NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Metro-Manila
Course
Credit
Course Description
Course Objectives
Course Goals

Course
Requirements

Important Dates

PHYSICS 71.1, Midyear AY 2014-2015

1 unit
Elementary Physics Laboratory I
Develop basic skills in taking and reporting scientific observation and relating it to a theory or
model.
To develop basic skills in taking and reporting scientific observation
To value the role of direct observation to the development of theory and vice versa
To develop collaborative learning skills
To gain better understanding of the concepts of classical mechanics
(11) Pre-lab Activities
10%
(2) Activity Worksheets
6%
(9) Experiment Worksheets
54 %
Practical Examination
20 %
Lab performance, Attendance and Quizzes
10 %
Practical Examination
July 17, 2015 (Friday, class hours)
Deadline for Dropping of Subjects
July 10, 2015
Deadline for Filing LOA
---------------End of Classes
July 20, 2015
Submission of Grades
July 31, 2015

Lab Instructor:
Consultation Room: A101
Consultation Schedule:
Email:
COURSE POLICIES
A.

General Guidelines

Grading System

1. There are two activities and nine experiments. Each activity/experiment can be completed in
[ 92 , 100 ]
1.00
one class meeting. In case classes are suspended for any valid reason, the schedule of
[
88
,
92
)
1.25
activities/experiments shall be moved by an amount equal to that which is lost due to the
suspension.
[ 84 , 88 )
1.50
2. There is a corresponding manual for each activity/experiment. The manual consists of four
parts: pre-lab activity; introduction/discussion; activity/experimental procedure; data and
[ 80 , 84 )
1.75
analysis worksheet.
[ 76 , 80 )
2.00
3. All activity/experimental procedures are performed by group. Each group consists of three
members. Members of the group are expected to read all parts of the manual before coming to
[ 72 , 76 )
2.25
class. The Instructor can demand the group to repeat all procedures if the activity/experiment
[ 68 , 72 )
2.50
is not conducted properly. However, no extension will be granted if the activity/experiment is
not finished on time due to members negligence.
[ 64 , 68 )
2.75
4. Each student must have a copy of the manual on the scheduled activity/experiment.
[ 60 , 64 )
3.00
5. There is one practical examination at the end of all activities/experiments to test the
understanding of each student about the course.
[
50
,
60
)
4.00
6. Absences are considered excused only if there is a valid reason. Valid reasons include but are
not limited to the following: illness, death in the immediate family, or official UP duty. The
[ 0 , 50 )
5.00
student should present on the first lab meeting he/she is able to come back, a medical
certificate from the UP Health Service in case of illness or a letter from a parent/guardian in case of a family members
death or an official endorsement in case of official UP duty.
7. University rules apply for cheating. Any form of cheating in examinations or any act of dishonesty in relation to studies,
such as plagiarism, shall be subject to disciplinary action.

B.

Laboratory Protocol
1. Materials for each activity/experiment are borrowed in room F107. Each group must leave one members identification
card (ID) and a list of all the members when borrowing materials.
2. Materials for each activity/experiment must be handled with care at all times. Putting specific marks (permanent or not)
on certain materials are strictly prohibited.
3. Each member of the group is responsible for knowing the proper operation of any apparatus/equipment assigned to
his/her group. If one of the group members damaged or defaced any apparatus/equipment, the entire group shall be
liable for the corresponding repair, or in case of irreparable damage, shall replace the apparatus. Failure to do so will be
grounds for ineligibility to enroll in the next semester(s).
4. Cleanliness must be maintained in the designated group table. All unnecessary things (e.g. bags, personal items, etc.)
must be placed inside the cabinet located in the room.
5. All borrowed materials must be properly returned in room F107 after use.
6. Eating, drinking, smoking, and horse playing inside the laboratory are forbidden. The elementary laboratories are
equipped with CCTV cameras. Anyone caught behaving inappropriately shall immediately be subjected to disciplinary
actions.

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C.

Pre-lab Activity Guidelines

1. The pre-lab activity must be accomplished INDIVIDUALLY before the scheduled activity/experiment.
2. The pre-lab activity is due right BEFORE the start of the corresponding activity/experiment.
3. A student who failed to submit the pre-lab activity before the start of activity/experiment will automatically get zero.

D.

List of Activities and Experiments

ACTIVITIES

Measurement, Uncertainty and Deviation

Graphical Analysis

Determine the uncertainty of measured or calculated data from observables.

Report correctly the measured or calculated data.
Determine if the measured data is acceptable.
Learn how to use plotting software in creating scatter graphs.
Formulate a theory or a model based on the linear fit and trendlines.
Use linear regression in a scientific calculator.

EXPERIMENTS

Objectives

Measuring Devices

Determine the least count and uncertainty of different measuring devices.

