What to Expect the First Four Weeks
Before lab sections begin
Try to register for your desired lab section before the first day of classes,
August 30. Sections may be full, but don’t worry. There is enough space for everyone
and spaces will become available as everyone adjusts his/her schedule.
Registration will be closed starting the first day of classes.
There are no lab sections during the first (partial) week of classes, i.e. the week of
August 30.
Purchase the lab manual at the UVa bookstore. Look through the manual to become familiar
with it.
Read Appendix B: Graphical Analysis and Appendix C: Oscilloscopes in the
manual before attending the first lab.
The first lab session (week of September 4)
You must attend your desired section the first full week of classes, the week of
September 4. See Registration and Enrollment.
The first part of the lab will be organizational. Larry Suddarth will oversee enrollment
for each section. You will meet your lab instructor, who will give some introductory
remarks.
You will complete a graphing and error analysis exercise which will be handed out in the
lab.
You will complete the exercises in Appendix C: Oscilloscopes of your manual.
Before the second lab session:
Read Appendix D: The Accuracy of Measurements and Significant Figures.
Read the first lab writeup in your manual (Constant Geometrical Optics) and write a
prelab summary as discussed in the General Introduction of your lab manual under
'Preparation'.
Watch the video on "Geometrical Optics" in the Physics Building (room next to
your lab).
The second lab session (week of September 11)
You will have a different lab partner every week according to a posted schedule. You
will be assigned a number so that you can keep to that schedule. Groups are to have two
students (unless there is an odd number of students in the lab in which case one group of
three will be allowed).
The lab ends promptly after 1 hour and 50 minutes at 10 minutes before the hour.
After the lab, you will need to make sure that each partner has a copy of the journal
you took in class. Once you leave the lab, the journal may not be altered.
Before the third lab session:
Write your report as soon as possible, while your memory is still fresh. This will also
give you time to revise it before you turn it in.
Read the second lab writeup in your manual (Ohms Law and Meters) and write a
prelab summary.
You probably now understand the flow of the course. There will be no
labs during the weeks of the Reading Holiday (the week of October 23) and Thanksgiving
(the week of November 20). In addition,you will write up the last lab (Electromagnetic
Waves) in class and hand it in then.