Offered to students admitted to Year 1 in ALL
Major/Minor ALL
Course Type
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y N
Course Code PHYS3760
Date2023/09/24 21:13
Enquiry for Course Details
PHYS3760 Physics laboratory (6 credits) Academic Year 2023
Offering Department Physics Quota 16
Course Co-ordinator Dr T T Luu, Physics < ttluu@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr T T Luu,Physics)
Course Objectives This course trains students with experimental knowledge and skills, as well as the understanding on how to prove physics principles with measurements.  The focus is on advanced lab skills and techniques, including data acquisition, and data analysis by computers rather than verification of known physical theories.  It is one of the core electives for physics major and a required course for the experimental physics theme.  Upon completion, interested students may apply the techniques learnt here in experiment-oriented capstone courses.
Course Contents & Topics This course equips students with the necessary experimental techniques commonly used in advanced university level physics experiments drawn from classical mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics.  After introducing the basics in a few lectures, students have to work all the way from experimental setup, data acquisition to data analysis, possibly with the aid of a computer, either in a small group or an individual.  In addition to eight labs, they also have to conduct a small experimental project and present their result orally.  Contents of the experiments and small projects may vary from year to year.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 acquire advanced physics experimental techniques
CLO 2 design and conduct experiments to verify the physics principle(s) commonly used in advanced university-level physics courses
CLO 3 apply analytical methods required to interpret and analyze results, and draw conclusions from the data
CLO 4 make use of effective written and verbal communication skills through written laboratory reports and oral presentation
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in any two of the following courses: PHYS3350, PHYS3351, PHYS3450, PHYS3550
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2023 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2020 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2020 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2019 Major in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
2019 Major in Physics (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2019 Minor in Physics ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2023 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2023 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2022 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2021 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2020 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2020 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2019 Major in Physics < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
2019 Major in Physics (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3,4 >
Offer in 2023 - 2024 Y        2nd sem    Examination No Exam     
Offer in 2024 - 2025 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough mastery at an advanced level of extensive knowledge and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought, and ability to apply knowledge to a wide range of complex, familiar and unfamiliar situations. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply highly effective lab skills and techniques. Critical use of data and results to draw appropriate and insightful conclusions.
B Demonstrate substantial command of a broad range of knowledge and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to familiar and some unfamiliar situations. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply effective lab skills and techniques. Correct use of data of results to draw appropriate conclusions.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete command of knowledge and skills required for attaining most of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, and ability to apply knowledge to most familiar situations. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply moderately effective lab skills and techniques. Mostly correct but some erroneous use of data and results to draw appropriate conclusions.
D Demonstrate partial but limited command of knowledge and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Show evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Show limited ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills. Apply partially effective lab skills and techniques. Limited ability to use data and results to draw appropriate conclusions.
Fail Demonstrate little or no evidence of command of knowledge and skills required for attaining the course learning outcomes. Lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Show very little or no ability to apply knowledge to solve problems. Organization and presentational skills are minimally effective or ineffective. Apply minimally effective or ineffective lab skills and techniques. Misuse of data and results and/or unable to draw appropriate conclusions.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture with laboratory component course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Laboratory 8 standard labs and 1 project 28
Lectures Working principle of equipment, Experimental Skills, Data analysis, Writing skills 8
Project work Presentation and preparation 20
Reading / Self study 64
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Laboratory reports 8 lab reports 70 CLO 1,2,3,4
Presentation 1 oral presentation 15 CLO 2,3
Project report 1 full project report 15 CLO 1,2,3,4
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Lab manuals provided by Course Coordinator
L. Lyons, A Practical Guide to Data Analysis for Physical Science Students, CUP (1991)
P. Horowitz and W. Hill, The Art of Electronics, CUP (1989)
Python tutorial at https://www.python.org/about/gettingstarted/
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk
Additional Course Information NIL
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