A Basic Idea of a Physics Laboratory

Any scientific discovery or an invention is done through various research and experiments. The process of experimentation has led to many scientific discoveries and Physics, the subject of matter and energy, is not an exception. Physics is basically involved with how light, motion, force and heat interact with energy and matter. For further studies of the subject, to come up with new results related to the subject, it is necessary to follow a proper scientific method, which involves performing experiments to prove a certain hypothesis. This is where a physics laboratory is required. In other words, scientific experiments related to physics are performed in a physics laboratory, more commonly referred as a physics lab. Physics laboratories are also used by students who are studying the science of physics through demonstration.

The subject "Physics" comprises various disciplines under it like electricity, optics, magnetism, acoustics, mechanics, modern physics, nuclear and thermodynamics. Within these disciplines there are sub-disciplines, like geophysics, astrophysics, biophysics, nuclear physics. Thus physics is a broad subject and accordingly, a physics lab consists of a wide range of physics laboratory equipments to perform a number of physics experiments. These include items scales, glass beakers, test tubes, lenses, heat lamps, magnets, balls, pendulums inclined planes etc. A physics lab may also have more sophisticated equipment, such as telescopes, microscopes, spectroscopes and electromagnets, which a scientist uses to perform his experiments.



Functions in a Physics Laboratory
The functions undertaken in a physics laboratory are broadly classified as per the needs of academics, government, and industry. The Physics Laboratory's main functions are as follows:

• Develops new physical standards, data and measurement methods.
• Pursues research in the physical sciences.
• Collaborates with various industries and research organizations to commercialize inventions and discoveries.
• Undertakes laboratory programs starting from tests of fundamental physics postulates to generic technology to the more immediate needs of commerce and industry.

Advancements in a Physics Laboratory
The design of a physics lab has changed over the years. The use of highly sophisticated computer software and computers have change the working process in a physics laboratory. The modern physics labs allow scientists, students, researchers to run complex computer simulations as part of laboratory experiments. The traditional physics laboratory experiments can only simulate concepts that require real world application to make sense. The computer simulations in physics experiments give a scientist the tools to simulate real events, which are run by producing perfect mathematical models of events which can be studied. The use of computer simulations has divided a physic laboratory scientists into two divisions. The physicists who perform the physics experiments in a traditional way are called experimental physicists. While the physicists who perform physics experiments using the simulations to prove their hypotheses are called theoretical physicists.

Though initially the experimental physicists were successful, with advancements in technology and the applications of computer models and simulations, the experiments undertaken by the theoretical physicists have become more accurate and successful. Even then, both the divisions are important to the advancement of physics.