Physics Lab Safety and Lab Equipment

During this course, you will be required to perform various labs at your home. All of the labs will use common household products and materials. Anything has the potential to be dangerous if used in a careless manner. Please follow basic safety guidelines when conducting physics laboratory exercises. Watch the following video about lab safety.

General Lab Safety Rules

Always follow directions. Do not perform unauthorized experiments.
Be alert and attentive at all times.
Report all accidents, injuries, and equipment breakage to the instructor immediately.
Use safety goggles.
Be able to identify and use all laboratory equipment appropriately.
Dress appropriately (no loose fitting clothes, no dangling jewelry, shoes should be closed-toed, long hair pulled back, and long sleeves rolled up.)
Clean up lab area.

Lab Safety Rules Relating Specifically to Physics

image of lab signs: safety; warning: toxic hazard, danger: electric hazard: notice: fire door do not block; danger: flammable materials

Study of Motion

Always use caution when dealing with falling objects, objects propelled through the air, moving objects, springs, and more.
Always use safety glasses when around flying objects.
Do not attempt to recover any launched objects from power lines, trees, roofs, or other dangerous places.

Sounds

The virtual labs we will conduct will not produce any noise levels that will require you to protect your ears. However, it is important to note that when working hands-on with wind tunnels, motors, and engines wearing protective hearing equipment could be necessary.

Lap Noise Exposure Chart with the following labels: decibel levels
PAIN THRESHOLD: 140 dB
140 dB:jet engine at takeoff

130 dB: Jackhammer, sandblasting
120 dB: chainsaw
110 dB: bulldozer
90 dB: truck traffic
70 dB: speaking voice
OSHA regulations: 85 dB

Electricity

Use caution when working with electricity.
Before making adjustments to an electrical circuit, be sure to turn off the current first.
Do not connect the terminals of a battery or power supply to each other with a wire. Such a wire will become dangerously hot.
When unplugging cords, always pull cords from the plug at the electrical receptacle and never pull the cords from the wire.
Remove all conductive or metallic jewelry before working with electricity.
Prevent trip and fall hazards by placing wires away from places where people walk.
Never open a battery. The contents are corrosive and can be toxic or poisonous.
Never use water or have wet hands when dealing with cords, plugs, or electrical equipment. Never run a cord near or over a sink.
Never overload circuits as they will overheat and cause power outages or fires.
Never use damaged electrical equipment (frayed wires, bent plugs, etc).

Electrostatic Generators

Keep electronic devices away as they could be permanently damaged by the spark.
Never operate the generator near flammable materials.
Students with epilepsy, heart or nervous system conditions, or pacemakers should never operate or be in the proximity of an electrostatic generator.

Watch the presentation below to learn about common lab scenarios.

Watch the presentation below to learn about common lab equipment.

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