Professor Jon Marangos, Head of Lab Dr Mark Richards, Deputy Head of Lab and Head of 3 rd Year Mr Geoff Green, Senior Technician Mr Graham Axtell, Senior

• Professor Jon Marangos, Head of Lab

• Dr Mark Richards, Deputy Head of Lab and Head of 3rd Year

• Mr Geoff Green, Senior Technician

• Mr Graham Axtell, Senior Administrator

• Professor Mark Neil, Microprocessor Course

3rd Year U/G Laboratory, Projectsand Microprocessor Course

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Agenda

1. 3YL Introduction: Jon Marangos2. Safety: Jon Marangos3. Projects: Mark Richards4. The Lab Team: Geoff Green5. Microprocessors: Mark Neil6. Any questions?

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What is 3YL for ?

• Third year lab is designed to teach you more advanced skills in practical physics. You will work on difficult, less well structured physical problems, with limited guidance.

• The idea is that we are setting out to train you as professional physicists, and so we try to instil the necessary qualities, of independence, accuracy, recording your work, care, attention to safety.

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Procedures: Lab Structure.

-Standard Experiments (3 taken in one term for a total ½ course unit)

- Many one-term Projects (½ course unit), covering a broad range of physics.

- A short course and experimental work (worth 2 experiments: can be extended) on Microprocessors

{A half unit typically = 3 short experiments; a full unit = 3 short experiments + 1 long project}

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Procedures: What Lab Options Must You Take ?

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- BSc Year 3: ½ unit of lab (term 1 or term 2) + ½ unit project* in the other term + 4 options.

- BSc Theory Year 3: Advanced Classical Physics (ACP: replaces Lab) + ½ unit project in the other term + 4 options.

- BSc Physics with Music Year 3: 1 term project only (term 1 or 2)

- MSci Year 3, and MSci Year in Europe Year 4: ½ unit of lab, in either term 1 or term 2 (No project) + 5 options

- MSci Theory Year 3: ACP (replaces Lab) + 5 options

- Occasional Students: Projects or short experiments as required by your home institute. You may do 1-term or 2-term projects as required. Plenty of flexibility.

* The option also exists for an essay style project

Experiment Groups• A/ "Astronomical image processing" & "Radiation laws" -

Jing Zhang• B/ "Waves on strings", "X-ray Diffraction" & "Laser

spectroscopy" – Tim Sumner• C/ "Hall effect" & "Photoelectric Effect" – Alex Tapper• D/ "p-n junction" & "Boltzmanns constant by bi-polar p-n

junction" – Sergei Popov• E/ "Compton effect" & "Waveguide experiment" - Mark

Richards• F/ "Solar radiation" & "Wind turbulence" - Oliver

Buchmuller• G/ Microprocessor Course – Mark Neil

All experiments are pre-allocated based upon your preference submissions

• You have already got a lab partner and have filled in your experiment preferences form (If not you had better get moving!)

• Your pre-assigned experiments have been notified to you earlier this week, they are also on the noticeboard at the lab office

• You start your first experiment tomorrow morning if you are doing lab this term

• We believe this has been a very fair process that uses “student happiness optimizer” software

• A student happiness coefficient of nearly 100% has been achieved – this means you are all very happy

• We do not expect to change these allocations except under exceptional circumstances that can only be approved by the Head of Lab

- Lab hours: Monday 10-12 Monday 2-5 Thursday 2-4 Friday 9-12

10 hours per week

- Students can work out of these periods, but ONLY during normal college hours (9-5) and if there is a demonstrator or technician present in the lab at the same time who is made aware that you are there.

- Reports: full details on the web pages. 1st and 2nd marking. Forms and cover sheets available on web.

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Procedures: Lab Hours and Reports

Laboratory Attendance Register

• The Laboratory Attendance Register MUST be filled in for each session

• Essential for Safety reasons and to be compliant with UKBA regulations

• Register located at entrance to Lab on Level 4 Blackett

2. Experiment cycles for this term• 1st cycle: Sign on experiment Fri Oct 10th, complete by

Thursday October 30th, report due Monday November 10th.[1st marking should be complete by November 17th with

feedback made to student in the 1st half of that week] • 2nd cycle: Sign on Thurs 6th November expected to complete

by Thurs 27th November, report due Monday 8th December.[1st marking complete by Monday 15th December, with

feedback that week] • 3rd cycle: Sign on to next experiment on Monday 1st

December, expected to complete by Friday 19th December, report due 1st Monday of 2nd term.

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Reports

- No joint reports.- Aim for 2000-3000 words.- Maximum length 3000 words (6000 for projects).- Over-length reports will be penalised.- Any plagiarism will be dealt with severely.- Make sure you have treated errors properly – there will be a talk on

errors in week 4. - There are extensive guidelines on report writing, plagiarism etc on

line. Failing to read them will lose you marks. - Talk on report Writing, also in week 4.

