1
Regulations in the General Physics Laboratory
I. Course organization
1. Students perform experiments in two-person groups under supervision of an academic teacher (called further a supervisor ) from the Institute of Physics. In particular cases three- person groups may be allowed.
2. A Leader of all the Laboratory groups supervises a course of the whole course. The Leader is appointed either by a lecturer coordinating physics classes for particular faculty or the Deputy Director for Studies of the Institute of Physics.
3. A student performs experiments according to the Program of Classes set by the academic teacher.
4. Presence during classes is compulsory.
5. During classes a student is obliged to possess his/her own folder, the so called portfolio, in which all the files confirming his/her activity would be collected. The files include:
a. graded laboratory reports , b. tests (if there would be any),
c. a final test which confirms the student’s skills and knowledge in the field of uncertainty evaluation and analysis & presentation of experimental results.
In the portfolio may also be collected: notes from lectures, consultations, student’s own notes related to physics courses or the GPL classes, emails exchanged with academic teachers or other files if ordered by a supervisor.
II. Course of classes
6. Classes lasts:
a. 90 minutes – for 15 and 30 hour courses b. 135 minutes – for 45 hour course
7. A student is obliged to come to classes prepared. Preparation includes knowledge of:
a. physical laws and phenomena related to the subject of conducted experiment, b. experimental techniques applied,
c. evaluation of uncertainties of physical quantities obtained experimentally .
8. The supervisor checks level of a student’s preparation. If it is insufficient the supervisor may not allow the student to perform experimental work on his/hers own. The student, who was not allowed to run the experiment independently, may stay in the Laboratory and participate in taking measurement with another group member . However, he/she is not permitted to present neither a class report or protocol.
9. A student, who did not comply with the prerequisites is obliged to take the missing classes once again. The student will repeat either exactly the same experiment or another one during the so called improvement classes. A schedule for the improvement classes and its organization will be set by the Leader in the second part of a semester.
10. Prior to measurements a student is obliged to check if the experimental setup is in accordance with a list of equipment included in a working instruction . In case of any apparatus missing the student should notify the supervisor immediately. For small experimental equipment (weights,
2 stopwatches, thermometers, calipers etc.), if not present on a lab bench, the student should request the supervisor.
11. It is forbidden to mix the lab equipment or electrical wires with other students groups.
12. Without the supervisor’s agreement or in case of not having his/her portfolio a student is not allowed to start the experimental work. Particularly, it is forbidden for the student to switch the measurement setup if it was not previously checked by the supervisor. If during the experiment incorrect performance or defect of the equipment is stated it should be reported to the academic teacher.
13. During classes students are allowed to ask their supervisor questions related to the experimental procedures, details concerning reading values from the equipment used. Students may also request the teacher for verification of their measurements/readings.
14. A student is financially responsible for all damage caused.
15. After finishing measurements a student is obliged to:
a. present the supervisor with a protocol containing experimental results, b. turn the power supplies off
c. return all the small experimental equipment to the supervisor, d. leave the lab bench clean, with the setup neatly organized.
16. A group of students is financially responsible for any equipment missing from their work place, if a lack of apparatus would be stated by the supervisor.
III. A class and the whole course requirements 17. Every class is graded separately.
18. Participation in next classes does not depend on student’s previous accomplishments.
19. During classes every student prepares a protocol, including experimental results collected. The supervisor must be presented with the protocol to approve it. The approval denotes passing the experimental part of a class. A report should be prepared only on basis of data included in the protocol.
20. A class is passed if a student performs all the obligatory measurements and prepares a report based on the results included in a protocol which must be approved by the student’s supervisor.
21. A report should include:
a. short theoretical introduction,
b. experimental results ; the results should be presented in tables if it would be possible.
In some cases graphical presentation of data would be expected.
c. sample calculations of estimated physical quantities, d. final results,
e. uncertainty analysis for directly measured quantities and quantities calculated by means of data obtained from measurements,
f. conclusions.
The report may be handwritten ( if only it would be readable) or printed (if it was prepared by means of any text editor, graphic software, etc.). Details concerning the report preparation would be given by the supervisor.
3 22. A student must present his/hers report ,with the protocol attached, during the next classes.
The student is obliged to be able to answer any questions of the supervisor concerning details of the report.
23. If a report includes some mistakes it will be returned to a student to be improved. In such a case the student should be informed which parts of the report are incorrect and need to be corrected. The student must present the supervisor with the improved report during the next classes. Improvement of the report may take points off the final grade.
24. The necessary condition for a student to complete every class is to present the supervisor with a properly prepared report. Deadline for the report delivery is set by the supervisor.
25. Reports graded as well as reports returned to be corrected must be collected by a student in the portfolio.
26. If a report is not delivered before the deadline a student will not receive a credit for a class.
In such a case the student must repeat the experimental work during improvement classes (c.f. point 33).
27. As a report will be also treated a filled form proposed by the Institute of Physics, which may be download from the GPL website.
28. total score for each class is influenced by partial marks obtained by a student for level of his/hers theoretical preparation and a report grade.
29. A student who disagrees with the final course grade may complain to : a Leader of laboratory groups, the Leader of the GPL or a lecturer. Grade given by the lecturer is final.
30. A student may not pass the whole course if his/her report is not prepared on their own or is a plagiarism (whole text or parts of the report copied from the Internet, the report copied from another student/group of students, the student is unable to answer questions concerning the report, etc.). If the student disagrees with the decision of the supervisor he/she can make a complaint. Details of the complaint procedure are given at the point 29.
31. In order to pass the course students must:
a. pass all the classes included in the Program of Classes;
b. pass the test on uncertainty calculations and experimental data analysis; the test will take place during the GPL classes; the test date will be given at least 7 days before.
32. Final course grade is influenced by scores obtained by a student for each class, the final test or the quality of files collected in the student’s portfolio. Positive result is achieved when the test mark as well as all classes grades are positive. The student’s supervisor may verify quality of files included in the student’s portfolio. If the files reflect the student’s activity and involvement in the course better mark can be given.
IV. Absence during classes 33. It is permitted to be absent at :
two classes in case of 30 or 45 hour course,
one class in case of 15 hour course.
Classes uncredited because of absence must be taken once again .
34. A student who exceeded the limit of absences due to some important random incident or is able to present proves of a long-term illness may be given a permission to take once again larger number of classes then mentioned above.
4 35. A student who exceeded the limit of absences mentioned above, but did not receive a permission for taking the classes once again, may still participate the course. However, the student will not receive a positive final grade.
36. The form and the date of classes repetition is established by the GPL Leader in agreement with the Deputy Director for Studies of the Institute of Physics.
V. Final statements
37. If asked a student must present his/hers ID, student card, record book or portfolio with the student’s name and surname on it. In case of refusal the student ca not be allowed to participate in a class.
38. Students must leave their overcoats in a cloakroom. Eating and drinking is forbidden in the GPL.
39. A student who exhibits symptoms of intoxication will be removed from the Lab.
40. Deputy Director for Studies of the Institute of Physics is entitled to interpret Regulations in the General Physics Laboratory.
