Physics307L F08:People/Koch/Experiment steps

First lab period for experiment
If necessary: finish oral exam of previous lab
 * 1) In wiki lab notebook: prepare for experiment.  Write up a purpose, what underlying physics is used / tested, the measurements you will attempt to take, and the major equipment you will use.  You don't have to write everything (or even much at all) from scratch: linking to pre-exsiting material is great (make sure the links won't disappear, though).
 * 2) * Before starting experiment, preparatory writeup will be approved by Koch.
 * 3) * You should have a clear idea of what you want to accomplish
 * 4) Perform experiments
 * 5) * Take diligent notes of everything! (use ~ to time and date stamp everything)
 * 6) * Revisions to original plan are fine -- add them as new notes (make sure to add your signature)
 * 7) * Perform cursory analysis of data to see if you have all you need

Home work

 * 1) Begin to analyze data carefully (record all your steps and results!)
 * 2) * Attempt to obtain "final" results (with error bars)!
 * 3) * Make note of problems and what data needs to be retaken or what further data needs to be obtained.
 * 4) Make note of further bonus experiments you think of

Second lab period for experiment

 * 1) Repeat experiments as necessary, perform new experiments
 * 2) Finish careful data analysis
 * 3) * Make note of final results, with error bars.
 * 4) Summarize experiment
 * 5) * What physics was tested, and when was this experiment first attempted (links to wikipedia or elsewhere are great)?
 * 6) * What instrumentation was used?
 * 7) * What are the final best measurements, with error bars?
 * 8) ** How good are the data? How does it compare to the expected answer?
 * 9) ** What do you know could be improved (with or without money)
 * 10) ** How sure are you of your measurements? (qualitatively and quantitatively)
 * 11) * What was the biggest challenge?
 * 12) * What would you recommend for the next student?
 * 13) Oral defense of lab notebook and final summary