workspace)
   • preparing equipment setup
8. Scientific record keeping
   • logbook for notes, for evidence, for reporting
   • organizing a notebook
   • following an organization’s requirements

Lab goals last update Oct 25 2012