Physics for Life Sciences Lab

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
PHYS 1308
Descriptive
Physics for Life Sciences Lab
Department
Physics
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
2.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15 weeks.
Max Class Size
36
Contact Hours
4 hours per week.
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lab
Learning Activities

Laboratory work. 

Course Description
The course will consist of a series of labs involving both activities and experiments based on concepts covered in PHYS 1108 and PHYS 1208. Experiments in mechanics, heat, optics and electricity are designed to augment the concepts covered in the Physics for Life Sciences courses.
Course Content

The course will consist of a series of labs involving both activities and experiments based on concepts covered in PHYS1108 and PHYS1208, or Physics for the Life Sciences.    

The activities are designed to improve your understanding of certain concepts and to familiarize you with equipment and techniques.

The experiments are designed to help you become familiar with the experimental methods used to describe the world around us and to validate scientific theories.

All the experiments require preparatory work, which is shared between group members. Hence, clear verbal communication skills and group work are expected.

 The exact experiment will be chosen when the course occurs. The investiagations will include topics such as 

  • The Simple Pendulum
  • Mechanics of Accelerated Motion
  • Waves
  • Mapping Electric and Magnetic Fields
  • Direct Current Measurements
  • The Oscilloscope and Alternating Currents
  • Oscilloscope Applications
  • Electromagnetic Induction
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Refraction of Light
  • Thin Lenses and Microscope
  • Polarized Light
  • Lasers
  • The Grating Spectrometer
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this laboratory course, the student will be able to demonstrate their ability to 

  1. carry out and make a written description of quantitative physical experiments, with due recognition of systematic and random errors and uncertainities.
  2. use basic lab instruments that are commonly used in making physical measurements in laboratory work in a professional and safe manner.
  3. llustrate how some basic physical principles apply to specific real situations in the lab.
  4. communicate clearly and professionally in writing.
  5. communicate clearly and professionally while speaking.
  6. work well in small groups.
Means of Assessment

Prelab Assignments    5-15%

Worksheets and Lab Notebooks  50-75%

Practical Lab Test     10-25%

Textbook Materials

Douglas College Physics 1308 Lab Manual

Prerequisites

PHYS1107 or PHYS1108 or equivalent  

Corequisites

PHYS1208 should be taken before or concurrently

Equivalencies

None.