1738 (v.4) Physical Measurements 101

Area:

Department of Applied Physics

Credits:

12.5

Contact Hours:

4.0

Lecture:

1 x 1 Hours Weekly

Laboratory:

1 x 2 Hours Fortnightly

Workshop:

1 x 1 Hours Fortnightly

Other Requisite(s):

Admission: upon completion of TEE Physics, Calculus or Applicable Mathematics. If Applicable Mathematics only, then calculus bridging course is recommended.

Syllabus:

Data analysis and report writing - introduction, errors, significant figures, accuracy, precision and reproducibility, graphs, linear, log-linear, log-log, report writing. DC Electricity - electric fields, electrical potential, capacitors, current and resistance, DC circuits including Kirchhoffs rules, introduction to AC circuits, analogue and digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, types, measurement of frequency, time, base, double beam, TV, CRTs and flat panel displays.

Unit Outcomes:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to describe the nature of electricity in terms of charge, forces, fields, current, potential difference, electrical power, electrical energy and the quantitative relationships between these quantities, construct and test simple resistive DC circuits consisting of muliple loops, predict their electrical parameters and compare these to measured values, demonstrate an understanding of basic electromagnetism, capacitance and DC circuits and calculate and graphically represent and interpret physical measurements. Students will be able to distinguish between accuracy and precision in physical measurement processes and demonstrate an understanding of the necessity to achieve accuracy and precision whenmaking measurements in the laboratory. They will have gained familiarity with commonly used items of physics laboratory equipment and instrumentation and appreciate how they are used in physics laboratory procedures and demonstrate practical expertise associated with the performance of physical laboratory procedures.

Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.

Unit References:

No prescribed references.

Unit Texts:

Serway, R. A. & Beichner, R., 1992, 'Physics for Scientists and Engineers', Saunders College, Philadelphia.

Unit Assessment Breakdown:

Assignment and Chapter Summaries 20%. Laboratory Experimental Reports 25%. Mid Semester Test 15%. Final Examination 40%.

Year	Location	Period	Internal	Area External	Central External
2004	Bentley Campus	Semester 1	Y