Modern Optics Lab Introductory Meeting Modern Optics Lab

Contact Information Lab Organization: Gernot Laicher South Physics 410 801 -585 -5553 gernot@physics. utah. edu Teaching Assistant (Sections 3411 -001 and 003): Ilya Reznik 801 -706 -6057 (cell) ilyareznik@gmail. com Office hours: Mondays 5: 00 p. m. – 6: 00 p. m. in South Physics room 405 Lab Attendant (Section 3411 -002): Prof. Adam Bolton bolton@physics. utah. edu 468 INSCC TA (Section 3411 -004): Anil Ghimire anghimire@hotmail. com Website: http: //www. physics. utah. edu/~gernot/Modern Optics. html Modern Optics Lab

Lab Format • Lab descriptions will be available on our website in pdf format. Prepare yourself before coming to the lab (know the physics, read through the lab description and understand the principle of the experiment and the data evaluation methods). Think about the format of your lab report before coming to class. Writing a brief outline of how your lab report will be organized will make it much easier to produce a good lab report. • Labs are done individually (no groups). • TA will give a short introduction/overview to the lab activity at the beginning of the lab. • Lab report is written during the lab activity and must be submitted at the end of the 4 hour lab period. • 10 experiments are performed over the course of the class. - 9 are the same for everyone. - In lab 10 you can choose one of 4 possible activities. Modern Optics Lab

Grading in Modern Optics • Homework: 25% • Lab: 35% • Exams: 40% • Your lab score is obtained as follows: 90%: Grade received for lab reports 10%: Lab conduct - Displayed interest/diligence in lab activity - Ability to answer questions asked by TA - Cleanliness of workspace at the end of the lab - Creativity - Punctuality Modern Optics Lab

The Lab Report Grade / Format • General guideline (may vary somewhat depending on lab activity and TA): 20% Objective - Sketch - Description of setup - Method 30% Record of raw data 30% Evaluation of data - Calculations - Discussion - Conclusion 10% Error calculation - Measurement uncertainties in raw data - Propagation of error 10% General appearance - Legible ? - Looks organized ? - Consistent format ? - Easy to follow ? Modern Optics Lab

Late Completion • If you run out of time before completing the lab: Talk to the TA, see whether he can arrange extra lab time on T, W, H, or F (Mondays generally not available) to complete an activity. There is no guarantee that such extra lab time can be granted. The TA may set a limit on how much extra time may be given to any one student over the semester. (General guideline: For no more than on two lab activities can extra time be requested). • Late completions generally result in an automatic 15% reduction in the lab report grade (exception: illness, etc. ). Modern Optics Lab

Missing a lab due to Illness, etc. • Arrange with the TA a way to make up the missed lab activity. - If possible, the TA can allow you to attend another section. - If possible, a time outside the regular lab hours may be arranged. - In worst case scenarios, we may waive a lab and base your grade on the remaining average. You cannot expect to be allowed to make up a lab activity without penalty unless you have a very good reason (illness, etc. ). (Skiing or your brother’s birthday doesn’t count) Modern Optics Lab

Sample Lab Report Pages Modern Optics Lab

Significant Figures and Uncertainty • Report uncertainties (error) in measurements to one significant digit • Make sure the position of the least significant digit of the measured value agrees with that of the uncertainty. Modern Optics Lab

Estimating and Reporting Uncertainty • Estimation of uncertainty from a single measurement due to measuring device (e. g. , ability to read out a scale) • Uncertainty in repeated measurements and averaging (averaging 5 or more measurements to get mean) calculate standard deviation of the mean Modern Optics Lab

Error Propagation • Calculating the error in the final result based on the error in the measured quantity can be done in several ways. a) Calculate the “high” and “low” possible outcome based on using extreme values of input data (x+dx and x-dx). b) Doing a “proper” error calculation. Modern Optics Lab

“High/Low” Method Suppose you measure a quantity and it’s uncertainty …. and you want to calculate the value of a function f(x) and the uncertainty df of the function f(x) at the point x=xo Modern Optics Lab

Modern Optics Lab

General Error Propagation Method Modern Optics Lab

Example Modern Optics Lab

Example using “High/Low” Method overestimates error somewhat Modern Optics Lab