PHYS 401 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Class Policy
Physics 401 is a one semester course intended to give students an introduction to basic laboratory techniques in the context of classical mechanics and electromagnetism. The course consists of a one-hour lecture and a 4-hour lab-period per week.
Before you come to the lab
- Study the laboratory handout carefully. Your learning experience (and experimental success!) critically depends on being well-prepared prior to the laboratory sessions. Solid preparation is also the most efficient approach to any laboratory activity (or research problem), and will save significant amount of time in carrying out the analysis and writing laboratory reports.
- You will have one lab partner for each experiment. It is common, but not required, to rotate partners intermittently for new experiments.
- If the week's activity has a designated pre-lab component (most do not), please complete it before lab. It will be due at the beginning of your lab session.
Lab notebooks
- Keep a laboratory notebooks. Your laboratory notebook is your record of your work in the lab, and will constitute the notes you use when writing your lab report. A clear lab notebook is critical for writing a clear and complete lab report.
Lab reports
- All of your reports must be individually written. You are encouraged to share data with your partner and to discuss the lab, but the individual reports must be your own work (we will notice!).
- The laboratory report is due the midnight after your following laboratory session. It will be graded and returned to you the following week. Thus, you have one week to write a laboratory report following the last session of a given lab.
Attendance: Don't miss laboratories or lectures!
- Given the nature of this course, it is extremely difficult to usefully make up a missed lab activity. Please do your best to make it to lecture and lab!
- If you somehow miss a laboratory, consult with your laboratory instructor immediately to do the lab in another laboratory session during the same week. Laboratory setups are changed out the Friday prior to the start of a new lab -- no makeups will be allowed after that Friday.
- Late lab reports can be handed in for reduced credit (up to 10% deduction). You have two vouchers, which entitle you to turn in labs up to one week late without penalty.
- All reports except the final are due by one week later after the experiment was done.
- The lectures will provide information necessary to successfully complete the labs, as well as teaching important experimental techniques. We will also discuss applications of course material to current physics experiments and technology.
- Consult with your instructors for any problems regarding your reports, laboratory schedule, etc. You may email, call and/or drop in to resolve your problems as soon as possible.
- Excused absences follow the same criteria as in Physics 10x and 2xx. In extreme cases it may be possible to triple-up a lab group, with permission of the instructor and the lab TA.
Academic and Community Standards
Academic Integrity
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Student Code should also be considered as a part of this syllabus. Students should pay particular attention to Article 1, Part 4: Academic Integrity. Read the Code at the following URL: http://studentcode.illinois.edu/.
Academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade. Every student is expected to review and abide by the Academic Integrity Policy: https://studentcode.illinois.edu/article1/part4/1-401/. Ignorance is not an excuse for any academic dishonesty. It is your responsibility to read this policy to avoid any misunderstanding. Do not hesitate to ask the instructor(s) if you are ever in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, cheating, or any other breach of academic integrity.
Disability-Related Accommodations
To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to https://www.disability.illinois.edu. If you are concerned you have a disability-related condition that is impacting your academic progress, there are academic screening appointments available that can help diagnosis a previously undiagnosed disability. You may access these by visiting the DRES website and selecting “Request an Academic Screening” at the bottom of the page.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Any student who has suppressed their directory information pursuant to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) should self-identify to the instructor to ensure protection of the privacy of their attendance in this course. See https://registrar.illinois.edu/academic-records/ferpa/ for more information on FERPA.
Sexual Misconduct Reporting Obligation
The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the University’s Title IX Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX Office will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options.
A list of the designated University employees who, as counselors, confidential advisors, and medical professionals, do not have this reporting responsibility and can maintain confidentiality, can be found here: wecare.illinois.edu/resources/students/#confidential.
Other information about resources and reporting is available here: wecare.illinois.edu.
Anti-Racism and Inclusivity
The Grainger College of Engineering is committed to the creation of an anti-racist, inclusive community that welcomes diversity along a number of dimensions, including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity and national origins, gender and gender identity, sexuality, disability status, class, age, or religious beliefs. The College recognizes that we are learning together in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, that Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous voices and contributions have largely either been excluded from, or not recognized in, science and engineering, and that both overt racism and micro-aggressions threaten the well-being of our students and our university community.
The effectiveness of this course is dependent upon each of us to create a safe and encouraging learning environment that allows for the open exchange of ideas while also ensuring equitable opportunities and respect for all of us. Everyone is expected to help establish and maintain an environment where students, staff, and faculty can contribute without fear of personal ridicule, or intolerant or offensive language. If you witness or experience racism, discrimination, micro-aggressions, or other offensive behavior, you are encouraged to bring this to the attention of the course director if you feel comfortable. You can also report these behaviors to the Bias Assessment and Response Team (BART) (https://bart.illinois.edu/). Based on your report, BART members will follow up and reach out to students to make sure they have the support they need to be healthy and safe. If the reported behavior also violates university policy, staff in the Office for Student Conflict Resolution may respond as well and will take appropriate action.