PHYSICS LABORATORY

Degree course: 
Corso di First cycle degree in Physics
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2017/2018
Year: 
1
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2017/2018
Course type: 
Basic compulsory subjects
Credits: 
6
Period: 
Second semester
Standard lectures hours: 
66
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (66 hours)
Requirements: 

Probability & Statistics course – introductory physics lectures. Fundamentals of coding and computer science.

Final Examination: 
Orale

Evaluation of the essays reporting the lab activities. For every experiment, the background and motivation shall be presented, followed by a description of the experimental apparatus, the experimental sequence, the results of the data analysis.

Assessment: 
Voto Finale

Learning the essence of experimenting and measuring in Physics. The student is expected to be able to perform basic experiments, organizing a log-book, record data and perform a basic analysis, computer assisted.

- Analysis (qualitative and quantitative) of the physics underlying the proposed experiments
- Analysis of the experimental set-up
- Performing the experiment and collecting data
- Data analysis
- Reporting

Lecture notes made available by the professor in charge.

Students are expected to perform a series of basic experiments (e.g. measurement of the gravitational constant by a Cavendish balance apparatus; characterization of a mechanical oscillator, measurement of g with a Kater pendulum, mechanical equivalent of a prefect gas, and more).
Every experiment will require 2 weeks: during week 1, the student will get acquainted with the problem and the apparatus, will perform it and collect the data. During week 2, he/she will analyze the data by using MATLAB and relying on the outcome of the firs semester courses in programming, statistics & probability.

A series of advanced analyses will also be proposed, based on data collected by the Researchers collaborating with the professor in charge.

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