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The University of Reading Department of Physics Experimental Physics 1 An instruction manual to accompany module PH1004 Copyright 1996-2005 Department of Physics, The University of Reading All rights Reserved Last Revised August 2005 University of Reading Department of Physics Contents Disclaimer and Safety Assessment .........................................................................................................2 Chapter 1 Introduction to Experimental Physics ..........................................................................3 Chapter 2 Assessment .......................................................................................................................5 Chapter 3 Specimen Experiment - Charge Transport in Materials ..............................................8 Chapter 4 Statistics..........................................................................................................................17 Chapter 5 Introduction to Skills Sessions .....................................................................................19 Skills Session 1 Data Collection......................................................................................................20 Skills Session 2 Graph Plotting.......................................................................................................23 Skills Session 3 Uncertainties and Errors .....................................................................................31 Skill Sessions 4 Electronic Instrumentation..................................................................................39 Project 1 Electricity ..........................................................................................................................41 Experiment A: - DC Networks..................................................................................................................41 Experiment B: - Resonance.......................................................................................................................44 Project 2 Waves and Interference....................................................................................................47 Experiment A: - Optical Interferometry...................................................................................................47 Experiment B: - Sound Waves ..................................................................................................................51 Project 3 Applications of Electronics...............................................................................................56 Experiment A: - The Strain Gauge...........................................................................................................56 Experiment B: - Electrons and Semiconductors......................................................................................61 Project 4 Classical Physics ................................................................................................................63 Experiment A: - The Charge to Mass Ratio of the Electron...................................................................63 Experiment B: - Angular Momentum.......................................................................................................66 Project 5 Spectroscopy ......................................................................................................................68 Experiment A: - The Hubble Redshift ......................................................................................................68 Experiment B: - Atomic Spectroscopy......................................................................................................72 Electronics 1: - Operational Amplifiers – Theory ..............................................................................76 Electronics 2: - Operational Amplifiers – Practice.............................................................................82 Electronics 3: - Digital Electronics – Theory.......................................................................................84 Electronics 4: - Digital Electronics – Practice.....................................................................................90 The Final Project....................................................................................................................................92 Appendix A – Real Op-Amps ...............................................................................................................93 Appendix B – “Bread boards”..............................................................................................................94 Appendix C – Logic Integrated Circuits..............................................................................................96 Appendix D – “Sensing” Logic Levels .................................................................................................97 Experimental Physics I 1 Module PH1004 University of Reading Department of Physics Disclaimer and Safety Assessment This booklet describing the Experimental Physics Module PH1004 is based on the information available at the time of publication. The University reserves the right at any time to change the contents of this Module. As much notice as possible of any alterations will be given; anyone who is uncertain of the up-to-date position should enquire of the Laboratory Supervisor Student Supervision Health and Safety Aspects for Experimental Physics Laboratory Supervisors: Dr P.A. Hatherly, Prof. A.C.Wright Alternative Supervisor: Dr. D.R Waterman This assessment is valid until 1st July 2006. This assessment was made in August 2005 Nature of Work Laboratory work associated with Experimental Physics as described in this document, Experimental Physics 1 – An instruction manual to accompany Module PH1004. Hazards Electrical equipment Medium strength light sources Cryogenic Liquid Agreed precautions, control measures and personal protective equipment required Precautions as detailed in this instruction manual, Experimental Physics1 - An instruction manual to accompany Module PH1004. In Projects 2A, 3A and 5B in particular, you should avoid staring directly at the light sources. Safety spectacles will be issued for Project 3B; these should be returned to the laboratory supervisor at the end of the session. Risk Category for Supervision Work may proceed because workers are adequately trained and competent in the procedures involved1. Supervisors Dr P.A. Hatherly, Prof. A.C. Wright, Dr D.R. Waterman August 2005 1This assessment refers only to health and safety aspects of supervision. Students must not work in the laboratory outside the timetabled hours for this module. Experimental Physics I 2 Module PH1004 University of Reading Department of Physics Chapter 1 Introduction to Experimental Physics 1.1 - Introduction This booklet is the manual that accompanies the Part 1 Module Experimental Physics PH1004. The contents of this booklet provide the background for developing skills in experimental physics and specific instructions for the different activities in the Module. 1.2 - Objectives This Part 1 Module is the first of a progressive series of modules offered by the Department of Physics, which is provided to enable you to develop the expertise and experience necessary to conduct practical work in physics. This Module sets out to: - • Show how physicists approach the design and execution of experiments in order to test quantitatively theories and models. • Develop the skills in observation, sampling and recording of data and the subsequent analysis that is required to make such quantitative assessments. • Provide practical experience in a range of fundamental physics topics. 1.3 - Requirements In this Module you will first complete four one-week Skill Sessions and then proceed with four Experimental Projects lasting three weeks each and four sessions comprising an introduction to practical electronics. A Final Project will be carried out under semi-examination conditions in the first week of the Summer Term. Each three-week Project contains two related Experiments. All students will keep a detailed experimental logbook throughout the course of the Module. Typically you will work in pairs (except in Electronics, where teams of five to eight are typical) but the assessment will be made on an individual basis. Each Experiment should involve six to eight hours of work, in total. Before each experiment you will be required to conduct some preparatory work, without which, you will not be able to complete the Experiment effectively. Consequently, you will not be allowed into the laboratory to begin an Experiment until your preparatory work has been examined and signed-off by a member of the Experimental Physics Team. At the end of the first two laboratory sessions of each three-week project and each Skills and Electronics session, you should make sure that your logbook is officially stamped and signed by one of the Experimental Physics Team. If the analysis stages of a Project are not completed during the laboratory sessions, you should work on these in your own time. 1.4 - Absence You must sign the register sheet before 10:15 a.m., otherwise you will be considered absent from the session. If you are absent from a laboratory session you will be given an unclassified mark (U) for that session, contributing a mark of zero, unless you are able to show that you were ill or involved in a prior approved activity. You also risk not having notes on which to base any subsequent formal write-up.

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