Goals of labs vary among physics instructors and courses and I don't claim to have any special insight. But my main goals for students are that they learn the following (in no particular order):
Estimating uncertainty in measurements
Propagating uncertainty in calculations
Writing using common scientific conventions
Using spreadsheets to perform multiple calculations and generate graphs
Proper use of physics lab equipment such as multimeters
Varying and inventing experiments
Developing skills and knowledge primarily developed in lecture
With these goals in mind, I have developed a variety of inexpensive online introductory physics labs. Here are some general descriptions:
Some reports are informal while others require a fairly formal report. I have found that requiring a formal report every week is a waste of time for students.
Some labs require use of uncertainty while others do not. This is also something that is a waste of time for students if taken to excess.
Some labs require use of video analysis using Tracker software. This is a powerful and free tool.
Labs range from being entirely of their own design to being nearly "cookbook." Autonomy tends to increase over the course of the term.
Students are required to collaborate on the discussion board for every lab. They might share a graph, a video, or raw data.
I make every effort to keep the lab kits affordable. My goal is have them be $40, though the bookstore marks them up a bit.
The PH201 kit (as of fall 2020) includes 2 solid metal spheres, a hollow sphere, ring, 2 plastic bottles with eyelets, a pulley with clamp, a centripetal force apparatus, a digital scale, a notecard, and a wood block with an eyelet. Students provide a camera, string, tape, scissors, paper, tape measure, a flat object of a single material (not wood or paper), and a long (at least a yard), smooth, stiff plane that can be inclined
The PH202 kit (as of winter 2021) includes a graduated cylinder, 3 pendulum bobs, 2 springs, an aluminum bar, 2 cups, a lid, a thermometer, a clamp, a PVC tube, 2 balloons, steel shot, a rubber band, and 2 wood cylinders. The scale from PH201 is also used. Students provide a camera, tape, water, ice, computer speakers, and human hair.
The PH203 kit (for spring 2021) includes 4 AA battery holders, a 1 F capacitor, a 1 microF capacitor, a hand cranked generator, a light bulb, a light bulb terminal, a clear box, a diffraction grating, 2 wires with alligator clips, 4 nichrome wires, 4 resistors, 4 alligator clips, a digital multi-meter, a protractor, 6 pins, a styrofoam pad, and a laser
Here are links to folders with lab instructions. You are welcome to use (and adapt) these with attribution:
You may purchase kits from other students (see below). If you have kits for sale, then contact me by email with the kits you have for sale and the method(s) of contact you prefer. Please note that this is a private contract between students; neither Chemeketa nor I are responsible for broken or missing equipment.
Grace Knapp (PH201, PH202, and PH203 kits): gknapp2@my.chemeketa.edu