Abstract
The second edition of Experimental Methods for Science and Engineering Students-2nd Edition by Les Kirkup is a very valuable book for physical science and engineering undergraduates introducing them to the experimental processes of data gathering and analysis then turning what was found into formal oral or written presentations. The advantage of this book lies in its physics context and the level.
Laboratory sessions are an integral element of undergraduate physics and engineering courses. As such, this book is a great resource for academics teaching into first-year physics and engineering aiming to improve the quality of the scientific and lab reporting skills of their students and to help them better understand physics through experiments. This book would also be of significant value to science teachers reminding them of the targets they are aspiring their students to reach before tertiary study and best prepare them for success in attaining the scientific lab skills (experimental and analytical) and motivate them to towards experiments.
This book looks at laboratory methodology – a corner stone of physics education, encompassing the importance of logbook, the calculations of measurement uncertainties, features of data and offers practical and workable advice with the use of excellent examples. The key strengths of this book are: relevance to physics education, highlighting the statistical analysis of the experimental data, and the linking of relevant examples; exercises in basic and derived SI units, significant figures, uncertainties in measurements. The book also assists in imparting logical thinking among the readers, helping them to acquire core skills (ability to explain; analytical skills; skills mastery; ability to communicate the findings of an experiment etc.)
The book comprehensively covers the learning of the process of science as an experimental activity with many exercises at the end of each chapter. Using known formulae to linearise graphically the data is covered well across a variety of equation types from power laws to exponential laws.
Laboratory sessions are an integral element of undergraduate physics and engineering courses. As such, this book is a great resource for academics teaching into first-year physics and engineering aiming to improve the quality of the scientific and lab reporting skills of their students and to help them better understand physics through experiments. This book would also be of significant value to science teachers reminding them of the targets they are aspiring their students to reach before tertiary study and best prepare them for success in attaining the scientific lab skills (experimental and analytical) and motivate them to towards experiments.
This book looks at laboratory methodology – a corner stone of physics education, encompassing the importance of logbook, the calculations of measurement uncertainties, features of data and offers practical and workable advice with the use of excellent examples. The key strengths of this book are: relevance to physics education, highlighting the statistical analysis of the experimental data, and the linking of relevant examples; exercises in basic and derived SI units, significant figures, uncertainties in measurements. The book also assists in imparting logical thinking among the readers, helping them to acquire core skills (ability to explain; analytical skills; skills mastery; ability to communicate the findings of an experiment etc.)
The book comprehensively covers the learning of the process of science as an experimental activity with many exercises at the end of each chapter. Using known formulae to linearise graphically the data is covered well across a variety of equation types from power laws to exponential laws.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 27-28 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Australian Physics |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Sept 2021 |
Keywords
- Experimental Methods
- Science
- Engineering