Report Hand in and Feedback• Hand in by deadline is ESSENTIAL, a ZERO mark will be given for any work handed in late

• Hand in requires on-line submission only via Blackboard where it is automatically checked for plagiarism

• Markers have been asked to return reports within 1 week. They will give you full feedback, this feedback is given in an online form which will have a link to your original report with additional notes. If you require more detail at this point you will need to arrange a meeting with the Marker.You can access your marks and feedback from:https://share.imperial.ac.uk/fons/Physics/Teaching/labreports/default.aspx

• Your mark will only be released once finalised after 2nd marking.

• If you don’t have your last report back at the end of the next experiment, go and visit the demonstrator to get some feedback before starting to write.

https://share.imperial.ac.uk/fons/Physics/Teaching/labreports/default.aspx

https://share.imperial.ac.uk/fons/Physics/Teaching/labreports/default.aspx

Mark scheme and marking template

• 15% Title/Abstract/Introduction

• 15% Experimental apparatus & method/Conclusion

• 55% Results, Analysis & Discussion, Error treatment (observations on your performance in lab will be factored into this mark)

• 15% Overall structure and presentation.

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What are 3rd year lab experiments like ?

- An experiment guide is provided to orientate you and provide useful guidance – it is not intended to give step-by-step advice so expect to think for yourself

- It may need some time to make things work before taking some “good” data.

- You need to go beyond the guide to get a very good mark.- Time management is your responsibility, not ours!- You have 3 weeks (30 hours) to finish one experiment: then

1 week to write the report.- No need for more time than the timetabled lab hours to

complete the experiment and report.

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Things to note: Keeping a notebook and clear record

·You are obliged to keep a clear record of your work in a laboratory notebook

·The record in your notebook should be the basis of the report and will be discussed during the experiment with your demonstrator so make sure it is complete

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Things to note: Demonstrators

- They are there to help – do make use of them if you have a problem.

- The technicians also know the experiments very well.

- First try to solve problems for yourself.

- Contact details on the web and on the notice board.

- You may try to contact demonstrators outside lab hours.

- All reports are 2nd marked by Academic Staff16

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Things to note: Basic practice and forthcoming events

- Talk on Errors & Report Writing by Dr Mark Richards, Thursday 30 th October at 1 pm.

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Things to note: Occasional students

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- You can do a mix of projects and short experiments as required by your home institute.

- You are encouraged to get your IC tutor to read through a draft of your first report before handing it in.

- If you have special requirements see Prof Marangos ASAP.

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Safety

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Safety in the Lab

- Health & Safety is a major issue in the workplace- As Imperial graduates you will likely end up as leaders in

your chosen field- You as Line Manager will be legally responsible for the

Health & Safety of your workers

- You should consider Risk Assessment and the Best Working Practice rules in Y3 Lab as part of your professional training

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Safety in the Lab

- Each Y3 Lab experiment has a Risk Assessment analysis form (a legal requirement in a UK workplace)

- This details the risks (high voltage, high temperature, UV light source, laser, X-rays, cryogen, etc) associated with that experiment

- Before starting the experiment you must:(i) Read and discuss the contents of the Risk Assessment form with your Demonstrator(ii) Sign a copy of the Risk Assessment form

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Safety in the Lab

Rules in Y3 Lab- NO eating or drinking and drink and foodstuffs not

allowed in Lab (go out to take a coffee break)- Never work alone:

(i) Work with Lab partner(ii) Must be Demonstrator/Technician in Lab

- Only work in normal College hours (9-5*, Mon-Fri)- Outside normal Lab hours must sign-in / sign-out &

inform Technician of your presence- Emergency (*medical only 9-5) - ext 4444

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Safety in the Lab

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Also:- Act sensibly at all times.- Report any chemical spills.- Report any electrical faults.- Report any accidents, even if minor.- Turn off unused equipment.- NEVER look directly into a laser beam.- Understand the dangers associated with both your own

and other peoples work (electrical, chemical, cryogens etc.)

- Note: If you are carrying out a full Project in the Lab, you must do a Risk Assessment analysis

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Safety in the Lab

Remember:

- Ultimately, you are responsible for your experiment and your actions

- Protect yourself and your colleagues - work safely

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Mondays 10:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00Thursdays 14:00-17:00

Fridays 9:00-12:00

Mark Neil - Microprocessor Course 25

Microprocessor Experiment

The Course Goals are:


• To explain the inner workings of a computer at a fundamental programming level (assembler) with hardware interfacing.

