By submitting this form you acknowledge that you have read the information provided here regarding the items required for the lab portion of your physics course.

The purpose of this form is to ensure that you request the correct lab kit items from the bookstore.  You will be notified when lab materials are available.  You will then either call the bookstore to arrange payment (Note: it should be obvious that you should not do so; in any case do NOT include your credit card information on this form), or stop by in person.  If you are coming to the VHCC campus to pick up your lab kit, you should call the bookstore first to be sure the materials you need are available, and you should ask them to reserve those materials for you.

Submitting Assignment: Lab Kit Form

Your course (e.g., Phy 121, Phy 232, etc. ):

Enter your access code in the boxes below. 

Remember that it is crucial to enter your access code correctly.  As instructed, you need to copy the access code from another document rather than typing it.

If you do not yet have an access code, be sure to follow the instruction you have received to request one.  However if you do not yet have the code, you may leave this line blank.

Access Code:
Confirm Access Code:

Your Name:

Your VCCS email address.  If you do not yet have your VCCS email address, go to the page http://www.vhcc.edu/dsmith/genInfo/startup_and_orientation.htm and scroll down to Step 1 of the Orientation.  A link is provided there, from which you can obtain your VCCS email address.  This address should be available within 24 hours of your registration.

You may enter any message or comment you wish in the box below:

Lab kits with DVDs/CDs.

Your lab materials will be packaged in a single package along with DVD's. 

• Disks:  If you require CD's as well, you should indicate this below.  The CD's and DVD's are designed to run in your computer's CD/DVD drive, not on a DVD player.
• When you need your materials:  You will not need your package until the beginning of the second week of classes, so don't worry if you don't have them before classes begin.  However you should pick up your package or order it by the first day or so of classes.
• Refundable and non-refundable items:  Each lab kit contains a number of non-refundable items, in addition to a package (not needed until late in the third week of the course) which if unopened contains refundable items.  If that package is opened, the items are no longer refundable.

Additional items required:

• Capacitor-generator for Physics II; multimeter and laser pointer:  If you are a Physics II student, you will later  require a generator-capacitor set, which you will probably choose to rent rather than purchase.  You will also require a laser pointer and a multimeter, either or both of which you might already have.  If not either or both may be purchased or rented from the bookstore.  Rental for the generator-capacitor set for Physics II is $25 for a 20-day rental (purchase/replacement price is around $90; bookstore has details).
• Lab interfaces and probes might be required: Physics 201, 202, 231 and 232 students may also need to rent lab interfaces and probes.  The rental cost is $25 for a 20-day rental.  (Purchase/replacement cost is around $300; bookstore will have details).

Estimated costs: 

• Shipping vs. in-store pickup:  The bookstore does not charge a handling fee, but they do charge you their cost of packaging and shipping.  If you pick up the items in the bookstore you will not need to pay the shipping cost.  However unless you are on or near the VHCC campus, shipping costs are probably less than transportation costs to VHCC.
• Cost of lab package:  The total cost for the lab kits, not including rentals, should be under $75 for Physics II and under $60 for Physics I.  These are probably high estimates; however costs have not yet been set.  You will be notified when costs are finalized.
• Cost of lab package plus rentals:  Total lab cost for Physics I students, including rentals but not including shipping costs (and assuming rental items are returned on time), are not expected to exceed $100.  Total lab costs for Physics II students, including rentals but not including shipping costs or costs of multimeters and laser pointers (many students have access to these items; see below) are not expected to exceed $125 (again assuming rental items are returned on time).

In the box below list the number of your course (e.g., Phy 121, 122, 201, 202, 231 or 232) and the items you will need to perform the labs.

Do you prefer to run CDs or DVDs with your computer, or do you have no preference?  Note that both CDs and DVDs contain the same information.  The DVDs cost a little less and there are only one or two of them; the number of CDs ranges from 10 to 14, depending on the course; however the cost is low for either format.  Be sure you understand that the DVDs are run using your computer, not the DVD player attached to your television, and not to a stand-alone DVD player.

If you are a financial aid student, financial aid charges through the bookstore may be available only for the first couple of weeks of the term. 

If you wish to indicate that you are a financial aid student, or if for some other reason you need to complete all transactions with the bookstore near the beginning of the term, or if you intend to complete the course ahead of schedule, indicate this below so we can accomodate your situation.

In which physics course are you enrolled (Phy 121, Phy 122, Phy 201, Phy 202, Phy 231, Phy 232, Phy 241, Phy 242)?

As mentioned, Physics II students will require a multimeter and a laser pointer. 

• Since most students either have or can borrow these fairly common items, they are not included in lab kits or in cost estimates. 
• If you wish to purchase or rent these items from the VHCC bookstore, you should indicate this in the box below.  These items can generally be purchased locally for about $20 each (prices as of Summer 07), and can often be purchased on the Web for even less.  The purchase through the VHCC bookstore tends to run about 30% higher than the cost through local sources, though they can sometimes be cheaper so it doesn't hurt to check with them; the cost of a rental should be about 1/3 the cost of local purchase, provided rentals are returned with other materials.
• Any working laser pointer is fine--anything that produces a laser beam will work for the experiments. 
• Multimeters have to have a scale that will give readings down to hundredths of a milliamp; a meter with a 2 mA scale will do so, and many of the cheapest meters have this scale, but some do not.  If you intend to purchase a meter you may also use this box to request more detailed specifications.

A reply to this submission should be posted within 24 hours of its receipt.  If you do not receive acknowledgement within 24 hours, please email the instructor dsmith@vhcc.edu and mention that you have submitted this form.