PC 242 - - Block 5 - - 2005

Instructors: Stephanie DiCenzo, Barnes 222, x6218; Susan Thompson, Barnes 228, x6579

Paraprof: Katie Chynoweth, Olin 259, x 6750 _ _ _ Tech Director: Jeff Steele, Olin 254, x6582

Quick links: homework, tests lab info at http://personalwebs.coloradocollege.edu/~sthompson/Classes/242Lab/schedule.html

Welcome to the second block of our two-block sequence in classical physics. We assume that you have had two blocks of calculus and the first block of physics, or the equivalent.

You're here to learn how to do physics, not just to learn about physics. And, you have to do the learning actively; no one can teach physics to you. However, we are here to help you, and will do so in any way we can--through class discussion and labs, through informal discussions outside of class, and (even) through problem sets, quizzes, and exams. Please be ready to work hard - many students have found the second block of physics to be significantly more difficult than the first.

Textbook: Randall D. Knight, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, and the accompanying student workbook, available at the bookstore. This is a new book, so there won't be any used copies available; however, we will use it again in blocks 6&7, so you'll be able to resell it if you can bear to part with it.

On-line homework: We will continue experimenting with the online support graciously offered by the textbook's publishers. We want to know if this helps you. The website is http://www.masteringphysics.com and the course ID is MPDICENZO0001. I gather they intend to ask you for your personal college ID number; if that is so, please supply them with a fictitious number. After the brouhaha about the directory, let's not spread these numbers around. I will make a lot of problems available to you - that doesn't mean I expect you to do all of them.

Class Schedule: We’ll meet for class Tuesday through Friday mornings from 9 to about 11:45 am, and Monday afternoons from 1:15 till about 3:30 pm. This time will be spent in a mixture of activities, including lecture/demonstrations, discussion of problems, and group problem solving. To a large extent, what we do in class will be determined by what you are wondering about. So come prepared with questions about the previous night’s assignment or anything else that interests you.

Lab Schedule: The laboratory will be open afternoons from 1 PM until 4PM on the days listed on the schedule as "pm lab". Attendance is required at certain laboratories as noted on the schedule. For the others you may choose a day that is convenient for you.

Office Hours: While noontime is sacred to skating or department meetings or seminars, I'm usually around in the afternoons, till about 6 pm. Just drop by; I rarely have anything better to do than to talk about the coursework, physics in general, or anything else. I'll let you know if that's not the case. And of course, there's always email; I often check my email at home in the evenings.

Homework: You’ll be assigned reading and problems to work every night. These are listed in the assignment page. Working problems is a major part of the course, but because we won't be collecting your homework, you're free to make the major mistake of thinking you don't need to do it. You may seek help in doing homework from any source you find useful – other students, instructors, tutors, books, dreams, etc. But be sure you write it yourself and understand what you are writing.

Laboratory: Lab is where the action is-- Here you will get to see how nature, not the back of the book, answers the questions. In fact, you get to ask the questions, and figure out the significance of nature's answers. Here's where you develop, we hope, some understanding of the meaning of words like "fact" and "really" and "understand". We have tried to avoid
the cookbook approach in these labs, and so have decided to use a "Socratic" checkout procedure--to get credit for a lab, all you and your partner have to do is talk your way past your friendly lab instructor, who might have a question or two about how you know the things you say you do.

You are required to complete SIX labs in order to pass this class. The labs are listed on the schedule page. The aim of the laboratory is to help you understand the concepts we are studying, not to teach you to use sophisticated devices or lab write-up technique. Lab check-outs are oral and will be graded with a P(assing) or NP(No Passing) grade.

Tests: There will be three weekly tests, and one comprehensive final exam.. We will give you credit for learning on the weekly tests; your final exam grade will replace any test grade that is lower.
There will be no makeup exams. If you miss a test, your final grade will replace it. Except under dire circumstances, IF YOU MISS THE FINAL YOU WILL FAIL THE COURSE.
All tests will be closed book, taken in the classroom or lab. Calculators will be permitted, and one sheet of the test will contain many equations, constants, conversion factors, and other (perhaps) useful information.

You will find Solutions to the test problems posted on the test page - these will appear at some point over the weekend.

Course Grade: Your grade in the course will be determined by your grades on the weekly tests (total of 60%) and the final (40%). Your total score will be multiplied by 1 if you've satisfactorily completed all six labs and by 0 if you have not.

Honor System: Science is a social enterprise, and we encourage you to work with your peers on homework, labs, studying for tests, etc. Lab checkouts are done with your partner, but the lab instructor will make sure both partners understand the experiment. Don’t let your lab partner take over--be sure you understand what you both are doing!
Of course, your work on tests should be your own: we’ll ask you to sign the honor pledge to that effect.

Tutoring Service: A junior or senior physics major or the equivalent is available to answer questions and give help Sunday through Thursday evenings from 7 - 10 p.m., in the physics seminar room, Barnes 213. Don't hesitate to make use of this service--that's what it's for. There is no charge and no guarantee. Even if you don’t need to seek help from the tutors, the seminar room is a good place to work with other students.

Other help: Besides the tutors, and your classmates and friends, and your professors, there's also the Quantitative Reasoning Center.