The SPIL (Secondary Physics Instrumentation Laboratory) facility at WIU allows you to provide your students with laboratory experiences that use the latest technology and give students a glimpse at the tools commonly used by scientists today. Activities are designed to enhance the lessons you present in your classroom. We provide all equipment, materials, and write-ups for lab activities, and the SPIL facilities will be staffed with qualified assistants.

PART DAY: (2 hours or less) can be flexibly scheduled at various times, excluding Fridays.

FULL DAY: (typically 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, with an hour lunch) will be restricted to Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Further, if your class size is larger than 18, additional restrictions may apply, as we feel it necessary to divide large groups, requiring the use of multiple lab rooms, to avoid overcrowding, and to insure maximum active participation of each student.

In addition, the SPIL is not available during University break periods.

Fall Semester - All activities will be confined to the study of Mechanics.

Spring Semester - The potential activities will include Waves, Electric Fields, Radioactivity, and Holography.

Specifically:

Waves: the study of wave characteristics-frequency, wavelength, velocity, quality, etc. and will be completed using computer based software with miscellaneous external accessories-microphone, keyboard, etc. (1 - 1 1/2 hours)

Waves. 2nd. option: the study of transverse wave resonance, using standing waves on a string. (1 hour)

E-Fields: investigation of the nature of an electric field, using field plotting devices, and spreadsheet computer analysis. (1 hour)

Radioactivity: introduction to the basic types of radiation, and the measurement of the half-life of a radioactive material, utilizing a standard Geiger Mueller tube system. (1 hour)

Holography: rudimentary instruction in what a hologram is, how it is made, and demonstration of the system used. The student groups will be allowed to make a hologram of their own, using small objects they bring with them. (30 minutes per group). NOTE: this activity is scheduled interspersed with others. Due to the restricted space available in the holography module, we cannot work with more than 3 students at a time, in burning the holography plates.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, contact Eldon Hare at the WIU Physics Department.

Eldon Hare
(309) 298-1596
mserh@wiu.edu