Safety

As in any lab course, there are potential risks.

Electricity can kill!

• The Workstation DC power supply can output up to 1A @ 25V.The lab power supplies can only deliver voltages that are usually safe, but
  • This maximum voltage is generally considered safe but the current could kill you if it could penetrate your skin.
  • You may create circuits in this course that amplify voltage. Do not go above 30V without permission of the Instructor.
• Do not use any power supplies not provided.

Electricity can make things very hot!

• Remember that power dissipated is P=V²/R, so a small ¼ watt 100 ohm resistor may get hot with as little as 5 V across it.
  • Be cautious applying increasing voltages to your circuit.
  • Be careful touching components in your circuit.
  • If you smell something burning, turn off the power to the circuit!
  • Keep flammable materials, e.g. paper, away from your circuits!
• Soldering irons are burning hot – don’t touch!
  • Wear safety glasses when soldering!
  • Wait a few seconds for components to cool after soldering before touching.
• Both soldering and overheated components can produce small amounts of smoke.
• An electrolytic capacitor can explode with a loud pop and a cloud of smoke if too much voltage is applied.
  • Don’t apply voltages higher than the capacitor’s rating.

Other risks

• Never apply excess force to anything.
  • Your small pliers are useful to straighten wires and insert them into your breadboard.
  • Ask for advice before reaching for a hammer.
• Keep unprotected eyes away from sharp wires.
  • When trimming a wire, small pieces may fly out.
• Some LEDs can be painfully (and even dangerously) bright just before they die if their specified voltages are significantly exceeded.
  • Always increase LED voltages gradually and never stare directly at a very bright LED.
• Food and drink are not allowed in the lab
• Don’t do anything stupid. It is your skin.

Grading

Each of the 10 scheduled lab exercises is worth 10% of the final course grade.

• The at-home simulation (Lab S) is marked entirely on the report.
  • Students normally work individually on the simulations and submits their own lab report and some short videos.
• In-Lab Exercises 1-8 marks are based 30% on in-lab work and 70% on the report.
  • Students normally work in pairs on these lab exercises but each submits their own lab report.
  • The lowest grade from Lab 1-8 will be replaced by the average of the rest of Lab 1-8
• The micro-project (Lab P) is marked on the basis of an individual report and a short team video.

Late assignments will be penalized 10% of the assignment value per business day, unless accommodations are required prior to the due date, or if prior arrangement has been made with the course Instructor.

Lab Work

In-lab work marks are based on

• Attendance at the regular lab sessions
  • Contact the Instructor if you miss a lab because you are, or have another valid reason.
  • Don’t worry, in such cases we will make accommodations.
• In lab execution
  • This includes equal sharing between members of a pair - both students are expected take turns stuffing breadboards, making measurements, and recording work and data.
  • You do not lose marks for not getting things working first time.
• Proper documentation in your lab notebooks and associated computer files.
Although you are only required to turn in lab reports, not your lab notebooks, the Instructor or TA may ask at any time ask to see your notebook and associated computer files.
• If you cannot properly document the work that is the basis for a report you have submitted, you may receive zero for that report, or even more severe sanctions if the Instructor believes there has been a violation of the University of Toronto Academic Code.

Other Course Information

Lab notebooks

Each student must document their work and learning in this course. Read the notebook guidelines.
This notebook will not be graded, but must be available if the Instructors or TAs ask to see it so we can understand something in your submitted lab report.

Lab Reports

A short pdf lab report (and sometimes a video or other files) must be submitted through Quercus for every lab. See the report guidelines for more information on the requirements for the report.

Lab P

The final few weeks of the semester are dedicated to a micro-project that will be marked on the basis of originality, execution, testing, and the quality of the final project video.

• See the project guidelines for more information.

Reference Resources

• Because this is an 400-level physics lab course, students are expected to be able to research needed information on their own. Everything you need to know may not be on the course webpages!
• There is no textbook for this course, but The Art of Electronics by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill can be a good reference.
• We will sometimes use the simple diagrammatic circuit simulator and filter simulator by Paul Falstad. This can be run online or as standalone on Mac, Windows, or Linux.
• See the course Resources for other recommended text, online resources, circuit simulators, manuals, ...

Cell Phone and Laptop Usage

Technology can support student learning, but it can also become a distraction. Research indicates that multi-tasking (texting or going online) during class time can have a negative impact on learning. Out of respect for your fellow students in this class, please refrain from using laptops or mobile phones for entertainment during class. Do not display any material on a laptop which may be distracting or offensive to your fellow students. Laptops may be used only for legitimate classroom purposes, such as taking notes, downloading course information from Quercus, or working on an assigned in-class exercise. Checking social media, email, texting, games, and other online activities are not legitimate classroom purposes. Such inappropriate laptop and mobile phone use is distracting to those seated around you.

