How to Prepare for Laboratory Exams

Know the purpose of each laboratory experiment.

Study the introduction to each experiment.

Know the basic principles of physics that are being used in each experiment. (This may require reviewing the lecture text.)

Know the definition of physical terms used in each experiment.

Know in general the procedures followed in each experiment.

Don’t memorize the data obtained in the individual experiments, but do know how to get results from example data that might be given to you.

Know how the results you obtained depended on the conditions set in the experiment.

Know the questions that appear in the manual.

These suggestions are not meant to be all‑inclusive, but following these should give you a reasonable chance of making a good grade on the laboratory exam.