Units
Experimental Physics
Unit code: PQB651
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit represents the culmination of the students experiences in undergraduate experimental work. The unit is offered in the final year of study to take advantage of and integrate the skills acquired in previous units. The student is given the opportunity to select three experiments to be undertaken from a series of extended experiments in the areas of physics research undertaken at QUT.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit represents the culmination of your experiences in undergraduate experimental work. The unit is offered in the final year of study to take advantage of and integrate the skills acquired in previous units. You given the opportunity to select three experiments to be undertaken from a series of extended experiments in the areas of physics research undertaken at QUT.
Aims
This unit aims to:
· Provide you with advanced practical experimental skills.
· Develop a critical approach to an investigative task.
· Provide an opportunity to learn and develop and employ sophisticated data analysis techniques.
· Introduce you to physics research undertaken at QUT.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this unit you are expected to be able to:
1. Prepare written reports of a standard similar to that required for publication.
2. Present a concise and accurate oral summary of experimental work.
3. Demonstrate practical ability and critical thinking in relation to experimental work.
4. Undertake rigorous data and error analysis of measurements taken.
Content
Throughout the semester you will undertake three extended experiments under the supervision of an academic staff member. Choice of experiments will be done by the end of week 1 and experimental work will commence in week 2. You will complete the experiment and hand in a written report to the academic member of staff at approximately 4-week intervals. At the end of the semester you will be required to present a 15 minute oral presentation on one of the experiments that you have undertaken.
The total time required by the student working on this unit will be approximately 150 hours. This means that each experiment will require approximately 50 hours work. Of the 50 hours spent on each experiment, approximately 15 hours will be spent 'hands on' while the rest of the time will be spent on background reading, analysis of results and writing the final report. It should be noted that some experiments will require less 'hands on' but more background reading and analysis of results.
Students are expected to develop generic skills in the areas of problem solving, time management, written and oral presentation, reflective practice, technological literacy and working independently.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Lectures will be provided on advanced data analysis techniques. The remainder of the time you will spend on experimental design, data collection, data analysis and report preparation. These activities will take place under the supervision of an academic staff member who will your monitor progress and provide assistance/suggestions as required.
Assessment
All assessment contributes to your grade.Feedback will be provided on your progress.
Assessment name:
Reports
Description:
Experiment research reports.
Relates to objectives:
1, 3 and 4.
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Progressive
Assessment name:
Oral Presentation
Description:
(Summative) - A 15 minute oral presentation on one of the completed experiments.
Relates to objectives:
2, 3 and 4.
Weight:
25%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Final Exam Period
Assessment name:
Research Paper
Description:
(Formative and summative) - Experiment report in the style of a scientific journal article.
Relates to objectives:
1, 3 and 4.
Weight:
25%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Progressive
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Texts:
1. Kikup L (1994) Experimental Methods: An Introduction to the Analysis and Presentation of Data, Wiley.
2. Bevington PR & Robinson DK (1992) Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, 2nd edition, McGraw Hill.
Risk assessment statement
Students in this unit will undertake some lectures in classrooms and lecture theatres. There are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.
The majority of time spent on this unit will be undertaking experiments in laboratories under the supervision of technical and academic staff of the School. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions and students will be required to conform to these.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 25-May-2012
