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PHYS 331 A: Optics Laboratory

Summer Term: 
Full-term
Meeting Time: 
W 12:40pm - 1:40pm
Location: 
* *
SLN: 
13200
Instructor: 
Matthew R. Depies

Syllabus Description:

SLN  13200

Instructor: Matt Depies (mrdepies@uw.edu)
Office hours: Tuesday 12:00-1:00 pm
Email: mrdepies@uw.edu

Lab Manager: David Pengra (dbpengra@uw.edu)
Office: PAB B256
Phone: 543-4783

TAs:

Tanner Rase

Hao Geng

Lectures and Lab Sections

Lecture Time: Wednesday, 12:40-1:40pm ONLINE.
Labs: Wednesday, 2:20-5:40pm ONLINE.

Tentative Schedule of Lectures and Labs

Date Week Lecture Reading                           
Lab Homework
24 June 1 Waves, EM waves, light and the speed of light

Ch1 all, Ch 2.2, 2.3, 2.7-2.10, Ch 3.1-3.2

No pre lab

Lab 1 Speed of Light

Lecture HW #1

Sample lab report

SampleReport1.pdf

1 July 2 Interference and diffraction 10.1

Lab 1 data analysis overview

8 3 Fraunhofer diffraction 10.2

Pre lab 2

Lab 2 Concave Diffraction Grating

15 4 Fresnel Diffraction 10.3

Lab 2 data analysis overview

Lecture HW 2
22 5 More diffraction continue with 10.3

Pre lab 3

Lab 3 Fraunhofer and Fresnel Diffraction

29 6 Interference 9.1-9.2

Lab 3 data analysis overview

Lecture HW 3
5 August 7 Interferometers 9.3-9.4

Pre lab 4

Lab 4 Michelson Interferometer

Lecture HW 4
12 8 Section 9.4.2

Lab 4 data analysis overview

19 9 Exam Lab 4 Due

Course Materials

The text book for this course is Optics, 5th ed., by Eugene Hecht (Pearson, 2016).

You will also need some form of notebook for taking notes during lecture and while watching experiments. The labs themselves will be done online and submitted as a PDF document.

The information below is mostly given for completeness. Much of the course has changed due to being online. I will note when something is for reference only or may be changed.

Course Handouts:

Additional Handouts:

Videos

Introduction to Physics 331 Lab (reference only)
Optics-Table Basics (reference only)

Experiments: You will be doing the 5 experiments below.  Experiments Overview gives a brief description of each.

  1. Speed of Light
  2. Concave Diffraction Grating
  3. Fraunhofer and Fresnel Diffraction
  4. Michelson Interferometer

Other experiments (offered in the in-person version of the class):

Pre-Lab Assignments: Except for the Speed of Light experiment, you must submit pre-lab assignments in PDF file (according to the format specified in lecture) due before lecture on the day you perform your experiments.  The pre-lab assignment is a one page write up, including your understanding of the purpose of the experiment, the outline of experimental procedures, the physical quantities you are going to measure directly, and the physical quantities you will derive from the measurements.  Late submissions will be awarded no credit.

Click here to view a sample pre-lab assignment

 

Lab Reports: As this class is now all online, we may need to make modifications to how the labs are graded. Please note that below is our standard procedure, and may require modification as the quarter goes on. Mostly what you will be doing with the labs is describing what you see as Dr. David Pengra performs the lab experiments on video, and then doing the data analysis. Still, it is important to write down the procedures so you have an idea about how the experiments were set up and performed.

  • Lab data analysis: Each lab will require two lab sessions. The first will be a discussion of what the lab is about. For the second session you will be required to bring your data, calculations, and graphs to be discussed with the lab TA's.  In order to facilitate this you will be assigned a group (we'll call it the "in class" group) with which to interact with the lab TA's and instructor. This grouping is mandated to facilitate help, it is not mandated that you work with them in general. If you do have a group to work with we will make sure this group (we'll call this your "study" group) is also your in class group.
  • Lab submission: Students will submit lab reports  in PDF file according to the format specified in the Lab Report Grading Standards handout for all performed experiments. Submissions will be made online using canvas. 

Group members may work separately or together on lab reports if desired. Students will turn in their own lab reports regardless of group size. All group members must be noted when a lab is turned in.

Lab reports are due two weeks after you complete each experiment. Late submissions will be penalized at 5% per late day, including weekends, but not including holidays. The last day for lab report submission is Wednesday the last week of class.

 

Lecture questions / homework: You will be required to complete a short reading and potentially a pre-lecture assignment. Each week you will also have a short homework assignment covering the lecture material. There will also be in-lecture questions done either in groups or individually. This will be discussed further in lecture.

 

Exam: There will be one exam to be given on the last day of lecture. It will cover material presented in lectures. It may also be presented in video format. This will be discussed in lecture and updated here. Stay tuned.

 

Grading: TBD

Privacy and online sharing:

This course is scheduled to run synchronously at your scheduled class time via Zoom. These Zoom class sessions will be recorded. The recording will capture the presenter’s audio, video and computer screen. Student audio and video will be recorded if they share their computer audio and video during the recorded session. The recordings will only be accessible to students enrolled in the course to review materials. These recordings will not be shared with or accessible to the public.
 
The University and Zoom have FERPA-compliant agreements in place to protect the security and privacy of UW Zoom accounts. Students who do not wish to be recorded should:
 
Change their Zoom screen name to hide any personal identifying information such as their name or UW Net ID, and Not share their computer audio or video during their Zoom sessions.

Catalog Description: 
Measurements of interference and diffraction, optical properties of matter, image processing, interferometry, holography. Prerequisite: a minimum grade of 2.0 in PHYS 227; and PHYS 321, which may be taken concurrently. Offered: A.
GE Requirements: 
Natural Sciences (NSc)
Credits: 
3.0
Status: 
Active
Section Type: 
Lecture
Last updated: 
September 23, 2020 - 9:22pm
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