Physics Experiments
Over the next several weeks you will be performing two experiments in groups
of 3. It will not be possible for everyone to complete both experiments in
a single week and we will need to use the extra sessions for this.
Measuring "g"
- You will be provided with a 2 meter long measuring stick, a stopwatch
and a ball (or mass). Make sure you bring paper.
- You are to devise a protocol to measure the ball dropping down the
main Life Sciences stairwell with the goal of obtaining a measurement
of the acceleration due to gravity.
- You will have complete freedom as to the selection of heights from
which to drop the ball (make sure you have a strategy for measuring
the height accurately and note your measurement error) and how many
repetitions you will make of each trial.
- Take your measurements over the course of 30 minutes and note all of
the results.
- Make sure to keep good notes and make a copy for each member of the
group.
Radioactive Decay
- You will be provided with a Geiger counter, a stopwatch and a
laboratory bench in room 130 LS.
- You are to devise a procedure by which you will measure the process
of radioactive decay with the goal of determining the half-life of
the 137Ba nucleus.
- A sample of 137Ba will be eluted by the instructor
and placed below the geiger counter probe where you may take your
measurements.
- Take your measurements over the course of 20 minutes and note all
of the reults and specifics about your experiment.
- Make sure to keep good notes and make a copy for each member of the
group.