Introduction to Physics Laboratory and Basic Physics Experiment

Abstract

This textbook has been prepared in accordance with the contents of the Physics Laboratory I and Physics Laboratory II courses given to first year bachelor students at Hacettepe University Faculty of Engineering Physics Engineering Department in the Fall and Spring semesters. The textbook also includes the experiments in the scope of the General Physics Laboratory course given by our Department to the first year bachelor students at Hacettepe University Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science. This textbook consists of three parts. In part I, topics including the objectives of physics laboratory, measurement, experiment report, experimental error (uncertainty), accuracy and precision, statistical analysis of random errors, propagation of random errors, significant figures and rounding off, drawing graph and graphical analysis, method of least squares and simple linear regression are introduced briefly and explained with examples. Finally, a simple example is presented for the analysis of experimental data. Parts II and III of the textbook contain experiment guides. The aim of the experiment guides is to enable students who are well prepared for the experiment use their time more efficiently while doing the experiment in the laboratory, and help them in writing the experiment report. Each experiment guide includes essential theoretical information about the physics law/phenomenon/ quantity studied in the experiment and detailed instructions on the experimental setup, procedures of the experiment, acquisition and analysis of the experimental data.