Diversifying the Sophomore Physics Lab Experience

The main objective of this project is to introduce new experiments in the second year physics laboratory, covering topics in biophysics and in astronomy. These areas have been chosen in recognition of the diverse group of students taking this laboratory and they provide a means of introducing all of the students to the breadth of science that is touched by experimental physics. The astronomy experiment involves teaming how a CCD detector works, a central tool for measuring light that finds applications in many fields beyond the generation of astronomical images. Such an experiment forms a bridge between the basic electronics that is emphasized in the course and the more sophisticated experiments that they will encounter in later years. A biophysics experiment will focus on exploration of polymer physics with respect to nucleic acid motion in a separation medium, with application to DNA and protein analysis in genomics and proteomics, fast growing areas with considerable student demand.

Douglas Bonn, Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science