Students of science, and particularly physics, must be a skilled observer and an experimentalist. PHE-03(L) is the first laboratory course in physics. This course should enable students to
(a) gain experience in the scientific method viz, taking unbiased observation, interpreting and analysing data and deriving conclusions
(b) acquire basic skills in using different measuring instruments
(c) learn some standard techniques for the measurements of various physical quantities.

To achieve these objectives preset and open-ended experiments have been designed for this course. These experiments pertain to oscillations, waves and mechanical and electrical properties of materials.

As students work through this course, they will realise that a lot of good physics can be learnt through simple experimental arrangements.

Block 1: Some Experiments on Oscillations and Waves:
1. Introduction to laboratory I: Measurement
2. Introduction to laboratory I: Error analysis

Experiments:
1. To investigate the dependence of the period of a pendulum on length, amplitude and mass
2. Oscillations of a spring-mass system and a torsional pendulum
3. A study of energy and momentum conservation principles
4. A study of coupled oscillations
5. Relation between wavelength and frequency of stationary waves

Block 2: Some Experiments on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Materials:
6. Young's modulus for a material by bending of beams
7. Measurement of low resistance using Carey Foster's bridge
8. Variation of thermo-E.M.F. with temperature
9. Frequency response of ac series circuits
10. Zener diode characteristics and zener as a voltage regulator
11. A study of transistor characteristics.

Assessment is by continuous evaluation during the conduct of the laboratory course (70%) and a final examination on the last day of the laboratory work (30%).

Programmes for which this course is required or in which it can be included:
Bachelor of Science.