Physics W3083 - Electronics Laboratory

Spring 2008

Prof. John Parsons

Course Description:    Physics W3083 is designed to provide, through a series of lectures and hands-on laboratories, an introduction to, and working knowledge of, the fundamentals of analog and digital electronics.

Prerequisites:    Students should have completed, or be taking, Physics W3003 and W3007. Any students not meeting this criterion should come and see me to discuss their case.

Time and Location:    The course will be run Mon. and Wed., 1:10 - 4:00 pm in Pupin 513. The lectures will typically fill the first 1 - 1.5 hours of the Monday session, with the remaining time devoted to the labs.

Textbook:    The Art of Electronics, 2nd Edition, by Horowitz and Hill. (The textbook is not absolutely required, but is highly recommended.)

Lab Manual:    Student Manual for The Art of Electronics, by Hayes and Horowitz. (You will need to bring this book with you to all lab sessions.)

Lab Notebook:    You should maintain a bound laboratory notebook in which you record what you did during each lab, what results you observed, etc. Your written notebook records should be sufficiently complete and detailed that you would be able to use them to repeat the experiment several years later without needing the Lab Manual.

My Coordinates:

Office:    Pupin 720                                                          
          Telephone:    Pupin: (212) 854-8127,     Nevis Labs: (914) 591-2820    
        WWW homepage:    http://www.nevis.columbia.edu/~parsons/                          
Email address:    parsons@nevis.columbia.edu                                    

Get in touch with me (preferably via email) to arrange a meeting if you have any questions as the semester progresses.             

Course Homepage:    Course information, including lab and homework assignments, will be posted on the course homepage at http://www.nevis.columbia.edu/~parsons/teach/W3083.html.

Laboratory:    You will perform roughly 14 labs during the course of the semester. In order to keep up, it is essential you read the lab and associated material before the lab is to be performed.

You will in most cases perform the labs with a partner. However, it is essential that each of you participate fully in the labs, and that each of you maintains your own lab notebook.

Homework:    Most homework will consist of reading assignments to make sure you are prepared in advance for the next lab to be performed. Occasionally, as needed to illustrate the material, some homework problems might be assigned.

Examinations:    Physics W3083 is a laboratory course, and there will be no tests or final exam.

Course Grading:    Your final grade will reflect your individual performance in the lab, as well as grading of your lab notebook, which will be collected at regular intervals during the semester. (This should provide additional incentive to keep complete records in your lab notebook!)