Integrating Computation and Experimentation in the Advanced Physics Undergraduate Curriculum

The University of Mount Union recently restructured its undergraduate physics curriculum to increase training in computational techniques at the intermediate and advanced levels.  The upper-level course Data Acquisition and Analysis builds on intermediate computational and experimental coursework and challenges students to independently shepherd experiments from conception to completion.  After providing a broad overview of course structure and learning objectives, the presentation will summarize three course projects, including (1) automated video motion tracking, (2) audio capture and signal separation, and (3) verification of “double slit” interference with sound. Assignment files will be made available to interested instructors upon request.