9452609 Lahamer Berea College will modernize an instrument-based physics laboratory for physics students. The laboratory work will be coordinated with two two-semester courses covering topics in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and modern physics. Emphasis of this project is on modernizing and adding new experiments in modern physics including nuclear spectroscopy and installing computer-based data acquisition systems for measurement, control, and analysis of physical systems with direct interfaces to the phenomena under investigation. These systems will allow voltage measurements at up to 60 kHz sampling frequency, interval timing, and curve fitting and graphing. The requested equipment will greatly enhance the basic goals of developing an appreciation of the scientific method, demonstrating basic physical principles, teaching the practice and theory of measurement and providing the opportunity for students to use laboratory instruments. Our implementation of these goals will have the additional benefit of introducing the students to current analytical techniques for materials analysis, and to computer data acquisition and analysis.