PHYS 380 - Advanced Laboratory I: Electronics

Units: 3
An intensive laboratory course in basic design, analysis, and modeling of circuits, experimental techniques and control, data acquisition and analysis. Topics of study include: linear circuits, diodes, transistors, Op-Amps, Labview/Python programming, ADC and DAC converters, signal processing, and feedback control. Discussion Units: 1; Lab Units: 2.

Strongly Recommended Preparation: PHYS 230.
Prerequisites: MATH 230, and PHYS 137 or PHYS 126.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Course Typically Offered: Spring ONLY

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Modeling : students will be able to (a) quantitatively model the physical system under investigation; (b) model the measurement system and understand issues associated with precision and accuracy of the equipment; (c) use appropriate statistical analysis methods to quantitatively compare experimental results to the physical model.
Design : students will be able to design, construct, and troubleshoot experimental apparatuses.
Communication : students will be able to (a) effectively argue in favor of their conclusions from their experimentation, calculations, and analysis using appropriate methods of discourse adopted by the professional physics community; (b) keep a clear and comprehensive record of their experimental work in a laboratory notebook.
Technical skills : students will be able to (a) use basic test and measurement equipment (such as multimeters and oscilloscopes); (b) design, construct, and test electronic circuits using resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, and Op-Amps; (c) write basic Labview/Python programs and use ADC and DAC converters for signal processing and feedback control in experiments