Step out of the room if you must make or receive an unavoidable phone call.

Academic Integrity

University Guidelines

All students, faculty and staff are expected to follow the University’s guidelines and policies on academic integrity. For students, this means following the standards of academic honesty when writing assignments, collaborating with fellow students, and writing tests and exams. Ensure that the work you submit for grading represents your own honest efforts.

Plagiarism — representing someone else’s work as your own or submitting work that you have previously submitted for marks in another class or program — is a serious offence that can result in sanctions. Speak to the Instructor if you are at all unsure about what might constitute plagiarism.

Writing resources

To learn more about how to cite and use source material appropriately and for other writing support, see the U of T writing support website. Consult the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters for a complete outline of the University’s policy and expectations. For more information, please see the Student Academic Integrity and university Academic Integrity websites.

In PHY405

• Any data you report must have been taken by you or your partner.
• Borrowing code or discussing work with other students is fine as long as it is properly acknowledged.
  • Any code based on online sources must be attributed.
  • Any code shared from another student must be attributed.
  • It is plagiarism for you to simply copy what another student did without attribution.
• Although you are only expected to turn in lab reports, not your lab notebooks, the Instructor or TA may ask at any time ask to see your notebook and associated computer files.
• If you cannot properly document the work that is the basis for a report you have submitted, you may receive zero for that report, or even more severe sanctions if the Instructor believes there has been a violation of the University of Toronto Academic Code.

Academic Accommodations

Specific Medical Circumstances

If you become ill and it affects your ability to do your work in this course, consult with the Instructor immediately.

A Verification of Illness (also known as a "doctor’s note") is temporarily not required. Students who are absent from academic participation for any reason (e.g., COVID, cold, flu and other illness or injury, family situation) and who require consideration for missed academic work should report their absence through the online absence declaration. The declaration is available on ACORN under the Profile and Settings menu. Students should also advise their instructor of their absence.

If an absence extends beyond 14 consecutive days, or if you have a non-medical personal situation preventing you from completing your academic work, you should connect with your College Registrar. They can provide advice and assistance reaching out to instructors on your behalf. If you get a concussion, break your hand, or suffer some other acute injury, you should register with Accessibility Services as soon as possible.

Personal Reasons

There may be times when you are unable to complete course work on time due to non-medical reasons. If you have concerns, speak to the Instructor or to your College Registrar’s office; they can help you decide whether to request an extension or accommodation. They may be able to provide you with a College Registrar’s letter of support to give to your instructors, and connect you with other resources for help with your situation.

Religious Accommodation

As a student at the University of Toronto, you are part of a diverse community that welcomes and includes students and faculty from a wide range of cultural and religious traditions. For my part, I will make every reasonable effort to avoid scheduling tests, examinations, or other compulsory activities on religious holy days not captured by statutory holidays. Further to University Policy, if you anticipate being absent from class or missing a major course activity (such as a test or in-class assignment) due to a religious observance, please let me know as early in the course as possible, and with sufficient notice (at least two to three weeks), so that we can work together to make alternate arrangements.

Students with Disabilities or Accommodation Requirements

Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. If you have an acute or ongoing disability issue or accommodation need, you should register with Accessibility Services (AS) at the beginning of the academic year by visiting https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/as/new-registration. Without registration, you will not be able to verify your situation with your instructors, and instructors will not be advised about your accommodation needs. AS will assess your situation, develop an accommodation plan with you, and support you in requesting accommodation for your course work. Remember that the process of accommodation is private: AS will not share details of your needs or condition with any instructor, and your instructors will not reveal that you are registered with AS.

Mental Health and Well-being

As a student, you may experience challenges that can interfere with learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation, financial concerns, family worries and so forth. These factors may affect your academic performance and/or reduce your ability to participate fully in daily activities. Everyone feels stressed now and then – it is a normal part of university life. Some days are better than others, and there is no wrong time to reach out. There are resources for every situation and every level of stress.

There are many helpful resources available through your College Registrar or through Student Life (https://studentlife.utoronto.ca and https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/feeling-distressed). An important part of the University experience is learning how and when to ask for help. nlease take the time to inform yourself of available resources.

Please contact Ziqing Hong zqhong@physics.utoronto.ca if you notice any inaccuracies, mistakes, ambiguities or have any questions about this webpage or other course material.