Recitation / labs (Fall 2016)

The IPLS physics recitation and labs use biological examples to teach the same – or more – physics that you would have learned in the “traditional” or “modern” flavors of intro physics. We expect it to be more interesting, more relevant and (we hope) more fun for life-sciences people. Fair warning: it will also be more chaotic – at least in this, our inaugural year.

Week-by-week specifics will be posted in the table below as the semester progresses. Quizzes and Recitations are posted on T-Square.

Date Pre-reading Lab Instructions Writeup due Notes
Week 1
(Aug 26)
none 0: Introduction none  Introduction
Week 2
(Sept 2)

Intro to Excel

Excel Quick Reference

Intro to MATLAB.

1a: Neutrophil velocity End of lab  Lab 1a
Week 3
(Sept 9)

Intro to ImageJ

ImageJ Quick Reference

1b: Neutrophil velocity By next week’s lab (9/16)  Lab 1b
Week 4
(Sept 16)
Bye week
Week 5
(Sept 23)
none 2a: Viscous drag and terminal velocity   none  Lab 2a
Week 6
(Sept 30)
  Bead physics 2b: Viscous drag and terminal velocity  Upload data during lab.

Writeup due by next lab (10/7)

Week 7
(Oct 7)
none 3a: Brownian motion Extremely short individual writeup due by next lab (10/14) Brownian motion
Week 8
(Oct 14)
 none 3b: Brownian motion  none
Week 9
(Oct 21)
 none 3c: Brownian motion  Writeup due by next lab (10/28)
Week 10
(Oct 28)
 none bye week  none
Week 11
(Nov 4)
 none 4: Drift + Brownian motion With one-week delay: 11/17
Week 12
(Nov 11)
 none 5: Vesicle transport see next week.
Week 13
(Nov 18)
 none 5: Analysis of vesicle transport   Dec 1
Week 14
(Nov 25)
Thanksgiving break
Week 15
(Dec 2)
X: Makeup lab Quiz/recitation for all.
Makeup lab only for those who need it