Lab Expectations

Assignments

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Lab assignments are common for all students taking the lab. The lab coordinator is responsible for deciding which questions are posted in WebAssign.
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Scheduling lab assignments so that you are asked the right question at the right time is an important task that requires careful thought. Your lab coordinator is responsible for setting the due dates.
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Depending on the policy for your lab section, you may or may not be able to receive a time extension for completing the lab.
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For each question in WebAssign you are allowed a specific number of submissions. In general, you have 5 submissions. However, for multiple choice questions the maximum number of submissions is one less then number of choices. For example, if there are 3 choices, you only have 2 submissions. For yes/no or true/false questions, you only have one submission.
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In most cases, each submission, after the first one, will result in a reduction in the number of points awarded.
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If you need more submissions, you should ask your lab TA, who may or may not be able to allow more submissions.
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Some questions are a tutorial type of question where clicking the submit or skip button will open up the next part of the question. Note: If you skip a part, you will not be able to go back and submit that part again. You will lose any points for the parts that you skip.
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Note the due dates for each assignment. In general, the due date for PreLabs is one (1) hour before start of lab, for LabReports four (4) days after the lab ends.
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Extensions are up to the discretion of the lab TA.
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To help remind you of upcoming assignments, turn on Notifications, found on your home page of WebAssign.

Expectations of a Physics Lab Student

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A procedure will not be provided for you, and no printers are available in the lab rooms. You should keep careful notes of all data, observations, and calculations throughout the lab. If there is a problem with WebAssign's grading of your responses, your notes can be used to determine your grade for that lab.
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You must bring a calculator and a pen or pencil.
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You must arrive on time. It is unfair to your group lab members to be late.
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You are expected to be a good group member: include all members of the group in lab activities, work effectively and efficiently as a group member, and assist other group members when needed.
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You must check your WebAssign regularly for important announcements and newly posted assignments.
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Students should bring their laptop computer to lab, otherwise they will not be able to use WebAssign during lab.

Grading

Each lab consists of a PreLab and LabReport assignment. PreLabs are worth 15% and LabReports are 85% of the final grade for each experiment. For correct answers, the number of points you receive depends on the number of submissions you use, in general no more than 5 are allowed. For most questions, except for essay questions, you will lose 10% for each additional submission you use beyond the first one.

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The second submission is worth 90% of the points for that part.
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The third submission is worth 80%.
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The fourth submission is worth 70%.

Click the + sign after the question number to determine whether a penalty is being applied based on the number of submissions.

Plagiarism and Working Together

Complete all WebAssign free-response questions in your own words. Data collected from previous semesters (even if it was collected by you) or data that is collected by your group members while you were not present is not acceptable. All suspected plagiarism will be evaluated and appropriate action will be taken.

Attendance

Arrive on time, if you are more than 10 minutes late for your scheduled lab, you may be asked to leave and you may not be able to make up the lab. If you miss a lab, please consult with your lab TA.