PHYS 231: Introduction to Electronics

Jake Bobowski
~Home~

PHYS 231
WF 09:00-10:00
L01 Thu. 09:30-12:30
L02 Thu. 13:00-16:00
My Schedule

SCI 266
jake.bobowski@ubc.ca

Intoduction to Electronics
Room: FIP 250
Room: SCI 241
Room: SCI 241
Term 1

UBC Canvas Login

UBC Piazza Login

Datasheet Archive

Instrument Specs

Course Calendar/Lab Manual

September / October / November / December / Top / Bottom

Lecutre Slides:

Here are the error analysis slides that will be presented during the first week classes.

Practice Assignment:

Here is a practice assignment that reviews circuit concepts studied in first-year physics.

I will not collect and grade this assignment, it is for your own practice. The answers are given after each problem. If you struggle with any of the problems, you are strongly encouraged to review the relevant concepts in your first-year textbook or in Scherz & Monk's book.

Reading Assign:

Scherz & Monk Chapter 1 and 2.1 to 2.17 (inclusive)
(Predominantly review)

Data Analysis:

In PHYS 231 you will be required to analyze the data that you collect from the labs. The analysis will involve plotting data (with error bars) and performing weighted fits. In this course, data analysis using Python will be supported.

Python is being support because:
- It is a commonly-used programming language in physics research and industry
- It is freely available for anyone to use without requiring a paid-for license

You can write and execute Python code using UBC's Open Jupyter Hub. You don't need to install any software, just log in using your CWL.

As an alternative, you can also write and execute Python code using UBC's Jupyter Hub called Syzygy. You don't need to install any software, just log in using your CWL.

If you'd prefer to write and run code on your own system, you can download and install the individual editions of the Anaconda Toolkit.

You can also refer to this set of Python tutorials that demonstrate how to complete some of the common data analysis tasks that you might encounter.

If you prefer, you can complete your data analysis tasks in MATLAB. UBC students are eligible for a free MATLAB license.

Here is a set of MATLAB tutorials. Although you are free to use MATLAB to complete you lab data analysis, MATLAB support from your PHYS 231 instructor/TA will will be very limited/nonexistent.

If you prefer and, if you have access to it, you can complete your data analysis tasks in Maple. Note that UBC does not have a student license for Maple. Here is a set of Maple tutorials. Although you are free to use Maple to complete you lab data analysis, Maple support from your PHYS 231 instructor/TA will will be very limited/nonexistent.

Note that, to the best of my knowledge, Excel does not easily do weighted fits to data sets. Therefore, in PHYS 231, Excel is generally not a suitable tool for data analysis.

Least Squares Fitting (.pdf):

Here is a good introduction to
Weighted least squares fits.

This document also comes from the Phys 121 lab manual used at Case Western Reserve University.

Error Analysis (.pdf):

Here is a very good introduction to
error analysis and error propagation.

This document comes from the Phys 121 lab manual used at Case Western Reserve University.

Laboratory Safety (.pdf):

Read the following short document before coming to the first laboratory: Safety Guidelines

Course Syllabus (.pdf):

PHYS 231 Syllabus

Lecture Notes

Playlist: