Stanford Root

Schedule

Stanford Root

Schedule

PHYSICS 81L

Introduction to Experimental Practice

UNITS:2
GRADING:Satisfactory/No Credit
LEVEL:Undergrad
GER:—

How do we plan and conduct physics experiments? This course will present the basics of measurement and experimental practice in a laboratory setting, applying skills developed in PHYSICS PHYSICS 61L and PHYSICS PHYSICS 79L. A sequence of four 2-week labs will allow for in-depth exploration of topics, with a focus on assessing model validity and limitations, as well as communicating results and methodology. Experiments will be drawn from different areas of physics, including, but not limited to: E&M, optics, particle physics, and classical mechanics. The final weeks of the course will be devoted to further, open-ended exploration of one of the main labs, culminating in short group presentations. Prepares students for the advanced physics lab courses and for working in research labs. This course is new to the department as of the Academic Year 2025-2026. Students requiring credit for PHYSICS 71L may take this course to satisfy that requirement.

Syllabus for selected term:
View Spring 2027 Syllabus

Sections

1 Term
Laboratory 1Open
ID: 12624
0 / 64 enrolled
DAYS:TBD
TIME:TBD
LOCATION:TBD
INSTRUCTOR:
Devin, Julien, Blakemore, Chas
2units
Lab Section 1Open
ID: 12625
0 / 16 enrolled
DAYS:Monday, Wednesday
TIME:9:30 AM – 11:20 AM
LOCATION:TBD
INSTRUCTOR:
Blakemore, Chas
2units
Lab Section 2Open
ID: 12796
0 / 16 enrolled
DAYS:Monday, Wednesday
TIME:11:30 AM – 1:20 PM
LOCATION:TBD
INSTRUCTOR:
Blakemore, Chas
2units
Lab Section 3Open
ID: 12797
0 / 16 enrolled
DAYS:Tuesday, Thursday
TIME:11:30 AM – 1:20 PM
LOCATION:TBD
INSTRUCTOR:
Blakemore, Chas
2units
Lab Section 4Open
ID: 12798
0 / 16 enrolled
DAYS:Tuesday, Thursday
TIME:1:30 PM – 3:20 PM
LOCATION:TBD
INSTRUCTOR:
Blakemore, Chas
2units

PHYSICS 81L: Introduction to Experimental Practice

2 units · Satisfactory/No Credit

How do we plan and conduct physics experiments? This course will present the basics of measurement and experimental practice in a laboratory setting, applying skills developed in PHYSICS 61L and PHYSICS 79L. A sequence of four 2-week labs will allow for in-depth exploration of topics, with a focus on assessing model validity and limitations, as well as communicating results and methodology. Experiments will be drawn from different areas of physics, including, but not limited to: E&M, optics, particle physics, and classical mechanics. The final weeks of the course will be devoted to further, open-ended exploration of one of the main labs, culminating in short group presentations. Prepares students for the advanced physics lab courses and for working in research labs. This course is new to the department as of the Academic Year 2025-2026. Students requiring credit for 71L may take this course to satisfy that requirement.

Offered in Spring 2027 at Stanford University.

Spring 2027 sections

  • Lab Section — Monday Wednesday 9:30 AM – 11:20 AM — Blakemore, Chas (Undergrad)
  • Laboratory — TBA TBA — Devin, Julien, Blakemore, Chas (Undergrad)
  • Lab Section — Tuesday Thursday 1:30 PM – 3:20 PM — Blakemore, Chas (Undergrad)
  • Lab Section — Tuesday Thursday 11:30 AM – 1:20 PM — Blakemore, Chas (Undergrad)
  • Lab Section — Monday Wednesday 11:30 AM – 1:20 PM — Blakemore, Chas (Undergrad)

More PHYSICS courses

  • PHYSICS 59: Frontiers of Physics Research
  • PHYSICS 61: Mechanics and Special Relativity
  • PHYSICS 61L: Mechanics Laboratory
  • PHYSICS 71: Quantum and Thermal Physics
  • PHYSICS 79L: Introduction to Data Analysis, with Python and Jupyter
  • PHYSICS 81: Electricity and Magnetism Using Special Relativity and Vector Calculus
  • PHYSICS 83N: Physics in the 21st Century
  • PHYSICS 100: Introduction to Observational Astrophysics
  • PHYSICS 104: Introduction to Electronic Techniques for Physics Research Instrumentation
  • PHYSICS 106: Experimental Methods in Quantum Physics
  • PHYSICS 108: Advanced Physics Laboratory: Project
  • PHYSICS 110: Advanced Mechanics (PHYSICS 210)

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