Course Information

Course Information

In this web page we provide the syllabus of the course Physics Laboratory I - Mechanics & Thermodynamics, offered by the Department of Physics.

The list of the courses offered during the current accademic year is available here. 

The list of all courses offered by the Department of Physics is available here.

Code Φ-108
Title Physics Laboratory I - Mechanics & Thermodynamics
Category A
ECTS 7
Hours 3
Level Undergraduate
Semester Spring
Teacher V. Vassilakis
Program

Section Α: Tuesday, 15:00-18:00
 
Course Webpage https://eclass.physics.uoc.gr/courses/PH108/
Goal of the Course

The course is addressed to first year undergraduate students who already have a background in General Physics. It is an introduction to the process of experimental measurements, and the basic methods of analysis of experimental data. Through the experimental exercises the students have the opportunity to verify physical laws that they have been taught in the context of General Physics, and make measurements of basic physical quantities. The presence in the laboratory is compulsory.
Syllabus

Part A. Introduction to Error Theory and Data Analysis. 
Physical measurements and errors – Significant digits – Basic concepts of Statistics (mean value, standard deviation of the mean – Normal distribution) – Methods of calculation of errors – Graphs - Introduction to the Least Square method

Part B. Laboratory exercises
1. Simple measurements and errors
2. Simple harmonic motion a) simple pendulum b) natural pendulum
3. Study of free fall – measurement of the acceleration of gravity
4. Study of simple circular motion – centripetal force
5. Study of the rotation of solid bodies – moment of inertia
6. Study of the 1st and 2nd Law of Newton on the air-track
7. Study of harmonic motion and oscillations on the air-track
8. Electrical Equivalent of heat and thermal conductivity of metals
9. Calorimetry. Measurement of special heat of solids – latent heat – calibration of thermocouple
10. Measurement of the viscosity of fluids.
Bibliography

Laboratory exercises in Physics: Mechanics and Heat, A. Zezas, University of Crete, Herakleion, 2013
Physics for Scientists and engineers, R. Serway 
Physics, D. Haliday & R. Resnick
Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the physical sciences, P.R. Bevington & D.K. Robinson
Probabilities and Statistics, M. R. Spiegel, Schaum’s Outline Series