CAAM 335 Physical Laboratory

Use the lab whenever you'd like. If lab time conflicts, we can use the scheduler via the Schedule tab in the owlspace.

The labs may be accomplished with a partner, but this is not a requirement. Plan on spending 2 hours in the lab for each lab, and please read the manual prior to coming to the lab. If we have an odd number of students and everyone would like to work in a group, then we can have a group of three.

The lab manual is an evolving document. Updated lab manuals will occasionally be posted to the course website.

Each group should write one report, but for logistical purposes, each person needs to submit a report in the assignments tab in owlspace.

The report should be one document and indicate that you understood the mathematics, preformed the lab, and completed the appropriate analysis. Please indicate your group member(s) in your lab report.

Slavishly following the lab manual is not a requirement; experimentation is welcome. But if you deviate from the lab manual you should explain your techniques and justify your choices. For the non-adventurous, preforming the lab as described will always result in a good grade; but novel and intelligent modification will receive higher marks.

For each lab, you should assume the reader is familiar with the lab manual; there is no need to parrot the manual in a procedure section.

Lab reports will be marked on a 0 to 3 scale:

• 0 - No lab turned in;
• 1 - Earnest attempt -- the lab preformed, data presented, and questions answered but perhaps a few errors;
• 2 - Good work -- quality lab work and writeup;
• 3 - Outstanding work -- outside knowledge brought to bear and excellent presentation.

Most reports will fall between a 1 and 2; only the exceptional will receive higher.

An average of one or above will not hurt your grade, but higher averages can boost your final grade in CAAM 335.

For formal lab reports you may wish to typeset lab reports using the free LaTeX system. Most mathematicians and scientists prepare their documents using this software. It is similar in complexity to writing HTML.

LaTeX is installed on OwlNet, and should come as part of most standard Linux installations. Mac users should obtain TeXShop. Windows users have two options:

• Easier: Install MikTeX and TeXnicCenter, an IDE for LaTeX.
• Harder: Install Cygwin, a free (GPL) Unix environment for Windows. When presented with a list of applications to install, select tetex, tetex-base, tetex-extras under Publishing.

A prototype LaTeX lab report report.tex, including a figure sample.eps are provided as examples. Here is what it looks like when compiled report.pdf.