Each laboratory is equipped with six computers which are used to accept and organize data and print out appropriate graphs. PRY 256 consists of one 2-hour laboratory per week, with experiments complementing the PRY 255 lecture material. Performance on regular examinations, homework sets, and a comprehensive final exam will be considered in determining the PHY 255 course grade. In other cases there is only a single valid approach, or one that is clearly more efficient or optimum in its ability to address the problem. Much emphasis is placed on this disciplined and reasoned approach to problem solving, as these are the critical thinking skills which are a goal of the course.
Many questions are conceptual rather than numerical in nature.
For these questions, evaluation is based on the accuracy of the conclusion drawn by the student upon application of the appropriate physical principle. Data should be presented in tabular or graphical form, identified and labeled with correct units of measure. Typically 11-13 labs are performed during the semester. A lab report is required at the end of each lab period. The grades on each lab report are averaged, with the average grade determining the PHY 256 grade based on a standard 10-point scale.