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Introduction to the course.
The basis of science is observation and
experimentation on how the world around us
works. Therefore, one of the most important sets
of skills for a scientist is to learn how to
gather data and then interpret that data in
terms of mathematical models or theories. This
course is intended to give you an introduction
to some of the basic skills needed when taking
data and subsequently analyzing it. The physical
phenomena that you will encounter overlap some
of the PHYS 107 and Science One lecture
material, but the real aim of the course is to
give you the data handling skills needed in any
branch of science. The detailed goals of the
course can be found by clicking on Learning Goals.
Administrative Matters
The laboratory instructor is Dr. Doug Bonn. In
addition, each laboratory section has two
teaching assistants who will be there to guide
you and do the marking of your lab notebooks.
They are also there to challenge and encourage
you, so don't be surprised if THEY ask YOU
questions, rather than the other way around!!
this year's TAs are Natasha Holmes, Jennifer
Moroz, Derek Fujimoto, Thomas Prescott, and
Stephanie Grothe.
Visit the Main Webpage
weekly to get the latest news and use the Course Schedule
to keep track of what you are supposed to be
doing and when.
You will be evaluated primarily on your work
in the laboratory and particularly on the
record of your work written in a laboratory
notebook. We'll be checking your
work throughout each lab period and you will
also be asked to hand the notebooks in each week
for more formal marking. Click on Marks for more details
on the marking.
Ongoing course development
As part of the department's ongoing efforts to
improve and develop our courses, we gather data
including surveys, classroom observations, and
logging of computer work. Some of this data may be
published, in aggregated and anonymous form. if
you do now want your data inclusded in such
studies, please contact phys109@phas.ubc.ca.
Practical Matters at the Start of Term
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