Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2009 Spring Meeting of the Texas Sections of the APS, AAPT, and SPS
Volume 54, Number 2
Thursday–Saturday, April 2–4, 2009; Stephenville, Texas
Session D1: Advanced Lab 1 |
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Chair: Jimmy McCoy, Tarleton State University Room: Science Building 102 |
Friday, April 3, 2009 10:45AM - 11:09AM |
D1.00001: Advanced Physics Lab at TCU C.A. Quarles The one semester, one credit hour Modern Physics Lab is viewed as a transition between the structured Physics 1 and 2 labs and junior/senior research. The labs focus on a variety of experiments built around a multichannel analyzer, various alpha, beta and gamma ray detectors and weak radioactive sources. Experiments include radiation safety and detection with a Geiger counter and NaI detector, gamma ray spectroscopy with a germanium detector, beta spectrum, alpha energy loss, gamma ray absorption, Compton effect, nuclear and positron annihilation lifetime, speed of gamma rays. Other experiments include using the analog oscilloscope, x-ray diffraction of diamond and using an SEM/EDX. Error analysis is emphasized throughout. The semester ends with an individual project, often an extension of one of the earlier experiments, and students present their results as a paper and an APS style presentation to the department. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, April 3, 2009 11:09AM - 11:33AM |
D1.00002: Advanced Laboratory at Texas State University: Error Analysis, Experimental Design, and Research Experience for Undergraduates Carl Ventrice Physics is an experimental science. In other words, all physical laws are based on experimentally observable phenomena. Therefore, it is important that all physics students have an understanding of the limitations of certain experimental techniques and the associated errors associated with a particular measurement. The students in the Advanced Laboratory class at Texas State perform three detailed laboratory experiments during the semester and give an oral presentation at the end of the semester on a scientific topic of their choosing. The laboratory reports are written in the format of a ``Physical Review'' journal article. The experiments are chosen to give the students a detailed background in error analysis and experimental design. For instance, the first experiment performed in the spring 2009 semester is entitled \textit{Measurement of the local acceleration due to gravity in the RFM Technology and Physics Building}. The goal of this experiment is to design and construct an instrument that is to be used to measure the local gravitational field in the Physics Building to an accuracy of $\pm $0.005 m/s$^{2}$. In addition, at least one of the experiments chosen each semester involves the use of the research facilities within the physics department ($e.g.$, microfabrication clean room, surface science lab, thin films lab, etc.), which gives the students experience working in a research environment. [Preview Abstract] |
Friday, April 3, 2009 11:33AM - 11:45AM |
D1.00003: Developing an At-A-Distance-Learning Nuclear Lab Experiment David Daumiller, W. Wayne Kinnison, Daniel Suson The design and construction of a learning-at-a-distance laboratory experiment is presented. The experiment examines the characteristics of a NaI detector as part of a nuclear detector evaluation laboratory. All aspects of the experiment may be remotely controlled over the internet. The remote user's interface is a web browser. The graphical user interface and experiment controls were developed using National Instruments LabVIEW. More modules are in development for more experiments. [Preview Abstract] |
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