Physical quantities. Unit of measurements. Dimensional analysis.
Measurement uncertainty. Significant digits. Characteristics of measuring instruments.
Statistical uncertainties. Systematic uncertainties.
Comparison of measurements. Propagation of uncertainty. Graphical representation of data.
Laboratory:
1. Ohm's law.
2. Attenuation coefficient (Lambert-Beer) of a mixture of water and milk.
3. Focal length of a converging lens.
4. Density of liquids by pycnometer.
J.R.Taylor: An introduction to Error Analysis.
Ed.: University Science Books
Course Handouts
Learning Objectives - Last names M-Z
Knowledge.
Concept of measurement of a physical quantity and its uncertainty.
Significant digits. Dimensional analysis.
Statistical uncertainties. Mean, standard deviation, standard deviation of the mean.
Systematic uncertainties. Propagation of uncertainty.
Skills.
Know how to assess the correctness of a relation between physical quantities using the dimensional analysis.
Know how to take simple measurements of physical quantities by analogical and digital instruments.
Know how to use measurement equipments of general use like multimeters, current and voltage sources, etc.
Know how to graphically represent experimental data.
Know how to extract trends between measured physical quantities, verifying simple physical laws.
Know how to draw up a laboratory report.
Know how to use a scientific calculator or a computer for data analysis.
Competence.
Conduct simple experiments, assessing the possible uncertainty sources and the reliability of the measurements.
Prerequisites - Last names M-Z
The requirements for the course can be found in the Mathematics and Physics courses.
In particular it is recommended to review the following topics:
1. Percentage. Simple algebraic calculations. First and second degree algebraic equations.
2. Perimeters, aree and volumes of the most common plane and solid figures.
3. Real function of real variable: polynomials, logarithms, exponentials
4. Derivative of functions (review all the most common derivative rules)
5. Conversion between unit of measurements (example: how many cubic centimeters correspond to a liter?)
6. Ohm's law, what is the resistance?
7. Mass density.
Teaching Methods - Last names M-Z
This course comprises a series of Frontal Lessons 3 hours each, for a total of 15 hours, given in an arc of time of about one week.
During the lessons the lecture slides are projected and commented (they are available on the Moodle page of the course).
At the end of every topic, the teacher or the students solve exercises similar to those that will be found in the written examination.
There is also a Discussion with the students in order to have possible difficulties found during the explanation of that topic.
The Laboratory consists in carrying out 4 experiences, each of which must be finished within 3 hours. The experiences are scheduled roughly one every 3 days.
The experiments are carried out in groups of 3 people. During the Laboratory hours the students are supervised by the teachers and some specific laboratory assistants.
At the end of the four experiences, the students have 2 additional weeks to prepare and hand in a notebook with the reports of the 4 experiences.
The notebook must be prepared for each group, not for each student.
Summary of the hours.
CFU: 3
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 75
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 39
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 16
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 0
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 20
Seminars (hours): 0
Stages (hours): 0
Intermediate examinations (hours): 0
Further information - Last names M-Z
The attendance of the laboratory experiments is mandatory.
Office hours: by appointment from Monday to Friday
Type of Assessment - Last names M-Z
Laboratory report.
Final written examination.
Course program - Last names M-Z
Measurement of physical quantities. Units of measurements. The Internations System of Units. Dimensional analysis.
Significant digits. Measurement uncertainty. Numerical representation of measurement.
Relative uncertainty. Instrumental uncertainty. Main characteristics of a measuring instrument.
Statistical uncertainties. Mean, standard deviation, standard deviation of the mean. Brief introduction to systematic uncertainties.
Comparison between measurements. Propagation of uncertainty. Formula for the maximum propagation of uncertainties.
Graphical representation of experimental data. Graphs in non-linear scales.
Ohm's law and multimeter. Pycnometer. Geometrical optics, thin lenses. Lambert-Beer law.
In the laboratory four simple experiments will be conducted:
1. Verification of Ohm's law
2. Measurement of the density of a few liquids by a pycnometer
3. Measurement of the attenuation coefficient (Lambert-Beer law) of a mixture of milk and water and its relation with the fat content
4. Measurement of the focal length of a converging lens