Introduction to Experimental Practice

Catalog description

How do we plan and conduct physics experiments? This course will present the basics of measurement and experimental practice in a laboratory setting, applying skills developed in PHYSICS 61L and PHYSICS 79L. A sequence of four 2-week labs will allow for in-depth exploration of topics, with a focus on assessing model validity and limitations, as well as communicating results and methodology. Experiments will be drawn from different areas of physics, including, but not limited to: E&M, optics, particle physics, and classical mechanics. The final weeks of the course will be devoted to further, open-ended exploration of one of the main labs, culminating in short group presentations. Prepares students for the advanced physics lab courses and for working in research labs. This course is new to the department as of the Academic Year 2025-2026. Students requiring credit for 71L may take this course to satisfy that requirement.