Lab Course - Core (PHY-108.5)

Venue: Online

Class timings: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2:30-3:30 pm

First meeting:  20th Wednesday 2021 2:00-3:00 pm and 22 Friday 2021 4:00-5:00 pm

Course goals: Due to the current pandemic, the version of the experimental methods course offered will differ from the traditional one. In this course you will be introduced to several different areas of physics where experimental data play a key role. In particular you will be exposed to datasets as gathered by experimentalists working in the lab and from observation studies. You will learn how to do simple analysis & visualisation, investigate the nature and sources of systematic and random errors, and verify theoretical predictions against experimental data.

Course structure and evaluation: The course is split into three modules: Atmospheric science, Active matter and Astrophysics. Each module will be between 2 weeks to 4 weeks long. In each module you will be introduced to some experimental methods and datasets related to that particular sub-field in physics. All modules will focus on the comparisons of theory and experiment introducing the student to subtle issues of validating a model from data. At the end of each module, students will submit a written report based on their findings. Class participation is crucial. Discussions form an essential part of science and class participation will be part of the final grade. Note: the course involves data analysis and thus a significant part of the course will involve programming in a language (most likely Python). Though prior experience with programming is not necessary, it will certainly be beneficial.

Topics:

Atmospheric science: Dispersive waves, Fourier series and the FFT. Waves in atmosphere and ocean as seen in temperature, pressure, clouds and other similar datasets. Precipitation. 

Active matter: Brownian motion and detection of such motion experimentally. Active matter and deviation from Brownian motion. 

Astrophysics: TBA.

Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on the following basis

(i) (60%=3×20%) Written report for each module

(ii) (30%) Homework assignments

(iii) (10%) Class participation

Class timings:

The course will begin with the atmospheric science module and classes will be held twice a week on tue/thur at 3:30-4:30pm. Note the timings for the remaining modules may change and you will need to check with your instructors!