| Class Meetings: | MWF 1:00pm-1:50pm, Physics Room 203 |
| Required Materials: | 1. How Thinks
Work: the Physics of Everyday Life, 4th Edition by Louis A.
Bloomfield 2. WileyPlus Access Code for How Thinks Work: the Physics of Everyday Life (any edition) 3. iClicker Classroom Response Unit Various purchase options:
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| Course Web Site: | |
| WileyPlus Web Site: | |
| Instructor: | Lou
Bloomfield, Professor of Physics Office: Physics Room 133 (see me here almost anytime) TEL: (434) 924-6595 FAX: (434) 924-4576 Email: lab3e at virginia.edu (emergencies only; I will not reply to non-emergency emails — you must see me in person) |
| Course Work: | 11 Problem
Sets (2.7% of Course Grade Each, 30% Total) 1 Midterm Exam (20% of Course Grade) 1 Final Exam (40% of Course Grade) In-Class Reading Quizzes (5% of Course Grade) In-Class Interaction (5% of Course Grade) |
| A.
Problem Sets: (30% of grade) |
Several guided problems per set, submitted via the WileyPlus homework web site. Questions will require independent thought on your part in order to answer them correctly.
The problem sets are not pledged work and you may discuss them with
other students and the instructor after you have thought about them
yourself.
The true purpose of these problem sets is to help you understand the
material, not to assign grades, so there is no value in your struggling
unsuccessfully to understand them on your own. However, I have observed
over the years that students who simply copy answers from other
students or from the instructor, and who don't make a serious effort to
understand why those answers are correct, do 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. |
| B.
Midterm Exam: (20% of grade) |
A fifty-minute,
closed-book, in-class examination given on February 27, 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 February 20. |
| C.
Final Exam: (40% of grade) |
A
three-hour, closed-book examination given during Finals Week on
Tuesday, May 5, 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 April 22 (the College deadline for such requests). You must obtain permission from the Dean. No early final exams can be given. |
| D.
Reading Quizzes: (5% of grade) |
To help motivate you to do the relevant reading prior to class, I will ask basic questions about it and you will submit your answers via your Classroom Response Unit (iClicker). You will receive credit only for correct answers. When computing your semester percentage of correct answers, I will drop your 5 lowest-scoring days so that 5 absences are "free." If you have a compelling reason for being absent more than 5 days over the semester, please see me. |
| E.
Interaction: (5% of grade) |
To make the class more lively and help keep you engaged, I will ask questions about the issues at hand and you will submit your answers via your Classroom Response Unit (iClicker). My initial plan is to give 5 credits for participating and 1 credit for getting the right answer, but I reserve the right to change this ratio if I feel it is necessary. When computing your semester percentage of possible credits, I will drop your 5 lowest-scoring days so that 5 absences are "free." If you have a compelling reason for being absent more than 5 days over the semester, please see me. |
| 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. |
| Guests and Visitors: | Guests and visitors are always more than welcome (except during the exams, naturally). No special permission is required. I have iClickers that they can borrow, though I'll probably want to hold onto some ID to be sure I get the iClickers back. |
| Grading Information: | Course grades
will be based strictly on your numerical scores for the semester. To reduce
grade competition within the class, I will consider the numerical
scores from previous semesters when we establish the relationship between
course numerical grades and course letter grades. Your course numerical grade is determined by summing your scores on the problem sets, the exams, the in-class reading quizzes, and in-class interaction, all 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. |
| Course Evaluation Incentive: | If you complete the University's course evaluation before the deadline for that evaluation, I will drop your lowest problem set score when computing your semester grade. |
| College of Arts & Sciences Deadlines: | Drop Deadline:
Friday, January 23, 2009 Add Deadline: Friday, January 30, 2009 Credit/No Credit Deadline: Friday, January 30, 2009 Withdraw Deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 |