PHYS 226: Team-Based Research Physics II

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2023
Credits: 1
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 54
Total Student Learning Hours: 54
Prerequisite: PHYS 201 or PHYS 201H or PHYS 220A or PHYS 225; MATH 151 or MATH 190 or higher.
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 101 or ENGL 101H or higher.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: No
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

A second course in research for students participating in team based, physics-related research or projects. Topics include preparing and presenting a professional-style research proposal and the development of an experimental design to carry out the research. 54 lab hours.

Course Objectives

  • Understand and contribute to the components of a professional-style research proposal which includes: an abstract, introduction, a description of the experimental design (both narrative and diagrammatic), team structure and management, a description of proposed outreach efforts, a budget and a conclusion
  • Prepare an informal oral presentation on an assigned part of the research proposal.
  • Design, construct and test and experimental prototype.
  • Collect and analyze data from the prototype.
  • Learn to record and present data in a variety of formats (tables, graphs, lab notebook, etc.).

Major Course Content

N/A because this is a lab only course.

Hours Arranged Content

  1. Prototype Design and Construction
    1. Prototype schematic
    2. Scale and perspective
    3. Design Software
    4. Construction/Materials
      1. Materials
      2. Tools
      3. Procedure
  2. Data Collection and Analysis
    1. Tables and Graphs
    2. Error Analysis
    3. Curve Fitting/Modeling
  3. Writing a Research Proposal
    1. Abstract
    2. Description of Experimental Design
    3. Budget
    4. Introduction and conclusion
    5. Educational outreach activities

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Journal articles and books related to research project.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

Write a sample section for a research proposal.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Research different aspects of prototype design; identify physics principles related to research project.

Instruction Type(s)

Lab