Physics II [PHYS:1702]: Spring 2016
- 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 (this is obviously only a rough first
approximation and may vary from student to student).
- Exam Schedule:
- Midterm 1: Wednesday, Feb 24, Chs. 13, 21-24
- Midterm 2: Wednesday, April 6, Chs. 25-29
- Final Exam: Tuesday, May 10, 12:30-2:30, Chs. 13, 21-32
- Grading
- Homework 20%
- Labs 20%
- Midterms 15% Each
- Final Exam 30%
- 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,
one-sided
8.5x11 inch sheet of paper 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.
- 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 60%, then extra credit up to 2%
of the overall points in the course will be added to your score. See the
syllabus for the exact formula.
- 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.
E-mail messages and phone calls may not always 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.