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Project-Based Physics Lab for Undergraduate Students
Starting in FS 2023, a pilot project for a new type of physics lab was launched: The P+, which stands for Project-based Physics Lab for Undergraduate Students.
Abstract
The P+ offers a project-based alternative to the conventional physics lab course P2 for motivated and interested students, in which they can plan, carry out, and evaluate their own physics experiments. The explorative learning in small groups promotes additional competencies in the areas of interdisciplinary thinking, project management, teamwork, and critical assessment of one's own projects.
What does that mean?
- In the P+ you will complete 6 experiments in groups of 6, which you are largely free to design. You will be assigned a highly motivated HTA who will guide you and your group throughout the whole semester. Additionally, an experienced TA oversees several groups simultaneously.
- You will have a collection of experiment ideas at your disposal, and you can also extend or modify existing experiments. In addition, once a semester you are allowed to develop and conduct your own completely new and slightly crazy experiment.
- Two weeks are allotted for each experiment. In the first week, you will discuss your ideas in your group and together with your TA. Then you prepare the physical principles and plan the setups and measurements. In the second week, you will conduct the experiment. You will find that developing together, solving problems, and answering your own questions has a very high learning effect, and is also great fun!
- In order to adapt the workload, which is significantly higher for the preparation than in the traditional experiments, the number of experiments is reduced to 6 and additionally only one report has to be handed in per experiment and group, which two group members prepare together. This means you only write a report 2x per semester instead of 8x.