• Laboratory techniques, including experimental method and design.
• Data analysis, including application of statistics to experimental physics.
• Numerical analysis using MS Excel and Maple or Mathematica, and an introduction to modeling in physics.

Topics are introduced through experiments, complementary lectures, and library research of some of the great experiments of physics.

Prerequisites: Mathematics 1001, Physics 1050 (or 1020 and 1021), and Physics 1051.

Note: This course assumes prior experience with the programs LoggerPro and Microsoft Excel, as used in SWGC Physics 1050 and 1051, and laboratory skills and analysis techniques acquired in SWGC Physics 1050 and 1051.  A student without this background should be prepared to work rapidly on their own to quickly attain such experience.  Basic skills may be acquired by completing the Excel tutorials located in the SWGC network public directory: 
users$ on curly:   /1000physics/1050/Excel Tutorials  (The tutorials are MS Word documents.)

Students with only P1020/1021 will not normally be recommended to register for this course, due to the significant difference in lecture and laboratory content between P1020/21 and P1050/51.

Instructor: Dr. Douglas Forbes Office: AS 376 Phone: 637-6295 E-Mail: dforbes at grenfell dot mun dot ca
Texts: An Introduction to Error Analysis (2nd Edition), John R. Taylor (This book is a classic, and incredibly useful. You will refer to it many times in the coming years, no matter what you study!) A Guide to Microsoft Excel 2007 for Scientists and Engineers, Bernard V. Liengme (Order online from Amazon or Chapters)