Laboratories

Lab work is very important during your time with us, in fact, if you don't pass the lab modules in year 1 you will fail the year!

You will attend one laboratory session per week. In the first half of Autumn semester, the lab sessions last for three hours and cover basic laboratory equipment and techniques, plus an introduction to scientific computing. In the second half of Autumn semester, students doing PHY113 progress to more advanced experiments: these consist of a 1-hour preparatory session during which you can familiarise yourself with the experiment and ensure that you understand the relevant theory, followed by a 3-hour lab session in which you carry out the experiment. Some of these sessions will be held in the computer laboratory and will focus on developing necessary computer skills, but most will be practical sessions in the Physics Laboratory. This programme continues into PHY114 in the Spring semester.

Please note that lack of attendance due to medical or other genuine excuses will not be penalised. However, you must supply a documented explanation for your absence via a special circumstances form as soon as possible (do not wait until week 12 to claim that you missed your week 3 problems class because of a severe cold!).

To assess attendance, a register will be circulated at all problems classes, tutorials and laboratory sessions. It is your responsibility to ensure that you sign the register: if it does not reach you, wait until the end of the class and ask the academic leading the session. If a tutor or problems class leader forgets to circulate the register, remind him/her.