Module: Physics Laboratory III

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Physics Laboratory III
Module Code	PHY1043 (ITS: PS258)
Faculty	Physical Sciences	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Year 2 semester 1 general physics laboratory for AP & PHA classes involving prescribed experiments.

Learning Outcomes

1. Acquire and analyse experimental data from a range of experiments
2. Concisely write a technical report on a selection of these experiments
3. Apply knowledge gained in lecture modules to the interpretation of experimental results.
4. Describe relevant ethical issues in relation to plagiarism and adhere to University regulations concerning same.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Laboratory	72	Undertaking experiments.
Independent Study	53	Background reading for experiments and writing up experimental reports.
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11367	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Enda McGlynn	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Practical/skills evaluation	Laboratory experiment write-ups submitted via loop.	100%	As required

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	S,
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Experimental List:
Students will carry out a subset of the following experiments:(i) X-ray Diffraction (ii) Microwave Diffraction (iii) Gamma ray spectroscopy (iv) Solar cell (v) The Hall Effect (vi) Radioactivity (vii) Transmission filters (viii) Diffraction grating spectrum of mercury (ix) Optical polarization (x) Optical diffraction(xi) Newton s Rings (xii) Measurement of the Speed of Light (xiii) Error measurement (xiv) The Spectrometer (xv) Least squares fitting (xvi) Half-life of Barium-137 (xvii) Blackbody radiation (xviii) DeBroglie wavelength of electron (xix) Frank-Hertz experiment (xx) Spectrum of hydrogen or other newly introduced experiments. The exact range of experiments may vary slightly from year to year.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Young & Freedman: 0, University Physics, Addison Wesley (Pearson),
D.G. Giancoli: 0, Physics Principles with Applications, Prentice Hall,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None