Physics 5CL

Physics 5CL is the lab course complementing Physics 5C in the introductory Physics 5 sequence, which is the physics major-oriented "honors" introductory physics sequence. It is a two unit course.

Overview

The second introductory laboratory class which is generally paired with Physics 5C. Students gain experience working with experimental setups by performing various labs related to optics, modern physics, and thermodynamics, among others. The course concludes with a capstone project in which students demonstrate their newfound experimental competence via a group lab report and presentation.

Prerequisites

Physics 5B and Physics 5BL or Physics 7B, Physics 5C or Physics 7C may be taken concurrently.

Student Comments

“This course is required for physics/astrophysics major if you are taking the 5 series and not taking Physics 7C. This course is meant to be taken with Physics 5C. In addition to writing up lab reports on a lab notebook, a group also has to submit an electronic (usually using latex) lab report(which is weighted more in the final grade). One person from each lab group of 3 will be randomly selected to be graded for their physical lab notebook, which his/her score will be the entire group’s grade. Majority of 5CL is about optics (6 labs), one lab on photoelectric effect, two labs on thermodynamics, and one final project that relates to those topics. Each group will do a demo and presentation of their final project in the last week of lab.” – Andrew Hsu, undergraduate physics/astrophysics