Without exception, all fields of science rely on experimental data to test theoretical models of the world around us. To fully understand the concepts of physics and other sciences, it is not sufficient to learn from a textbook alone. By performing hands-on experiments, you are able to explore and confirm the concepts which scientists have put forth to describe the processes that govern our universe. In addition, you gain the ability to conduct independent scientific research.
To earn a successful grade for your lab each week you must successfully complete all steps of the experiment, write a lab report that presents the experiment, data, analysis, and error analysis in a clear and concise manner, and correctly answer all of the questions in the lab manual, and any additional ones posed by your TA. Poorly executed experiments, poorly written reports (this includes the scientific quality as well as grammar and neatness), failure to clearly analyze experimental errors, incorrect answers to questions, unlabeled graphs, and unit-less numbers will result in a poor grade. A successful experimentalist is one who understands the scientific goals and principles behind the experiment, pays clear attention to the details and potential errors, and presents the results in a clear and accurate report.
In order to provide for consistency in policy and grading practices across the various sections of the introductory physics labs, the Department of Physics has adopted the following guidelines. Questions concerning these policies should be directed to your teaching assistant (TA) or the lab director.
Eating, drinking, or smoking, in the lab class is not allowed. Even the most careful and considerate students run the risk of damaging equipment if a liquid should accidentally be spilled. There is also the possibility of injury from such accidents with the electronic equipment used in some labs.
Students must bring their laboratory manual or a copy of the current experiment to class. In addition, each student should bring paper, pencils and a scientific calculator. A protractor, a ruler with centimeter scale and a flash memory stick are often useful.
Laptop Computers and Software
Williams and Mary students are expected to have a laptop computer. If you did not install DataStudio during the fall semester, talk to your TA about installing DataStudio at the first lab meeting. This software will be used repeatedly throughout the semester.Attendance
In general, the only acceptable excuse for missing a lab is an emergency or serious illness, and whenever possible, you need to contact the TA prior to missing the lab. A health center, doctor's note or a note from the office of the Dean of Students may be required to excuse the absence. Because each experiment requires specialized equipment which is only set up for one week, it is often difficult to make-up missed labs. Also, because there are not enough experimental set-ups to accommodate an overfilled class, it is not possible for students to attend a lab section for which they are not registered unless approved by the lab director and your teaching assistant. Even with the approval of the lab director or your teaching assistant, a make-up lab can only be done during the week the lab is scheduled. For these reasons, it is important that you make sure you are registered for a lab section that you will be able to attend for the entire semester.Students must attend the lab section for which they registered. Requests to change lab sections after the beginning of the term will only be allowed under exceptional circumstances.
An unexcused absence from a scheduled laboratory will result in a student receiving a grade of zero (0) for that lab.
A student who presents documentation indicating that their absence from a lab should be excused will be considered on a case by case bases. Normally, a maximum of two (2) excused absences will be considered. The definition of an excused absence shall be an absence for which the Dean of Students is willing to offer a written excuse. Excused absences are limited to (1) illness with a written doctor's statement, (2) a major illness, death or other emergency in the immediate family or (3) official William and Mary business.
Grading
The lowest lab grade for the semester will be dropped from the student's final lab average. However, only regular 'in class' labs will be considered for the dropped lab. The two labs where a formal lab report is required will only be dropped for an excused absence with a written excuse from the Dean of Students. To insure fairness and uniformity across lab sections, all labs sections will be graded on the same scale. The two formal lab reports during the semester will count 30 points. All 'in class' labs will count 20 points. Except for the first lab, all labs will start with a short quiz and require a prelab. Information about lab reports can be found under the Quiz menu item.Unless there are unusual circumstances, letter grades will be assigned based on the the usual scale of:
A 93% - 100% A- 90% - 92.99% B+ 87% - 89.99% B 83% - 86.99% B- 80% - 82.99% etc
Information about lab reports can be found under the Lab Reports menu item