First year lab projects
Structure of first year lab
Introductory Sessions
Opt./Elec.
Demonstration
Computing
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Monday 14.00 - 17.00
Tuesday 09.00 - 12.00
a
b
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Thursdays 09.00 - 12.00
Fridays 14.00 - 17.00
c
x
y
z
O/E
D
C
O/E
D
C
C
O/E
D
C
O/E
D
D
C
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O/E
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D
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C
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O/E
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Short
Experiments
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Projects
Open Days
Maths analysis
First Term
Second Term
Third Term
Projects: Timetable in term 3
Week 2
Time
03-May
09-10
Mon 3
10-11
Tues 4
BANK
11-12
Wed 5
Thur 6
Fri 7
P
P
P
P
SoM
P
P
QP
12-1
1-2
Tutorial
2-3
3-4
HOLIDAY
4-5
SoM
P
SoM Cl
P
MA
P
First meeting with
your students
5-6
Week 5
Time
24-May
09-10
Per Tut
Mon 24
Tues 25
Wed 26
Thur 27
P
Elec
P
QP
P
10-11
QP
P
11-12
QP Cl
P
Fri 28
Schedule is mostly free
in weeks 2 to 7
P
12-1
1-2
Tutorial
2-3
P
Matter
P
3-4
P
E&M
P
4-5
P
E&M
P
5-6
Week 8
Time
14-Jun
09-10
Mon 14
Tues 15
Wed 16
10-11
11-12
Thur 17
Fri 18
PROJECT DISPLAY
DISPLAY PREPARATION
DAYS
12-1
1-2
2-3
Dept
Schools
3-4
views
view
4-5
projects
projects
5-6
Open days
Demonstrators: actions
This term:
• write two project proposals, due March 3
• procure/prepare any hard to find equipment, software etc.
Next term:
• meet with each pair of students (1 hour/project/week)
• attend department open day June 17
• complete continuous assessment form by June 18
Project ideas
• Projects can be experimental or
theoretical/computational
• Look over scripts for short experiments to
see what level students are used to. (Short
experiments are 6 hours)
• Check previous years projects for ideas,
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/physicsuglabs/firstyearlab/projects/previousprojects
• Too ambitious? You should be able to
complete the project in less than 10 hours.
Project Ideas
What is physics? Mathematical description of the
natural world, starting from basic physical laws.
An ideal project will have something to calculate and
something to measure. This is not always possible.
Project could:
• Illustrate basic physics in a interesting way, or
• Involve important/useful experimental, computational
or theoretical techniques
Students need to be able to present their project results
on a poster at the open days
Project examples
Bat box (experimental)
Build an ultrasonic receiver to mix bat chirps down to audio range.
•Physics: heterodyne measurements (okay)
•Techniques: electronics (okay)
•Presentation: Excellent, easy to make an interesting poster w/ audio
Counting without counting (theory/ experiment)
Measure electron charge by statistics of small current fluctuations.
Mechanical analogy could be dropping ball bearings on scale.
•Physics: counting statistics, fluctuations (excellent)
•Techniques: Monte Carlo? Data acquisition? (good)
•Presentation: Very good, easy to make an interesting poster.
Project examples
Helmholtz coils (theory/computing/experiment)
Calculate/measure field from Helmholtz pair.
•Physics: Electromagnetism, elliptic functions (excellent)
•Techniques: Hall probe (fair)
•Presentation: Difficult to make interesting (fair)
Rubber band heat engine: Physics: excellent, Tech: good, Pres: good
Phase locking: Physics: excellent, Tech: fair, Pres: fair/good
Electronic fireflies- self organized criticality:
Physics: excellent, Tech: good, Pres: excellent
Metal detector: Physics: fair, Tech: v. good, Pres: good
CD/DVDs and diffraction: Physics: good, Tech: fair, Pres: good
Robots?: Physics: none?, Tech: electronics?, Pres: good
Less-conventional projects
• Web-based project? Video?
• Group projects: supervise 4 students doing
one project, rather than 2 individual
projects
FIRST YEAR PROJECTS: CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
Assessment
Name
Mark (out of 60)
Partner’s Name
Project Code
B. Sc.
B.Sc. +YiE
M. Sci.
M. Sci. + YiE
ATTENDANCE
Session
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Date
Please circle the appropriate mark in each category:
Enthusiasm/Initiative
[0] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Comprehension
[0] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Construction/Experimental Skill/
Programming Ability
[0] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Results/Data Collection/
Analysis/Interpretation
[0] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Lab Book/Recordkeeping
[0] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Poster Display
[0] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Communication Skills
[0] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Total Mark:
Fractional Attendance (see notes 2 and 3):
Product of total mark and fractional attendance:
Discretionary Mark (see note 4d, use sparingly):
Write the product of the total mark and fractional attendance (plus any discretionary mark) in the box at the
top of the page.
Assessment
.
 80-100%: OUTSTANDING. Exceptional, independent work which shows thorough
understanding and excellent technique together with substantial initiative.
 70-80%:
FIRST CLASS. Excellent work: shows very good understanding and originality or
correct method and clear reporting together with significant initiative.
 60-70%:
UPPER SECOND. Good work: shows some initiative without being brilliant.
 50-60%:
LOWER SECOND. Below average work or generally competent work but
containing a few shortcomings such as poor data, some incomplete interpretation, etc.
 40-50%:
THIRD. Well below average in all respects or containing substantial flaws or
omissions.
 0-40%:
FAIL. Unsatisfactory work: poor in all aspects or containing major mistakes in
interpretation and analysis.