Measure the dimensions of an object using a ruler, a Vernier Caliper and a
Micrometer Caliper.
Measure the mass of an object using a weighing scale.
Calculate the density of different materials.
Show that the sum of forces acting on a system in static equilibrium is zero.
Obtain the equilibrant of two or more forces.
Obtain the orthogonal components of a force.
Plot experimentally the graphs illustrating the position and velocity as a function of
time for an object undergoing uniformly accelerated linear motion.
Determine experimentally the magnitude of acceleration of an object undergoing
uniformly accelerated linear motion.
Verify that in projectile motion, horizontal and vertical motions are independent of
each other.
Determine the trajectory of a projectile.
Determine experimentally where an object must be suspended (center of gravity)
and the conditions which it must satisfy (conditions of equilibrium) for it to be in
static equilibrium.
Apply the conditions of equilibrium in finding the mass of an object.
Measure the speed of sound.
Understand and observe interference and beats using sound waves.
Measure the beat frequency of two tuning forks.
Calculate the buoyant force in terms of weight in air and weight in water.
Calculate the density of a liquid using the definition of the buoyant force.
Calculate the density of a submerged object using buoyant force.
Identify systems undergoing simple harmonic motion.
Obtain the value of the spring constant for the spring.
Determine the dependence of the period of a simple harmonic motion on the
amount of displacement and mass of the object.
Calculate the net torque for a disk that is rotating horizontally about its center.
Calculate the net work done on a disk that is rotating horizontally about its center.
Verify conservation of energy and angular momentum for a rotating disk

Adding Vectors
Uniform Accelerated Linear Motion

Projectile Motion

Static Equilibrium

Sound

Buoyancy
Simple Harmonic Motion

Rotation

E.

Objectives

Schedule of Activities/Experiments
Due to limited number of apparatus/equipment, parallel sections cannot perform the same experiment on the same day.
Below is the list of activities/experiments according to the laboratory room:
Meeting
Room F106
Room F108
1
Orientation
Orientation
2
MUD*
MUD*
3
Measuring Devices
Graphical Analysis*
4
Graphical Analysis*
Measuring Devices
5
Addition of Vectors
UALM (Ball and Picket Fence)
6
UALM (Ball and Picket Fence)
Addition of Vectors
7
Projectile Motion
Static Equilibrium
8
Static Equilibrium
Projectile Motion
9
Buoyancy
Sound
10
Sound
Buoyancy
11
SHM
Rotation
12
Rotation
SHM
13
Make-up Experiments
Make-up Experiments
Assessment and reflection
Assessment and reflection
14
Marked by (*) are the worksheets to be submitted individually.

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F.

Worksheet Guidelines
1. Raw data, calculations and analysis must be legibly written in the worksheets. Erasures should be minimized.
2. Raw data and most calculations are checked at the end of every meeting. The Instructor can demand the group to
repeat all procedures if raw data are erroneous or largely deviates with the expected results.
3. Activities are submitted individually while worksheets are submitted by group.
4. Fabrication of experimental data/results and copying another persons worksheet (except for raw data, in the case of
group activity) is strictly prohibited. Anyone caught violating this rule shall immediately be subjected to disciplinary
actions.
5. In case of individual submission, deduction will be given if the plots are just copies of another persons plots. Each
member of the group must provide his/her own data/calculation plots in his/her worksheet.
6. Worksheets are due BEFORE the start of every activity/experiment. Worksheets submitted 15 minutes after the official
class time will be considered late. Late worksheets will receive a 50% deduction for every week late.
7. All pre-lab activities and data and worksheets must be returned to the Instructor on the day of the practical
examination. Students who will not surrender all their pre-lab activities and worksheets will be given a grade of INC.

G. Practical Examination Guidelines

1. The practical examination is a 24-item multiple-choice type of exam conducted during class hours a week before the
end of classes.
2. The practical exam consists of 8 different stations. A student is given 6 minutes to answer all questions per station.
3. Each station consists of 3 questions regarding certain activities/experiments. Each question has 4 possible choices and
can be answered by following the instructions stated in each station.
4. Instructions in each station are not limited to procedures introduced in class. It may be a modification of
activities/experiments performed in class or it may be an entirely new activity/experiment that is not performed in class
but directly applies the concepts/skills learned in class.

H.

Grading System
1. A student is given a grade of 5.0 if the accumulated absences reach THREE (20%), at least two of which are
unexcused. For the case of three absences, 2 of which are excused, the student is advised to drop the course.
2. A student who missed an activity/experiment due to valid reason(s) will be given a make-up activity/experiment only
after he/she presents a valid excuse slip/letter on the first lab meeting he/she is able to come back. There is a
scheduled date for the make-up activity/experiment.
3. A student who missed an activity/experiment and its corresponding make-up will automatically be given a grade ZERO
for that activity/experiment.
4. A student who missed an activity/experiment without valid reason(s) will automatically be given a grade of ZERO for
that activity/experiment.
5. A student who missed the practical exam due to valid reason(s) can take a make-up practical exam. If the student
missed the make-up practical exam, he/she will be given a grade of INC only if his/her class standing (assuming a zero
score in the departmental exam) is at least 4.0.
6. A grade of INC can be removed by completing the missed requirement within one academic year. A student must be
enrolled during the semester he/she completes the missed requirement. The grade of INC will be converted to a
numerical final grade upon re-calculation of the grade including the requirements completed.
7. The Instructor will only give a grade of DRP upon the students completion of the dropping module.
8. A student granted a leave of absence (LOA) would only be given a grade of either DRP or 5.0. A grade of 5.0 is given if
the LOA is granted after of the semester has lapsed and the student's standing is failing; otherwise DRP is given.
9. The student must re-take the course when a grade of 4.0 is incurred. There is NO removal exam.

I.

Student Conduct and discipline

1. Observe courtesy during class hours and exams by turning off all unnecessary electronic devices.
2. Any form of vandalism is strictly prohibited in the NIP building. A student who is found guilty shall immediately be
subjected to disciplinary actions.
3. CCTV cameras are set-up at different places inside and outside the NIP building that monitors and records any
untoward incidents 24/7.
4. Wear your IDs at all times inside the premises of NIP.

J.

Group mates Contact Information

Names

Contact Numbers

E-mail Address

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