Class Meetings:

MWF 1:00PM-1:50PM, Physics Room 203
Lectures may also be seen in Physics Rooms 204 and 205 (via television link), and will be on video tape in Clemons Library.

Required Reading:

"How Thinks Work: the Physics of Everyday Life" by Louis A. Bloomfield

Instructor:

Robert Watkins
Office: Physics Room 134
Office Telephone: (804) 924-4173
FAX: (804) 924-4576
Electronic Mail: rbw2b@virginia.edu

Office Hours:

My last regular office hours will be Fri. Dec. 11^th, 4 - 5:30 pm.

In addition, I will have office hours Mon. Dec. 14^th, 12 - 2 pm and Wed. Dec. 16^th 10 - 11:30 am.

Discussion Session:

You are welcome to stay after class on Wednesdays in room 203 to ask questions.

World-Wide Web:

http://landau1.phys.virginia.edu/classes/105

Newsgroup:

uva.phys.phys105

Evening Help Sessions:

There will be one more help session, on Tuesday, December 15, 1998, 5:30 - 6:30 pm in physics room 204. Warning: this is not a review session. It is just another chance to ask specific questions that have arisen while studying.

Help sessions are run by Al Tobias, a graduate student in physics.

Course Work:

3 Problem Sets (10% of Course Grade Each, 30% Total)
1 Midterm Exam (15% of Course Grade)
1 Term Paper (25% of Course Grade)
1 Final Exam (30% of Course Grade)

A. Problem Sets:

Several guided questions per problem set. Questions will require independent thought on your part in order to answer them correctly. You are encouraged to discuss problems with one another, but you must write up your answers separately and in your own words. Points will be deducted from your problem set if you use someone else's words or allow them to use your words.

Each problem set will be issued on a Friday and will be due 10 days later on a Monday.

Problem set 1 is due Mon. Sept. 21, 1998
Problem set 2 is due Mon. Oct. 26, 1998
Problem set 3 is due Mon. Nov. 9, 1998

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.

Length for Individual Term Paper: 900-1100 words (approximately 3 typed, double spaced pages of text).

Length for a Group Term Paper: 1800-2200 words (approximately 6 typed, double spaced pages of text).

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.

You do not need my permission when selecting a topic but I will be glad to assist you up until Monday, November 16, 1998. The term paper is due on Monday, November 23, 1998, 1:00PM.

C. Midterm Exam:

A fifty-minute, closed-book, in-class examination given on Wednesday October 7, 1998, 1:00PM-1:50PM.

The exam will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering the questions than basic insight into how things work. Compelling reason for an alternate midterm exam time will be considered only up until September 30, 1998.

D. Final Exam:

A three-hour, closed-book examination given during Finals Week on Friday, December 18, 1998, 9:00AM-12:00 Noon.

The exam will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering the questions 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 December 4, 1998. You must obtain permission from the Dean. No early final exams will be given.

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 me before something is due or before you miss an examination.

Meeting Place:

If you do not know anyone with whom to discuss the problem sets, meet in Clemons Library on the 4th floor at 2:00PM on the Saturday before a problem set is due. Look for other people carrying the textbook.

Guests and Visitors:

Guests and visitors are always more than welcome (except during the exams, naturally). No special permission is required.

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 I 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):

(Problem Set #1 Grade) x 0.10
(Problem Set #2 Grade) x 0.10
(Problem Set #3 Grade) x 0.10
(Midterm Exam Grade) x 0.15
(Term Paper Grade) x 0.25
+(Final Exam Grade) x 0.30

Course Numerical Grade

Work not turned in or tests not taken will receive a zero (0 pts), far worse that 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.

University Deadlines:

Add Deadline: September 15, 1998
Credit/No Credit Deadline: September 15, 1998
Drop Deadline: September 16, 1998
Withdraw Deadline: October 28, 1998