Mission-oriented experiments for year-one physics students

Abstract

Two new experiments, mechanical oscillations and kinetic theory of gas, were designed and implemented in undergraduate physics labs. A third experiment on heat transfer was also designed though not yet realised. Each of the three experiments carried missions that tested the fundamental concepts of the physics involved. The associated hardware and software were proven reliable and error-free. All experiments were executed through graphic-user-interfaces that featured standardised windows, much like playing games.