Block 5, 2006-2007

Instructors

Text

The required textbook for the course is  Physics for Scientists and Engineers by Randall D. Knight.  A student workbook comes packaged with your book.  We will be doing many of the workbook exercises in class so be sure you have access to one.

Online Course Information

All documents related to the course are on the course web page at http://faculty1.coloradocollege.edu/~kmlang/06-07/PC242/Index.html.   Check this page for assignments, the lab schedule, handouts, and solutions.

Class Schedule

The lecture and problem solving portion of the course will meet every weekday from 9 AM until about noon unless otherwise noted on the schedule.  Be sure to bring your Student Workbooks as well as your textbook to class.

The lab will be open from 1 PM - 4 PM on the days listed on the course schedule.  Labs will require about 1 - 2 hours to complete.

Midterm exams will be given at 9 AM on the day they are listed on the course schedule.  The final exam will begin at 8 AM.  Exams will last three to four hours.

Reading and Problem Assignments

Daily reading and homework assignments are listed in the course schedule.

You should do the assigned reading before class, i.e. the reading assigned for Monday should be read before morning class on Monday.  Morning class lessons will assume you have read the appropriate material.  Embedded in the reading are "Stop to Think" questions which you should do as you read along to test your comprehension.   Answers to the "Stop to Think" questions are found at the end of the chapter.  You should also read with a pencil and paper handy to work out derivations and examples that are not clear from just reading them.

For each reading assignment you will find a listing of problems to work.  You should have read, thought carefully about, and worked or at least tried to work all the assigned problems before class on the day their reading is assigned, i.e. problems pertinent to Monday's reading should be considered before class on Monday.   During class we will discuss these problems or similar ones, and your understanding in class will be augmented from having already thought about the problems.  After class you should then go back and finish any problems you did not complete or fully understand from that day's assignment, before continuing to the reading and problems for the next day.

The assigned problems will not be collected on a daily basis.  This gives you flexibility in when you choose to work them fully- either before or after the class in which the subject matter pertinent to them is discussed.  You should figure out for yourself what schedule best enhances your learning.  However, in the end you should work all the assigned problems fully and understand them.  For each exam you will be asked to turn in one randomly chosen problem set which will be graded to collectively comprise 15% of your total grade for the course.  If you do not have the problem sets at the time of the exam you will receive a 0 for that problem set.   Problem sets will be graded according to the following scale:

0 = 0% = little to no effort or a completely wrong answer indicating a complete lack of understanding.
1 = 75% = some effort but answer is substantially wrong or missing important concepts.  indicates lack of understanding of the material.
2 = 100% = a good answer, substantially correct and indicating a substantial effort and understanding of the material.
3 = 105% = a superlative answer in every aspect.  completely correct and indicating a thorough understanding of all concepts.  this grade will be given rarely to exceptional answers.

Your learning will often be enhanced by working with a partner or in a group on the assigned problems.  You are encouraged to do this; however, be sure that at the end of group sessions you understand the problems.

Answers to the even numbered problems will be posted on the course website.  The odd-numbered problem answers can be found in the back of your book.

Labs

Lab will meet according to the course schedule.  You will be required to complete two labs per week during these times.  You are required to complete six labs in order to pass the course and the labs are collectively worth 10% of your grade.

Please see separate lab handout for more information.

Exams and Quizzes

There will be two midterms exams and one final exam during this course.  Please see the course schedule for dates.  All exams will be cumulative; however, each will emphasize the material immediately preceding it.  We will give you credit for learning on the midterms; if your final exam score is higher than either or both of your previous scores, we will replace those scores with your final exam score.

There are no makeup exams.  You will receive a score of zero for any missed exams and your final will then replace that exam.  Except under dire circumstances, if you miss the final exam, you will fail the course.  Requests to reschedule the time you take an exam must be made well in advance and will be considered on a case by case basis.   Generally, if your request to reschedule the exam is granted, you will not have access to a professor while you take the exam.

All tests will be closed book.  Calculators are permitted, and you will be provided with an equation sheet for each exam.  We will provide any numerical values or unit conversions that you require during the exam.  Exams will consist of problems similar in difficulty to homework problems.  We may also ask you to explain a concept or answer in a short answer format.

Extra Help

A junior or senior physics major is available to answer questions or give help solving the assigned problems Sunday through Thursday evening in the physics lounge Barnes 213.  There is no charge for this service so do not hesitate to use it.  You may also come by your instructor's office to ask questions whenever the door is open.   The quantitative learning center also provides tutoring services and can help with a refresher on math skills that may have become a little rusty.  Contact Mark Morgenstern (mmorgenstern@coloradocollege.edu, 227-8289).

Honor Code

Science is a social enterprise, and we encourage you to work with your peers on homework, labs, studying for quizzes, etc. You should, however, be certain that you have your own understanding of every problem assignment. Lab checkouts may be done with your partner, but the lab instructor will make sure both partners understand the lab. Don’t let your lab partner take over--be sure you understand what you are both doing. Of course, your work on quizzes and exams should be your own: we’ll ask you to sign the honor pledge to that effect.

Grades