Welcome Page

PHYS 4321/4322: Advanced Laboratory I/II

Fall 2026 | Section B | 3 credit hours

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30–6:15 PM ET · Boggs 1-11

1 Welcome

Welcome to PHYS 4321/4322: Advanced Laboratory I/II. In this course you will conduct experiments that demonstrate basic principles from various fields of physics, with an emphasis on contemporary concepts in modern physics. You will complete four experiments over the semester and write an individual lab report for each one.

Note

This home page is a summary. Review the syllabus for full course policies. Lab manuals are available in Canvas.

2 Course Description

Experiments are conducted that demonstrate basic principles from various fields of physics. An emphasis is placed on contemporary concepts in modern physics.

2.1 Learning Outcomes

Write a clear, succinct, and precise lab report, with conclusions that are supported by your data and analysis.

3 Instructor Information

Instructor (Section B) Andrew J. Steinmetz
Email ajsteinmetz@gatech.edu
Office Howey W204
Office Hours By appointment

4 Course Schedule (Section B)

Section B meets every Tuesday and Thursday except holidays, from August 25 through December 8. Each experiment follows the same cycle: about three weeks in the lab collecting data, then about two weeks of writing. A report is due at the beginning of class on the day the next lab begins. The schedule below may be adjusted as needed throughout the semester.

Date Focus Major Due Dates
Aug. 25 Introduction -
Aug. 27 Lab 1 -
Sept. 1 Lab 1 -
Sept. 3 Lab 1 -
Sept. 8 No meeting -
Sept. 10 Lab 1 -
Sept. 15 Write 1 -
Sept. 17 Write 1 -
Sept. 22 Write 1 -
Sept. 24 Lab 2 Report 1 due
Sept. 29 Lab 2 -
Oct. 1 Lab 2 -
Oct. 6 Fall Break -
Oct. 8 Lab 2 -
Oct. 13 Write 2 -
Oct. 15 Write 2 -
Oct. 20 Write 2 -
Oct. 22 Lab 3 Report 2 due
Oct. 27 Lab 3 -
Oct. 29 Lab 3 -
Nov. 3 Lab 3 -
Nov. 5 Write 3 -
Nov. 10 Write 3 -
Nov. 12 Lab 4 Report 3 due
Nov. 17 Lab 4 -
Nov. 19 Lab 4 -
Nov. 24 Lab 4 -
Nov. 26 Holiday -
Dec. 1 Write 4 -
Dec. 3 Write 4 -
Dec. 8 Report 4 Report 4 due

5 Experiments and Grading

There are no exams in this course. Your grade is based on four lab reports, each worth 25% of the course grade. Choose your experiments from the list of available experiments.

Each lab report is scored as follows:

Component Points
Performance of experiment and quality of data 50
Analysis and presentation of experiment 30
Other elements (including logbook keeping and late penalties) 20
Total 100

Scores are assigned to lab reports. If you perform the experiment and keep a good notebook but do not submit a report, you will earn zero, not 70. Reports are due at the beginning of class, and late work is penalized based on tardiness.

7 A Few Important Course Notes

  • Attend the first day of each experiment. Contact your instructor if you will be unable to attend.
  • After the first day, attend only when collecting data. You are always welcome to attend. Arrive in the first half-hour of the class meeting; if no students are present after that, the instructors will lock the lab room and leave.
  • Use only data you helped collect. You may not use any data that you did not participate in collecting during the current semester.
  • You work in pairs, or small groups, but you write alone. Take data together, share your research and external resources, and discuss the experiment and results as you would in a research team, but write your report separately, including text, tables, and figures.
  • No textbook is required. Lab manuals are available in Canvas.