Should I Include a Lab on Measurement Instruments in My Physics Course?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 3K views
Gamma
Messages
355
Reaction score
11
I am going to teach in a two year private college in September. Currently I am in the process of determining what laboratory experiments will the students do so that I can be prepared with the necessary laboratory equipments. My question is, how important is it to have a lab on measurement instruments such as Vernier calipers and micrometers? If I am to have a lab on this topic, is it better to use manual instruments/digital instruments? I was thinking that manual instruments might allow them to understand the concept of measurement uncertainities better. What are your thoughts?

Thanks for your responses.

Gamma.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Manual or digital doesn't really matter, because in digital meters you also have uncertainties on the last digit. Maybe better use digital, because many people think they're exact.