Laboratory course syllabus (article)

\documentclass[11pt,a4paper]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{tgheros}
\renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault}
\usepackage[margin=2cm]{geometry}
\usepackage[table]{xcolor}
\usepackage{booktabs}
\usepackage{tabularx}
\usepackage{enumitem}
\setlist{nosep}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{titlesec}
\usepackage[hidelinks]{hyperref}

\definecolor{labred}{RGB}{176,32,32}
\titleformat{\section}{\large\bfseries\color{labred}}{\thesection}{0.6em}{}
\newcolumntype{Y}{>{\raggedright\arraybackslash}X}

\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}[remember picture, overlay]
  \fill[labred] (current page.north west) rectangle ([yshift=-0.6cm]current page.north east);
\end{tikzpicture}

\noindent{\small PHYS 151L \textbullet{} Fall 2026 \textbullet{} 1 credit \hfill
Department of Physics, University Name}\par\medskip
\noindent{\LARGE\bfseries Your paper}\par\medskip

\noindent\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{@{}lYlY@{}}
\toprule
Instructor & Instructor Name & Lab sections & Tue or Wed 14:00--16:50 \\
E-mail & [email protected] & Laboratory & Lab 110 \\
Office hours & Mon 10:00--11:30, Room 214 & Teaching assistants & TA Name, TA Name \\
Lab coordinator & Coordinator Name, Room 109 & TA e-mail & [email protected] \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabularx}

\section{Course description}
A laboratory course taken with General Physics I. Students carry out ten experiments in
mechanics, learn to estimate and propagate uncertainty, and write short reports. For a
quantity $q = f(x, y)$ the uncertainty is estimated as
\[
  \delta q = \sqrt{\left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\,\delta x\right)^2
             + \left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}\,\delta y\right)^2 } .
\]

\section{Learning outcomes}
\begin{enumerate}
  \item Set up and calibrate basic measuring instruments.
  \item Record data and uncertainties in a laboratory notebook.
  \item Fit a straight line to data and interpret slope and intercept.
  \item Write a concise report that compares results with theory.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Required materials}
Laboratory manual (on the course page), a bound quadrature notebook, a scientific
calculator, closed-toe shoes. Safety glasses are provided in the laboratory.

\section{Laboratory safety rules}
\begin{minipage}[t]{0.12\textwidth}
\vspace{0pt}
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=0.9]
  \fill[yellow!80!orange] (0,0) -- (2,0) -- (1,1.73) -- cycle;
  \draw[very thick, line join=round] (0,0) -- (2,0) -- (1,1.73) -- cycle;
  \node[font=\Huge\bfseries] at (1,0.6) {!};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{minipage}\hfill
\begin{minipage}[t]{0.85\textwidth}
\vspace{0pt}
\begin{enumerate}[label=\textbf{S\arabic*}]
  \item Complete the online safety module before the first session; you will not be
    admitted without it.
  \item No food or drink in the laboratory. Bags stay on the shelves by the door.
  \item Wear safety glasses whenever lasers, springs under tension or rotating
    equipment are in use.
  \item Check electrical circuits with your TA before switching on the power supply.
  \item Report every injury, spill or broken item to the TA at once.
  \item Know where the exits, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are.
\end{enumerate}
\end{minipage}

\section{Lab schedule}
\begingroup
\rowcolors{2}{labred!6}{white}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{@{}clYl@{}}
\toprule
Week & Experiment & Skills & Report \\
\midrule
1  & Orientation and safety & Notebook, instruments & -- \\
2  & Measurement and uncertainty & Vernier, micrometer, statistics & Short \\
3  & Graphing and linear fits & Least squares & Short \\
4  & Kinematics on an air track & Photogates & Full \\
5  & Projectile motion & Video analysis & Short \\
6  & Newton's second law & Force sensor & Full \\
7  & Friction & Inclined plane & Short \\
8  & Conservation of energy & Energy bookkeeping & Full \\
9  & Collisions and momentum & Error propagation & Short \\
10 & Rotational dynamics & Moment of inertia & Full \\
11 & Simple harmonic motion & Period measurement & Short \\
12 & Make-up session & -- & -- \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabularx}
\endgroup

\section{Assessment}
\begin{tabular}{@{}lr@{}}
\toprule
Component & Weight \\
\midrule
Pre-lab quizzes (11) & 10\% \\
Laboratory notebook & 15\% \\
Short reports (6) & 30\% \\
Full reports (4) & 35\% \\
Practical test (week 12) & 10\% \\
\midrule
Total & 100\% \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}
\hfill
\begin{tabular}{@{}ll@{}}
\toprule
Letter & Percentage \\
\midrule
A & 90--100 \\
B & 80--89 \\
C & 70--79 \\
D & 60--69 \\
F & below 60 \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabular}

\subsection*{Full report rubric}
\begingroup
\rowcolors{2}{labred!6}{white}
\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{@{}lYr@{}}
\toprule
Criterion & What is expected & Weight \\
\midrule
Introduction and theory & Aim stated; the equations used are given and explained & 15\% \\
Method & Apparatus and procedure clear enough to repeat & 15\% \\
Data and uncertainty & Tables with units; uncertainties estimated and propagated & 25\% \\
Analysis and graphs & Labelled graphs; fits with slope and intercept uncertainties & 25\% \\
Discussion & Results compared with theory; sources of error identified & 15\% \\
Presentation & Clear writing, numbered figures and tables, references & 5\% \\
\midrule
Total & & 100\% \\
\bottomrule
\end{tabularx}
\endgroup

\section{Policies}
\begin{description}
  \item[Attendance.] Every lab is compulsory. One missed lab may be made up in week 12;
    a second unexcused absence means a failing grade.
  \item[Late work.] Reports are due at the start of the next session; late reports lose
    20\% per week.
  \item[Academic integrity.] You work with a partner, but each of you writes your own
    report. Copying data or text from another group is misconduct.
  \item[Accessibility.] If you need an accommodation in the laboratory, such as a modified
    bench, contact the accessibility office and the coordinator before week 2.
\end{description}

\section{Important dates}
Safety module due Friday, September 4. First lab week of September 7. Thanksgiving week
(no labs) November 23--27. Practical test week of November 30.

\end{document}