An AI-assisted Newton's rings laboratory for undergraduates: manual-first measurement, transparent feedback and guided inquiry design

Abstract The Newton's rings experiment links interference physics with measurement, but repetitive microscope readings can limit time for comparison and discussion. We present a manual-first laboratory sequence in which students align the apparatus, identify fringes and calculate a reference curvature radius before using image-assisted analysis. Students inspect ring overlays, investigate disagreement and complete guided inquiry tasks. In ten repeated acquisitions with one nominal 1.0 m lens and one imaging arrangement, the mean absolute errors in curvature radius were 0.0123 m for image-assisted analysis and 0.0198 m for manual reading. An eight-item questionnaire yielded 54 complete responses: 50/54 students (92.6%) were satisfied with the manual-first comparison process and 51/54 (94.4%) with their overall learning. These descriptive results support the feasibility of combining manual measurement with image-assisted feedback in an undergraduate laboratory. The sequence gives instructors a practical way to retain observation and experimental judgement while introducing automated analysis.