A General Physics Laboratory in Electromagnetism for Scienceand Engineering Students

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We are working to improve a lower division general physics (electricity and magnetism) laboratory which is taken by about 260 science and engineering students each semester at San Jose State University. We are developing experiments on magnetism by having students measure the magnetic field with Hall probes interfaced to a personal computer in a wide range of situations, and also observe the motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields. We are also improving and reorganizing some of our existing experiments on electricity and electrical circuits. The new and improved experiments help students develop better understanding for the abstract concepts of electric and magnetic fields, reinforce classroom lectures, and provide to students hands-on experience in working with modern instrumentation. Funds were obtained for the acquisition of 12 transverse and longitudinal Hall probes, 12 personal computers, and 12 Pasco e/m apparatuses with Helmholtz coils and power supplies.