| Class Meetings: |
MWF 1:00pm-1:50pm, Physics Room 203 (Lou Bloomfield) |
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| Required Reading: |
1.
"How Thinks
Work: the Physics of Everyday Life, 2nd Edition" by Louis A.
Bloomfield |
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| Web Site: |
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| Instructor: |
Lou
Bloomfield, Professor of Physics |
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| Course Work: |
10 Problem
Sets (3% of Course Grade Each, 30% Total) |
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| A. Problem Sets: |
A couple of guided problems per set. Questions will require independent thought on your part in order to answer them correctly. You are encouraged to work on the problems independently, but may seek help from other students when you get stuck. You must write up your answers separately and in your own words. Although problem sets are not pledged assignments, points will be deducted from your problem set if you use someone else's words or allow them to use your words. The true purpose of these problem sets is to help you understand the material, not to assign grades. I have observed over the years that students who simply "borrow" answers from other students or from the instructors, and who don't make a serious effort to understand why those answers are correct, do very poorly on the exams. It's in your best interest to work on the problems yourself at first and to seek help from others only when you are having trouble making headway. Similarly, you provide the best help to others when you guide them back onto the correct path, rather than simply giving them an answer.
Problem set 0 is an introduction to the web submission system and course rules. Although it is ungraded, it must be submitted to remain enrolled in the course. |
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| B. Term Paper: |
An original discussion of how something works. Term paper may be written individually or in a group of 2 or 3 people. The term paper is a pledged assignment that must be completed entirely on your own or by your official group. You must submit both a paper copy and an electronic copy to receive credit. See the course web site for the link and instructions. Target Length for Individual Term Paper: 1500-1750 words. Target Length for a Group Term Paper: 3000-3500 words. Additional pages detail what is expected in a term paper, a list of topics used by previous students, a list of topics that are not permitted, and a sample grading sheet for the term paper. The term paper is due on Monday, Nov 22, 2004, 1:00:00pm. In general, you may not write about an object that is discussed extensively in my book, in class, or on my web pages. If you're uncertain whether a topic is acceptable, ask me. While you do not need to get my permission when selecting a topic, I will be glad to assist you up until Monday, Nov 15, 2004. |
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| C. Midterm Exam: |
A fifty-minute, closed-book, in-class examination given on Friday, Oct 15, 2004, 1:00pm-1:50pm. The exam will consist of about 40 multiple-choice questions. The questions will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering them than basic insight into how things work. Compelling reason for an alternate midterm exam time will be considered only up until Friday, Oct 3, 2004. |
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| D. Final Exam: |
A three-hour, closed-book examination given during Finals Week on Monday, Dec 20, 9:00am-12:00noon. The exam will consist of about 80 multiple-choice questions. The questions will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering them than basic insight into how things work. Compelling reason for taking the final exam late, as a 1-hour oral examination, will be considered only up until Monday, December 1 (the College deadline for such requests). You must obtain permission from the Dean. No early final exams will be given. |
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| Late Policy: |
Specific grade deductions for late work and final deadlines are discussed on the list of course rules. Exceptions for illness, family illness or death, religious holidays must be obtained in advance. You must contact us before something is due or before you miss an examination. |
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| Guests and Visitors: |
Guests and visitors are always more than welcome (except during the exams, naturally). No special permission is required. |
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| Grading Information: |
Course grades will be based strictly on your numerical scores for the semester. To minimize internal competition within the class, I will consider the numerical scores from previous semesters when we establish the relationship between numerical grades and letter grades. Your course numerical grade is determined by summing your scores on the problem sets, the exams, and the term paper (weighted by the factors mentioned previously):
Work not turned in or tests not taken will receive a zero (0 pts), far worse than a failing grade (typically 30 pts or more). If you are taking this course Credit/No Credit, your course letter grade must be at least a C- to receive Credit. |
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| Term Paper Incentive: |
If you select a topic for your term paper promptly and submit that topic via the EClass site by Monday, Nov 15, 2004 at 1:00:00pm, I will drop your lowest problem set score when computing your semester grade. This arrangement applies to both individual and group term papers. |
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| Evaluation Incentive: |
If you complete the course evaluation on the EClass web site before Monday, Dec 13, 2004 at 5:00:00pm, we will add 1 point to your overall semester score. |
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| University Deadlines: |
Drop Deadline:
Wednesday, Sept 15, 2004 |