PVB203 Experimental Physics
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PVB203 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | (MXB105 or PVB200 or MXB106 or PVB202 or MZB127 or MZB125 or admission in ED59) and (PVB105 or PVB103 or PVB101 or PVB102 or EGB113 or EGB102) |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | PVB203 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | (MXB105 or PVB200 or MXB106 or PVB202 or MZB127 or MZB125 or enrollment in ED59) and (PVB105 or PVB101 or PVB103 or PVB102 or EGB113 or EGB102) |
| Coordinator: | Deepak Dubal | deepak.dubal@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit aims to develop your skills in experimental methods, from the design and execution of your experiment to data treatment, fitting, and statistical analysis of errors. It provides you with an opportunity to build, practice and provide evidence of your analysis and problem-solving skills in physics, as well as to build your scientific report writing skills and presentation of results. It also provides you with foundation and practical knowledge of circuit theory and electronics that underlie instrumentation.
This unit is in the developmental stage of your course and builds on the work of previous experimental units. This unit also links to further self-managed experimental and project work in your final year.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Collect and store data from laboratory experiments using both manual and automatic techniques with a professional approach.
- Analyse data, applying critical and creative reasoning and evaluating uncertainties using statistical models and industry-standard software.
- Solve physics problems by applying fundamental laws to acquired, retrieved or assigned data.
- Design, assemble and perform physics experiments assessing their safety using scientific equipment in a collaborative environment.
- Present scientific results relevant to professional practice by producing written scientific reports or presentations.
Content
In the experimental component of this unit, you will complete several tasks designed to develop skill in experimental techniques and data analysis. You will be introduced to the statistical analysis of the data with a set of practical experiments. You will apply this knowledge to measure fundamental physical constants like electron charge and electron mass, evaluating the statistical and systematical measurement errors.
The instrumentation component of the unit is designed to give you a working knowledge of the physics of electrical circuits, starting from the more simple elements, and learning how to use multimeters and oscilloscopes.
You will apply this knowledge to measure fundamental physical constants like electron charge and electron mass, evaluating the statistical and systematical measurement errors. In the final part of the unit you will undertake a group project which will demonstrate your achievements.
Learning Approaches
In this laboratory-based unit you will work as groups and individually to complete experiments.
- Lectures and tutorials in class: Weekly lectures and tutorials on campus will guide you to master the theory needed to perform the experiments and explain the results in terms of fundamental physical laws.
- Online activity: You will be offered the opportunity to verify your learning by quizzes and tutorial problems to get ready for the weekly practical sessions. This includes also online review of the in-class tutorials.
- Practicals: The weekly practical sessions will span across multiple aspects of the physics syllabus, with an emphasis on the statistical nature of the measurement process.
Throughout the unit you will be guided to the use of the lab book to record and carefully report the results of your experiments, as a professional tool to demonstrate your work and to officially prove your results. The preparation of a formal report will provide you the opportunity to develop your skills in scientific reporting, which is an important part of the professional practice of a physicist. The group presentation of the final project will help you to develop your presentation skills. Furthermore, in this unit, you will learn how to use a range of industry-relevant software for data analysis such as excel, SciDavis and Matlab Data, which allows you to develop important employability skills and capabilities that are expected of physicists, but are also in demand by employers in a range of different industries.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive feedback on your progress throughout the unit, through the following mechanisms:
Individual and timely oral and written feedback as part of the grading of the assessment items.
Feedback on formative (ungraded) assessment tasks as part of the development process
Peer to peer feedback with colleagues.
Assessment
Overview
The assessment in this unit will be through three tasks involving the scientific reporting of the activities undertaken (written reports and demonstration), and a final exam to assess the theoretical learning. Authentic assessment tasks have been incorporated in this unit. In assessment task 1 you will use industry-standard software such as Excel, SciDavis and Matlab Data for the analysis of data in preparation of your report. Assessment task 2 will require you to undertake a demonstration of an experiment as part of a job interview. These assessment tasks will help you to develop important employability skills.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Report
Written scientific report.
You will be randomly assigned one of the two experiments performed in class which will be the object of your report. The report will summarize your findings on the assigned experiment providing an in-depth analysis of the data.
This report is focused on data fitting and error analysis.
You will compare your own results with the class results provided by the teaching team.
This is an authentic assessment because a scientific report it is how real-world researchers report on the results of a real experiment.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Demonstration
A demonstration of an experiment prepared by the group as required by employers as part of a job interview.
This is not an assignment for the purpose of an extension. The presentation must occur at a specific date with all the groups and in front of the teaching team.
Assessment: Examination
- A set of questions on physics and statistics related to the experiments and the theory behind, including questions about the data recorded in the lab book and their analysis.
- Only the personal student's lab book will be allowed during examination.
- Exam may be carried electronically via the Learning Platform by using suitable software.
This is not an assignment for the purpose of an extension.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Costs
There are no out of the ordinary additional costs associated with the study of this unit.
Resources
Suggested texts:
Resource Materials
Recommended text(s)
Les Kirkup : Data Analysis for Scientists: Featuring Excel® , Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Bartiromo R, De Vincenzi M : Electrical measurements in laboratory practice Springer, 2016
Sears and Zemansky's university physics: with modern physics by Young, Hugh D; Freedman, Roger A; Ford, A. Lewis; 15th edition, Global edition. Pearson 2019.
Taylor R (1997) An Introduction to Error Analysis: The Study of Uncertainties in Physical Measurements 2nd ed. University Science Books
Risk Assessment Statement
Attention will be drawn to relevant workplace health and safety issues in lectures and practicals. Laboratory safety rules will be published on the first year physics laboratory website. There are no other out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer
1: Knowledge and Skill Base
Relates to: Demonstration
Relates to: Report, Examination
Relates to: Report
3: Professional and Personal Attributes
Relates to: Demonstration
Relates to: Report, Demonstration, Examination
Relates to: Report, Demonstration, Examination
Relates to: Demonstration
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.ST01 Bachelor of Science
- Develop a broad, multidisciplinary understanding of science and a specialised, in-depth knowledge of at least one discipline.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Report, Demonstration, Examination - Use higher order thinking skills to design, plan, and conduct investigations and evaluate data to address scientific questions and challenges.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Report, Demonstration, Examination - Develop and demonstrate key competencies in scientific practices and relevant technologies.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Report, Demonstration - Practice science in a safe, culturally appropriate, ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious way with a knowledge of relevant concepts, regulatory frameworks and protocols.
Relates to: ULO4, Demonstration - Communicate scientific findings, concepts and evidence-based reasoning to diverse audiences using a variety of methods.
Relates to: ULO5, Demonstration - Work autonomously and collaboratively with others in an inclusive and professional manner and use critical reflection for personal and professional growth.
Relates to: ULO4, Demonstration
SV02 Bachelor of Science
- Develop a broad, multidisciplinary understanding of science and a specialised, in-depth knowledge of at least one discipline.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Report, Demonstration, Examination - Use higher order thinking skills to design, plan, and conduct investigations and evaluate data to address scientific questions and challenges.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Report, Demonstration, Examination - Develop and demonstrate key competencies in scientific practices and relevant technologies.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO4, Report, Demonstration - Practice science in a safe, culturally appropriate, ethical, sustainable, and socially conscious way with a knowledge of relevant concepts, regulatory frameworks and protocols.
Relates to: ULO4, Demonstration - Communicate scientific findings, concepts and evidence-based reasoning to diverse audiences using a variety of methods.
Relates to: ULO5, Demonstration - Work autonomously and collaboratively with others in an inclusive and professional manner and use critical reflection for personal and professional growth.
Relates to: ULO4, Demonstration