Physics basics laboratory
(Kopie 2)
In theFundamentals of Physics laboratory , students carry out independent experiments on various physics topics.
They investigate a wide range of physical phenomena from the fields of mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and optics.
While working together in the laboratory, they also learn the basic methods of scientific work.
As a team , the students coordinate the various tasks in small groups.
This includes the planning and execution of the experimental work steps, the targeted use of various measuring equipment and electronics for the recording and digitalisation of measurement data and subsequently the documentation and evaluation of the results.
In this way, the laboratory provides students with a practice-orientated approach to physics and lays the technical and methodological foundations for further engineering training.
Measurement data - analogue and digital
(Kopie 4)
Students use a wide variety of methods to record measurement data and control experiments.
In addition to simple analogue measuring equipment such as calipers and stopwatches, they use high-resolution digital measurement technology with interfaces to the laboratory PC.
This facilitates the digitalisation and processing of measurement data and promotes the use of modern laboratory technology.
Modern programming languages and web-based development environments
(Kopie 6)
Programming skills and data processing are an important component of engineering training.
The Spyder interpreter and the web-based interactive development environment JupyterLab are available in the laboratory for this purpose.
Processing their own physical measurement data provides students with a simple and motivating introduction to using the Python programming language
For example, students analyse their measurement data using curve fitting and make predictions about the physical systems under investigation, taking measurement errors into account.
Learning by doing - the proof of the pudding is in the eating
(Kopie 8)
Pohl's wheel is a good example for investigating vibration and resonance phenomena. Even without knowing the laws of physics in detail, it is well suited for simply trying things out. The influence of various parameters on the torsional vibration is shown by the measurement data of the vibration states, which can be recorded continuously or discretely, allowing students to decide for themselves which parameter ranges are required for a particular behaviour and which recording and evaluation methods represent these well. The laboratory engineer is of course happy to provide help and advice in dealing with the wide range of possibilities! This makes it easy to analyse and determine the system-relevant parameters at the end.
Optics - with perspective
(Kopie 9)
Optics and the often related field of laser technology are areas in which fascinating physical principles are constantly enabling technological progress.
This makes it all the more important for students to explore the fundamental laws for themselves.
In geometrical optics, everything revolves around lenses, distances and optical images. Students experiment with converging and diverging lenses and learn about their imaging properties and the associated mathematical equations. In this way, the intellectual context is formed to better understand everyday optical experiences and to solve specific problems as well as further questions.
Stay curious and question your subject!
(Kopie 11)
The famous physicist and Nobel Prize winner Richard Feyman once described the process of how we can gain knowledge about nature and the useful computability based on it as follows:
In principle, we look for new physical laws in the following way: first we guess them. then we calculate the consequences of our guess to see what would follow if our guessed law were correct. then we compare the result of this calculation, with nature, with experiment or experience, comparing it directly with observation, to see if it works.
If it does not agree with the experiment, it is wrong.
This simple sentence is the key to science. It doesn't matter how beautiful the idea is. It doesn't matter how clever you are, who came up with the idea or what their name is - if it doesn't match the experiment, it's wrong.
Translated from:
"The Caracter of Physical Law", Richard Feynman