• Where are the lab rooms?

  In the Physical Sciences Building, rooms PS 126 (PHYS 153) and 127/114 (113, 213, 114, 214) on the Pocatello campus, and in the Center for Higher Education (CHE 209) on the Idaho Falls campus.  

• When do labs start?

  See the course syllabus or class schedule for your lab. A complete schedule for each lab is available for downloading on the individual lab web sites.

• How do I obtain a course syllabus?

You may download a course syllabus from the web site for the lab. See your class schedule for the URL, or go to http://www.physics.isu.edu/~hackmart/classes.html and follow the links.  

• How do I obtain a lab manual?

Lab manuals are provided free of charge and may be obtained by downloading from the lab web sites.  

• I can't get the link for my lab manual to open. What do I do?

You have either an error in your browser configuration, a networking problem, or the Acrobat Reader plug in is not installed on the machine you are using. If you are using a computer on campus the computer help desk consultants should be able to help you. If you are using an off campus account check with your system administrator.

We recommend either Mozilla Firefox or IE 5.0+ for browsing and Acrobat 6.0+ for PDF documents. All are available, free, as downloads from the following sources:microsoft.com, mozilla.org, adobe.com.

• I have the Acrobat plug in and can open the link for my lab manual but I am having difficulties printing it. What should I do?

You are experiencing either network difficulties, a memory problem or a printer configuration problem. Contact your system administrator. The following link provides many helpful troubleshooting hints for printing documents in PDF format.

• I can't get either of the video formats to open on my Mac/PC/IPod/Blackberry/abacus, what do I do?

You need the proper codec installed on your device to open the file in the format you've chosen. A brief internet search should yield just the codec you need. Download and install it.

• What else do I need?

  Everything else you need for the lab may be obtained at the campus bookstore. Ask for the bundle for your lab. Each bundle is different so make sure that you get the proper one for your lab. You will also need to know your student ID # for all exams and quizzes.

• I am enrolled in a lab that requires a lab notebook. I have a lab notebook from a previous semester. May I tear out the old pages and use it this semester?

No. You must start with a new lab notebook for each new lab. If you are involved in a lab sequence that continues from one semester to the next (i.e., 113/114, 213/214), you are permitted to use the same notebook for the second part of the lab (provided that it meets all specs), but you need a new notebook every time you start a new lab or retake a lab. Under no circumstances should you ever tear a page out of a lab notebook. This would render the lab notebook invalid for any use.  

• What is the lab calculator policy?

  The TI-30XA (battery or solar-powered) is the calculator required for lab. It is the only calculator to be used in lab, the only calculator your instructor will answer questions about, and the only calculator that you will be allowed to use on the final exam. There are many reasons for this policy and your lab instructor will explain these to you. Under no circumstances will exceptions be made to this policy. It's the TI30XA or counting on your fingers.

• What happens if I miss a lab?

There are no "make up" labs, per se, but if you miss a lab for an excusable reason you may attend another lab during the same week with advanced permission from both instructors. See your syllabus for details. The same policy applies to lab finals (see below). If you miss the entire lab final week you will have to wait until the following semester to take a final.

• When are the lab finals?

Lab finals are held the last week of lab. See the lab schedules for the exact times and dates. Students enrolled in PHYS101L do not take a lab final.

• Where are the lab finals held?

In your regular lab room at the regular lab time. All lab finals are two hours in length - regardless of the length of the lab period.

• When will lab grades be posted? How may I see my final?

  A cumulative spreadsheet is posted periodically on the website which shows the points you have accumulated through the semester. You may access your points at any time provided that you give us a codename on the general information/quiz 1 form you will be asked to fill out during the orientation lab. You lab instructor will be happy to show you how many points that you have accumulated at any time.
  
  Final lab grades will be posted after all of the lab finals have been graded and the curves computed. This is an involved process that generally takes about two weeks after the last final has been given. Lab grades are posted on the web sites for the labs. Because no one is able to predict when the lab grades will be posted, email and/or phone queries pertaining to "when will the lab grades be posted" will not be answered. Lab grades will be posted just as soon as they are ready.
  
  If you wish to review you lab grades be sure to make arrangements with your TA to do so before the end of the semester. After the semester ends lab instructors are no longer under contract and not obligated to maintain office hours or even be around. After the lab instructors have left it is much more difficult for us to find your exam and go through it with you.

• I just looked at the final grade spreadsheet and I am one point short of the grade that I wanted. Who do I see about getting an additional point?

  Once the lab instructors have submitted their scores to the lab supervisor (before the final is given) those pre-final scores are considered to be "set". In the unlikely event you are able to convince us to regrade a quiz, lab report, etc., after the fact, we would look through all of your work - not just the contested item. If you want to contest a score with your lab instructor you must do so before you take the final exam.

  What happens if my lab and/or lab final is canceled due to University closure?
  
  If your lab or lab final is canceled due to University closure it will be rescheduled for the same time the following week.

• I am having a scheduling problem and may have to miss more than one lab during the course of the semester.
  
  You should consider transferring to another lab or taking the lab a different semester when your scheduling conflicts can be resolved. Our current lab grading system is built on the accumulation of points. Since there are many extra points built into the system we do not offer "make up" labs. See your syllabus for details.
  
  

More Questions?