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MIT: 8.13 Experimental Physics I

Experimental Physics I


MIT
Enroll in 8.13

About this course

Junior Lab is a two semester sequence in experimental physics offered by the MIT Department of Physics — usually taken by third-year physics majors — focusing on the professional and personal development of the student as a scientist through the medium of experimental physics. 8.13 is the first semester of the sequence. It is an "advanced lab" course in modern physics, which includes special relativity, experimental foundations of quantum mechanics, atomic structure and optics, statistical mechanics, and nuclear and particle physics. 8.13's heavy emphasis on professional development as a scientist includes laboratory technique and modern physics, but focuses more directly on skills such as oral and written communication methods, the troubleshooting process, professional scientific attitude, data analysis, and reasoning about uncertainty.

More information can be found at the main course website.

Prerequisites

Students must have credit for 8.04 or a more advanced quantum mechanics course before enrolling in 8.13. If you have not passed 8.04, please see the head Junior Lab instructor. Knowledge of elementary statistics is useful, but is not required. Some scientific programming experience is useful, but is not required.

Knowing who your lab partner will be before the semester starts is not required, nor is it very common.

  1. Course Number

    8.13

  2. Classes Start

  3. Classes End

  4. Estimated Effort

    8.13 requires at least 18 hours per week.

    By nature, laboratory work has no definite point of completion, so 8.13 students sometimes continue working well beyond the required level. While there have been cases of students spending excessive amounts of time on 8.13, this should be viewed as neither required nor recommended, despite rumors to the contrary. Urban legends regarding 8.13 should be treated with a healthy skepticism, lest they become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

  5. Requirements

    Students enrolling in 8.13 are expected to have recently completed 8.04. If you have not passed 8.04, please see the head Junior Lab instructor.
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