About this course

The course provides a practical and theoretical introduction to experimental methods in physics. Students work with fundamental laboratory experiments and gain experience with the entire process from data collection to scientific communication. Key topics include scientific report writing, error analysis of physical measurements, and the statistical framework used to assess and interpret experimental results.

Teaching activities include lectures, problem-solving sessions, group work, laboratory exercises, report writing, and oral presentations.

Learning outcome

To be able to evaluate the results of measurements and measurement uncertainties.

To be able to perform error analysis.

To be able to give a structured presentation of measurement results.

To be able to make a written report.

To be able to present lab results orally.

  • Learning activities

    The course consists of the following mandatory activities:

    LECTURES where central ideas, theory and examples are covered.

    EXERCISES that illustrate use and understanding of central concepts.

    LABORATORY WORK where the student gains skills in the use of scientific equipment and in planning and conducting an experiment.

    REPORT WRITING where the student produces written reports with a clear presentation of the measurement results and measurement uncertainties. Oral presentation where the students learn to present results orally by giving a presentation of one lab exercise.

  • Teaching support

    Canvas will be used actively. Tutors are accessible during lab work and tutorials.

  • Syllabus

    Taylor: An Introduction to Error Analysis and other material.

  • Prerequisites

    FYS101, FYS102, MATH111/MATH121, MATH112/MATH122, MATH113/MATH123, STAT100 or DAT110

  • Recommended prerequisites

    INF120

  • Assessment method

    • The midterm exam must be passed. It will be possible to take the midterm exam once again if one has a valid absence or does not pass at the first opportunity. If the student does not pass the exam (on one of the two possibilities) the student will not pass the course.
    • All lab reports must be approved. Only one lab report can be submitted again, if it was assessed as failed. If two or more lab reports are not approved then the course must be retaken. The presentation must be approved to get the course approved.
    • The course has only combined assessment, no final examination.


    Midterm exam Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed Hjelpemiddelkode: A1 No calculator, no other aids Midterm exam - 2. attempt Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed Hjelpemiddelkode: A1 No calculator, no other aids Presentation Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed Lab reports Karakterregel: Passed / Not Passed Hjelpemiddelkode: C1 All types of calculators, other aids as specified

  • About use of AI

    Written mid-term exam: K1- No use of AI

    Mandatory hand-ins/reports: K2 - Specified use of AI

    In student activities, AI can be used for brainstorming, language editing, and programming support. The use of AI must be accompanied by a brief explanation of which programs were used and how they were applied. Students are responsible for the final content of the text and must be able to explain how their analysis programs work

    All use of AI must comply with the guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) at NMBU.

    Descriptions of AI-category codes.

  • Examiner scheme

    The examiner and the course responsible jointly prepare the exam questions and the correction manual.

  • Mandatory activity

    Lectures, lab work, group work, exercises and the presentation are mandatory. All lab reports must be handed in and approved. The midterm exam must be passed.

    If a lab report is not approved, then the laboratory work must be repeated the year after and a new report must be delivered. The midterm exam and the presentation must also be repeated the year after. If only the midterm exam is not approved, then only the exam must be repeated.

  • Teaching hours

    Lectures: ca. 12 hours. Exercises: ca. 12 hours. Laboratory work: ca. 26 hours.

  • Preferential right

    Ranking:

    1. students who have the course as mandatory in their study plan

    2. students on the following study programmes: B-EMF, M-LUN, M-MF, M-BA, M-GEOM, M-IØ, M-MPP, M-VM, B-GEOM

    3. students with most ECTS credits

    It there are not enough slots in group one the students will be ranked by their ECTS credits.

    Students taking the course for the first time have lab priority.

  • Admission requirements

    Special requirements in Science