• To teach you how to work independently and find for yourself everything you need for your project. – Hence, no book. Everything you need is on the Web– During the first weeks of the course, we will get you started with lectures and

exercises to teach you the basic principles needed.• To teach you to design, construct and document a commercial product • To give you insight into the use of microprocessors which have a wide range

of applications in automobiles, appliances and other industrial applications as well as tools in research laboratories

• To give you useful career skills

Skills you will learn in the lab


• Designing basic electronic circuits and interfaces• Understanding how a microprocessor functions

and how to use one• Programming in the microprocessor’s most

basic language (assembler) including– the basic commands– writing a structured program– using tools to compile and download your programs

to the microprocessor chip

The course is assessed on the projects you create


• You will use a microprocessor to create an application and construct something useful– Some electronics will be needed

• You will work through building some electronics in the first weeks of the lab

– You will learn to interface the microprocessor with various devices• There is a wide selection of possible devices to connect to the

microprocessor

– You will make a new product of your choice• Many interesting inventions have been produced in the lab in previous years

• You will need to write a good and clear report on the product you have made, and demonstrate the functioning of your product.

Course Duration and Milestones


• 4 weeks of lectures/training followed by 2-3 weeks for project completion and writing your report.

• The ‘experiment’ ends on 27th November and amounts to 2.0 experiment units.

• It is possible to extend the work to a full-term ‘project’ worth 3 units. FOR MORE INFO...

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physicsuglabs/thirdyearlab/


Course Sign-Up and Start


• We start tomorrow at 9am!!!!!!• Decide on 2 or 3 units (later).

FOR MORE INFO...



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BSc or Essay ProjectsA chance to find out what real

research is like

Mark [email protected]

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/physicsuglabs/thirdyearprojects

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Projects• Compulsory for BSc & BSc Theory students.

• MSci and MSci Year in Europe students do not do 3rd year projects. You have the opportunity to do extended projects in the 4th year.

- Assessment:- Project plan (feedback given by supervisor) - progress report (feedback given by supervisor) - viva (20%) - Draft report (feedback given by supervisor) - continuous assessment (20%) - Final report (30+30%)

• Students work in pairs for BSc projects for one full term (10 hours minimum per week) – or individually for essay projects.


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Types of Project Available.• 3rd Year Lab based Projects• Projects in the research groups

- Experimental- Computational/Theoretical- Essay Projects

• Projects Proposed by students

• 2 Term Projects : only allowed for Occasional or Erasmus students

o More details will be provided at ‘intro to projects’ talk on 17th October at 1pm


Deadlines and Forms and Key Milestones

Deadline Week # Milestone * Assessed By: Assessment Term 1 1 2

21-Oct 3 Project or Essay Plan Supervisor

Mainly formative BUT 5% deducted from overall project mark if not submitted

4 5

11-Nov 6 Progress report Supervisor

Mainly formative BUT 5% deducted from overall project mark if not submitted

7 8

02-Dec 9 Continuous assessment Supervisor 20%

10Final report draft outline to supervisor (optional) supervisor Formative feedback

19-Dec 11 Viva (latest date) Supervisor/Assessor 20% Term 2

20-Jan 2 Final Project report Asessor /Marking Panel (30 + 30) = 60%

* weekly project meetings between student and supervisor should occur throughout

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What to do now?

• If doing a BSc project this term find a partner and start looking at website for available projects asap.

• All students should aim to register for a project ASAP – even if doing it in term 2.

• Web-site literature will be continuously updated.• To book a project you must have agreement of supervisor and

completed the online registration.• Project cannot start until this is done


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The Lab Team: Some Comments

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The Team

• Geoff Green – Chief Technician• Lee Parker – Senior Technician• Graham Axtell – Administration• Rob Whisker – Website Manager

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The Laboratory

• Two Main Laboratories – Room 410 Blackett & Room 403Huxley

• Several small annex rooms• Micro Course in First Year Lab• Serving Hatch 4th Floor Blackett Lobby

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Procedures

• Keep the workplace TIDY – Bags & Coats – Tidying up at the end of experiment

• Safety – Risk assessments, special precautions, training and record keeping.

• Signage – information, warning, instruction.• Please take time to read these properly.• The lab is open for your use Monday to

Friday 9 until 5. Just let us know you are there.

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Facilities• Undergraduate Workshop• Getting machining done, Drill, Lathe,

Bandsaw• Using the other workshop facilities• Storeroom• Finding your way around, locating and

identifying components and materials• Working outside timetabled hours

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Questions?

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End

Documents

Professor Jon Marangos, Head of Lab Dr Mark Richards, Deputy Head of Lab and Head of 3 rd Year Mr Geoff Green, Senior Technician Mr Graham Axtell, Senior