Physics 212
Physics for Scientists and Engineers II
Project Information and Resources

During the last month of this course, you will be required to work with two or three other classmates to complete a course project on a topic covered in the course. One requirement is that this project have both an experimental and theoretical aspect to it. The goal of the project is to help you consolidate or extend your understanding of an introductory physics topic of interest to you to learn more about the process of doing collaborative research in physics.

Each formal report must be word processed with data and graphs included in appropriate places in the main body of the text rather than tacked on at the end. Each project report will be graded and returned for revision. After it is revised by you, it will be resubmitted and the instructor will assign a second grade to it.

As you write your reports, imagine that the audience consists of fellow students in your class who have not seen the apparatus or done the project you have undertaken. Would such a reader be able to understand what you did? Would that reader know how you did it and what the significance of your results is?

One final word of advice. Working on your projects is your responsibility. Due to the independent nature of the work, there is a tendency for students to put off the project until the deadline for completion nears. Because there are usually unforeseen problems when attempting any scientific experiment, you are urged to begin your projects early. One of the skills we hope you learn is how to deal effectively with unforeseen (and sometimes difficult) problems.

These files are all in Portable Document Format (.pdf), so you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.

Mini lessons (from Dr. Julia Kamenetzky)

Some guidance for writing your project. Sample Reports

These sample projects are from previous Phys 212 students, and are presented as is (warts and all, including any erroneous statements or questionable analysis techniques) as an example of what other first semester introductory physics students have done with open-ended projects. This sample project is from Dickinson College, and is presented as is (warts and all, including any erroneous statements or questionable analysis techniques) as an example of what second semester introductory physics students from other colleges have done with open-ended projects. A more polished report from the Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics.