**E12: Linear Physical Systems Analysis Labs** **Spring 2025** **[Matt Zucker](../index.html)** # Logistics All labs are from 1:15-4:00 pm in Singer Hall room 245. Students will generally work in pairs. If there is an odd number of students in a lab section, one triplet of students will be permitted. Lab section assignments can be found [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EsuqOXe4aWos3s9qSKGoij9d2vxfs-beSp0kn9uEOi8/edit?usp=sharing). All lab assignments are due at 1:15 PM two weeks after your original lab meeting. Please ask in advance if you anticipate being unable to submit on time. **Unexcused late submissions will be penalized.** Attendance to labs is mandatory. In general, please don't expect to leave lab early; however, students who finish all of the data collection and analysis may request my permission to do so. ## Office hours Office hours are held Fridays from 10:30-noon in Singer Hall 235, or by appointment. # Lab assignments * [Lab 1 - Fourier Series and Superposition](lab1.html) (Jan 27-Feb 5) * [Pre-lab slides](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aohQLOkgJMYjSgMB7erQxFhck30YF_G9POebIMXMoog/edit?usp=sharing) * [Lab 2 - Impulse Response and Convolution](lab2.html) (Feb 10-19) * [Pre-lab slides](lab2_slides.md.html) * Lab 3 - Biophysics and curve fitting (Feb 24-Mar 5) * Lab 4 - Coupled pendula (Mar 17-26) * Lab 5 - Numerical solution of ODEs (Mar 31-Apr 9) # Guidelines for lab reports For E12 this semester, you don't need to submit a formal lab report with an abstract, introduction, procedures, results, conclusions, etc. Instead, create a typed (not handwritten) document that reproduces the questions in each lab assignment, and provides your answers to each. Additionally, please make sure you: * Write your names at the top of the document. * Reproduce the questions verbatim, including question numbers. * Use **boldface font** for the questions and regular weight for your answers. * Include only polished figures, tables, and graphs created on the computer (no hand-drawn or messy figures please). * Tag all quantities (whether in text, tables, or figures) with units. * Include titles and axis labels with units on graphs. * Avoid skipping over "tricky" steps in any mathematical derivations that aren't simple algebraic operations. When writing your lab reports, you should assume your reader is knowledgable about basic topics in engineering, but not an expert in the material underlying the lab. Imagine a classmate who has not taken the course yet -- you want them to be able to walk away with a clear impression of what was done, and why it matters. In terms of length: less is often more! Try to say what you need to say as efficiently as you can. Avoid repeating or paraphrasing text in multiple sections, and be extra mindful of this in light of collaborating with multiple authors. All lab reports must be submitted in PDF format. No Word files please!