Physics II [1702/29:028]: Spring 2015

Course Work:

This is a 4 semester-hour course with lab. CLAS guidelines are that students should expect to spend two hours per semester-hour on study outside of class. This means 8 hours per week on homework, reading, and other course preparation.

Exam Schedule:

Midterm 1: Wednesday, Feb 25, Ch. 21-24

Midterm 2: Wednesday, April 8, Ch. 25-29

Final Exam: Wednesday, May 13, 12:30-2:30 [2 hrs], Ch. 21-33

Grading

Homework 20%

Labs 20%

Midterms 15% Each

Final Exam 30%

Reading/Participation Extra Credit (see below)

Homework

Weekly homework assignments are to be completed online using WileyPLUS. All assignments must be completed by 11:00 pm on Wednesday. Late homework will not be accepted. You are allowed to work with other students on the homework, but each student must calculate the solutions to his/her own questions and submit the answers on WileyPLUS. WileyPLUS homework is electronically graded

Twice per semester (announced in advance), homework solutions will be be required in hard-copy format, with all work shown. These two homework assignements will count the same as others, but will be graded in the same way as the exams.

Labs

The laboratory assignments are a key part of the course, to be held under the supervision of your teaching assistant, who will also grade the laboratory reports. Questions about laboratory grading should be directed to your TA. Eating and drinking in the laboratory is not allowed. Only 9 of 10 labs will be counted toward grading; however, there will be no make-up labs.

Exams

Midterm exams will be held during regular class hours on the dates specified above. The final exam will be two hours, scheduled during finals week at a time to be announced. Midterm exams will cover the material specified above, and the final exam will be comprehensive. Exams may cover material not explicitly discussed in class - reading is important! There will be no make-ups for the one-hour exams except in truly extraordinary circumstances for which the student comes to the instructor before the exam to plan a make-up.

Exams will be closed book, but each student may bring a single, two-sided 3 by 5 inch index card with anything the student desires written on it. Exams will include both conceptual questions and questions requiring calculations - the latter will require all work to be shown explicitly. Partial credit may be granted for correct methodology, even if the final answer is incorrect.

Reading Quizzes

Reading assignments must be completed before lecture. Completion of the reading is essential for the interactive learning method to be effective, and tests may include material not explicitly covered in class. We will have reading quizzes every Monday (unless otherwise announced), to be taken in class using your clicker, intended to encourage reading and awareness of topics rather than in-depth understanding. The overall quiz grade, if better than your worst midterm score, can improve that score by up to 10%.

Participation

Participation will be tracked by student's response to clicker questions during class. These questions are un-graded, so any response counts as participation. If your participation grade is greater than 90%, then your worst midterm score will be improved by 10%. This extra credit is additive with that for reading quizzes described above and will be applied so as to maximize the student's total grade - however, your total midterm score cannot exceed 100%.

Absence Policy

Attendance is encouraged but not required for all regular class meetings, but any opportunities for extra credit through class activities, notably reading quizzes and participation, will not be made up for any reason in the event of absence. Attendance during scheduled exams is required and make-up exams will only be given if the student comes to the instructor with appropriate justification before the exam to plan a make-up.

Communication

Students may communicate with the professor by phone, e-mail, or in person. However, e-mail messages and phone calls may not be answered promptly (other than in true emergencies). Students with issues or questions should if at all possible raise them in person, in discussion, by attending office hours, or by scheduling an appointment with the professor.

Physics Tutorials

Teaching assistants are available for free tutoring in the TILE Commons Room, 310 Van Allen Hall, during posted hours. While you are strongly encouraged to seek help from the TAs and the instructor, do not expect them to do your homework for you.