Department of Physics and Astronomy
A Dissociated, Progressive Introductory Physics Laboratory
Bruce Thompson 31 July 2014
AAPT Summer 2014
Physics 120 Intro Applied Physics Lab
bgt
Acknowledgements
Peter Seligmann, Ithaca College 1971-2002 Charles Spencer, Ithaca College 1973-2003
Original Inception and Implementation circa 1985:
Caretaker 2004-2010:
Michael Rogers
Caretaker 2011-Present: Bruce Thompson
Physics 120 Lab
Photo: Ithaca Physics
Philosophies
• Go on a journey.
• Dive deep.
• Look under the hood.
• Reinvent the wheel.
• No more spherical cow.
• Get your hands dirty.
• Develop a bull&%# detector.
• Grind a pound of data.
• Tell the tale of your journey.
Physics 120 Lab
Quantoons – Tomas Bunk
Course is Dissociated Physics 120 Lab
Fall First Year
• Mechanics (SCALE-UP)
• Calc 1
Spring First Year
• E&M (SCALE-UP)
• Calc 2
• “Mechanics” Lab – Ph120
Fall Second Year
• Waves, Optics, Thermo
• Calc 3
• “E&M” Lab
Spring Second Year
• Modern Physics
• CompSci 1 (Python)
• Linear Algebra or Calc 4
Course is Dissociated E&M Lab
Fall First Year
• Mechanics (SCALE-UP)
• Calc 1
Spring First Year
• E&M (SCALE-UP)
• Calc 2
• “Mechanics” Lab – Ph120
Fall Second Year
• Waves, Optics, Thermo
• Calc 3
• “E&M” Lab
Spring Second Year
• Modern Physics
• CompSci 1 (Python)
• Linear Algebra or Calc 4
Course Sequence Physics 120 Lab
What the students do:
Use the timer for measurements in 3
mechanical systems (2/3 semester)
1. Linear Accelerated Motion
2. Simple Pendulum
3. Rotational Accelerated Motion with
Rotational Inertia
Build a photogate timer
from scratch (1/3 semester)
Course is Progressive Physics 120 Lab
Logical thinking
Skills are developed and themes are
maintained throughout the semester.
Modelling
Dexterity Analysis Communication
Mechanics redux 𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔(𝐿) T = 2p L / g
T 2( ) =4p 2
gL( ) + 0
Course is Progressive Physics 120 Lab
Logical thinking Modelling
Dexterity Analysis Communication
Mechanics redux
𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔(𝐿)
Skills developed and themes maintained
throughout the semester
T = 2p L / g
T 2( ) =4p 2
gL( ) + 0
Logical Thinking 1
Digital circuit analysis Circuit troubleshooting
Logical Thinking 2
Raw data evaluation
Falling mass
Raw Count
21
464
348
294
263
233
215
198
190
175
171
188
195
204
217
Experimental procedure design
Student generated procedure
Logical Thinking 2
Raw data evaluation
Falling mass
Raw Count
21
464
348
294
263
233
215
198
190
175
171 (?)
188
195
204
217
Experimental procedure design
Student generated procedure
Student data choice
Course is Progressive Physics 120 Lab
Logical thinking Modelling
Dexterity Analysis Communication
Mechanics redux
𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔(𝐿)
Skills developed and themes maintained
throughout the semester
T = 2p L / g
T 2( ) =4p 2
gL( ) + 0
Mechanics Redux
Pendulum simple harmonic motion
and all angle energy solution
Linear kinematics and dynamics
Rotational dynamics
Mechanics Redux
𝑭𝑖𝑖
Assessment of “ALL” the forces
F ii
å
t ii
å
Course is Progressive Physics 120 Lab
Logical thinking
Skills developed and themes maintained
throughout the semester
Modelling
Dexterity Analysis Communication
Mechanics redux 𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔(𝐿) T = 2p L / g
T 2( ) =4p 2
gL( ) + 0
Modeling
Linearized modeling and model verification
Linear accelerated
motion
Pendulum small angle
approximation and
Pendulum all angle
Falling mass -
rotating a pulley
𝑑2𝑦
𝑑𝑡2+
𝑔
𝐿𝑥 = 0
𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔𝐿 + 0
𝑣2 = 2𝑎𝐿 + 𝑣02
𝑦 = 2𝑎 𝑥 + 0
𝑎 =𝑚𝑔
𝑚+𝐼
𝑟2
1
𝑎= 𝐴
1
𝑚+ 𝐵
a = gsinq
a( ) = g[ ] sinq( ) + 0[ ]
T = 2p L g
T 2( ) =4p 2
g
é
ëê
ù
ûú L( ) + 0[ ]
T =8L
gINT q0( )
a =mg+FD +t f r
m+I
r2
1
a
æ
èç
ö
ø÷ = A[ ]
1
m
æ
èç
ö
ø÷+ B[ ]
y = Ax+B
d 2q
dt2+g
Lq = 0
T = 2p L g
T 2( ) =4p 2
g
é
ëê
ù
ûú L( ) + 0[ ]
T =8L
gINT q0( )
Course is Progressive Physics 120 Lab
Logical thinking Modelling
Dexterity Analysis Communication
Mechanics redux 𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔(𝐿)
Skills developed and themes maintained
throughout the semester
T = 2p L / g
T 2( ) =4p 2
gL( ) + 0
Dexterity
Math
Course is Progressive Physics 120 Lab
Logical thinking Modelling
Dexterity Analysis Communication
Mechanics redux 𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔(𝐿)
Skills developed and themes maintained
throughout the semester
T = 2p L / g
T 2( ) =4p 2
gL( ) + 0
Analysis
From hand drawing …
To
… Spreadsheet analysis
Course is Progressive Physics 120 Lab
Logical thinking Modelling
Dexterity Analysis Communication
Mechanics redux 𝑇 = 2𝜋 𝐿 𝑔
𝑇2 =4𝜋2
𝑔(𝐿)
Skills developed and themes maintained
throughout the semester
T = 2p L / g
T 2( ) =4p 2
gL( ) + 0
Communication
Binary reporting (“It worked!”)
Summary reports
Extensive report
Student Reaction
“I don’t like estimating.”
“I learned so much about logic circuits.”
“I’ve become better at using calculus for physics.”
“I learned how to problem-solve better than I was able to before.”
“I learned how to use physical formulas in real life.”
“I really liked how this class helps you grow as a scientist.”
“I learned to think effectively on how to assess data and models.”
“I learned methods to approach problems in a more thoughtful manner.”
Thank you for your interest
Course materials available by writing to me:
Instructor’s Manual
Ph120 Applied Physics Laboratory
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Ithaca College
Stop!
Questions?
Next Steps
Video tape lectures
Better notebook skill development
Our Newborn Baby MOT!
DOB 2011-09-02