The Lab

Used for PY2107 (physical) and PY2108 (electronic) student labs. The space is also left open as a social and study space for all 2nd year physics students. This allows students to make friends with their full year aswell as other years, which have their own study and social spaces on the same floor. The space encourages peer-to-peer learning and gives students access to PCs and printing facilities. 

Electronic Experiments (PY2108)

The electronic experiment are carried out in a semester long course which aims for students to learn how to build, analyse and automate measurements on electronic circuits. As opposed to the physical experiments each week does not have a seperate distinct experiment. Every session the previous weeks work is built upon and expanded. Students build, analyse and test circuits such as

• resistor networks,
• passive analog LRC filters,
• semiconductor diode bridge rectifiers,
• transistor current amplifier and
• active analog filters

based on the operational amplifier.

Students are also taught how to program a micro-controller (such as the Arduino pictured below) that can interface with an electronic device with the aim of automating its characterisation. This means that students build intelligent tools that can help them learn more about electronic circuits. 

The learned/transferable skills include physics of electronic circuits and components, component characterisation procedures, computer and micro-controller programming, automation of data collection, data analysis, report writing and lab methodology.