This book is the result of many years of experience of the authors in guiding physics projects. It aims to satisfy a deeply felt need to involve students and their instructors in extended experimental investigations of physical phenomena. Over fifty extended projects are described in detail, at various levels of sophistication, aimed at both the advanced high school, as well as first and second year undergraduate physics students, and their instructors. Carrying out these projects may take anything from a few days to several weeks, and in some cases months. Each project description starts with a summary of theoretical background, proceeds to outline goals and possible avenues of exploration, suggests needed instrumentation, experimental setup and data analysis, and presents typical results which can serve as guidelines for the beginner researcher. Separate parts are devoted to mechanics, electromagnetism, acoustics, optics, liquids, and thermal physics. An additional appendix suggests twenty further ideas for projects, giving a very brief description for each and providing references for pursuing them in detail. We also suggest a useful library of basic texts for each of the topics treated in the various parts.
Reviews
Gluck who teaches at Azrieli College of Engineering, Jerusalem, dedicated the book to King who passed away in 2014, after a long and distinguished career as a researcher and educator at MIT. In many ways the book embodies Kingas passion for experimental physics. One can hope that it will spark the interest of future experimentalists to become scientists in his mold. I encourage instructors to dive into the authors' advice and dive into the adventure and uncertainty of a project that does not have a predetermined, easily found answer. ... Physics Project Lab is a valuable resource. * Physics Today *
Gluck and King make every day phenomena come alive with Project Lab. Their superb collection of relatively simple experiments has been honed over a half-centuries worth of presentations, offering the budding scientist or humanist an engaging appreciation for the value of inquiry * H. Frederick Dylla, Executive Director & CEO of the American Institute of Physics *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198704577
Author Paul Gluck
Format Hardback
Page Count 328
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 898g
Dimensions(mm) 253mm * 195mm * 21mm