CSUSB
PHYSICS 224, SECTION 01
Winter
2011
Timothy D. Usher, Ph.D.
http://physics.csusb.edu/~tusher/
Office: PS-113
Telephone: 537-5410
e-mail: tusher@csusb.edu
Physics Office: PS-119, Telephone: 537-5397, www page "http://physics.csusb.edu"
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 4-6.
Required Textbook:
Other available materials: You are encouraged to explore on-line
materials, such as Mastering Physics. However, it is not required. Also
available is the Active on-line Physics simulations. eBook
available through the CSUSB Library on line: Schaum's
Easy Outlines. College Physics; eBook ISBN: 0071.
Other good books: The Feynman Lectures on Physics.
Videos: Mechanical Universe (available on line at http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html )
Computer software: PS 103; I will announce the user id and password in
class. (please remind me). Also access internet access
is available there. Computer accounts for all students are available in the
"wedge" of the library.
Library Reserved Reading: Homework solutions and other materials will be
made available at the reserved reading desk and via electronic reserves in the
library and at the library web site. http://libcat.lib.csusb.edu/search/p
You will need the course passcode: utf
w11224 (all lower case)
Prerequisites: Physics 223 or consent of instructor.
General course goals: My goals as your professor are as follows:
1. Help you improve your ability to think.
2. Help you develop your analytical skills such as problem solving abilities.
Physics is a challenging field of study but that is part of the fun. If you are prepared to meet the challenge it can be a very rewarding experience. Make sure you have allowed adequate quality time to spend on the subject. It is recommended that you allow at least two hours of study for every hour you are in class or laboratory.
COURSE TOPICS
Introduction to Quantum MechanicsThermal Dynamics
TESTS (opportunities to demonstrate what you have learned)
The best way to prepare for the tests is to keep up with the reading assignments and the homework assignments. Cramming the night before a test does not make-up for neglecting your studies throughout the quarter.
You are allowed to have one 3" x 5" note card for each test and the final. You may write any information on this card you wish. No micro-writing is allowed. The writing must be of reasonable size (larger than 1/8 inch). This will be checked and illegal cards will be confiscated during the test leaving you without a card! Calculators are allowed but palm or lap computers are not allowed. Calculators which can communicate with other calculators via wireless communication are not allowed.
The tests will be "show your work" type tests. You must show all of your work clearly! Partial credit will be assigned depending on the correctness of the work presented.
The final will be comprehensive, covering all of the material from the quarter.
The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, March 24, 10:00 – 11:50 am.
ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments will be in three parts: reading, question, and problems. The assignments will be written on the blackboard at the beginning of each class. The textbook will be followed closely so the assigned reading will include the material to be covered in the next lecture. Pop quizzes may be given at the beginning of some classes as encouragement to keep up with the reading. Each question on the quiz will carry the same weight as a homework problem.
Physics requires certain skills as well as knowledge. Solving problems will help you develop those skills just as playing scales helps a pianist or tackling practice helps a football player. Thinking carefully about the assigned questions should help you to demonstrate the deep understanding necessary to do well on the tests.
Assignments will be made each day. All of the questions and problems from the previous week are due on Tuesday, regardless of the day they were assigned. There will be a folder at the front of the classroom marked "Homework to be graded (first attempt)". Place your homework in there before or after class, not during class! The homework will be graded and returned to you Thursday. You will receive one of the following marks on each problem with the indicated meanings.
a check = satisfactory (1 credit)
"OK" = barely adequate, strongly recommend reviewing (1 credit)
"X" = not clear or unsatisfactory ( credit)
"XX" = no clear attempt was made (0 credit)
If you receive an X you should try again with whatever aid (short of copying) you wish, including: seeing me, posted solutions, solution manuals, fellow students, etc. I will try to arrange at least some office hours for this. Also, some physics majors are paid as tutors and usually hold sessions in PS 104 (Physics study room). By the way, you are welcome to use PS 104 as a study room. I will try to have solutions available in the library electronic reserves http://libcat.lib.csusb.edu/search/p Tuesday after class. Please keep me reminded about this. If I feel that you have simply copied your assignments, points will be deducted from you. For example, the solutions in the library may have slight errors. If there are obvious mistakes in the solutions, and I see them again on your solutions, it could be bad news for you. After you have reworked the assignment you may resubmit it Tuesday in the folder marked "Homework to be graded (Second attempt)." If the second attempt is satisfactory, you will receive the other credit.
NOTE: Doing the assignment on your own the first time can't hurt you but it can help you on test day!
If you receive XX you may do the assignment and turn it in to the (Second attempt) folder. If the assignment is satisfactory you will receive credit. If the assignment is not satisfactory you receive no credit and you have run out of chances to turn in the homework!
NOTE: This system automatically penalizes half credit for late homework, no matter what the excuse. Turning in late homework once or twice should not hurt your grade much, but habitually late or no homework could hurt a lot!
The homework solutions must be neat and concise. Given the size of the class, I must insist that they be neat and concise.
1)
Neat
a) Staple pages
b) Work on one side only
c) No pages torn out of notebooks
d) Problems and questions in order
e) Your name and chapter number and first or second attempt
2) Concise--The problem must be solved clearly in an easy to read form. Show all key steps, basic relations used and explanations where needed. In short the grader should be able to look at your solution and be able to tell what you did within a few seconds. Questions should be clear, concise, and direct. For example, if the question can be answered with a yes or a no, do so and then give a brief reasoning if you like. Do not just give your reasoning without the yes or no!
If these criterion are not met, the problem may be marked X or even XX.
This
homework schedule may seem complicated but it is not.
Tuesday: Turn in all first and second attempt homework from the previous
week.
Thursday: Retrieve your graded homework
The different components of the course will carry the following weights:
Tests
45.5% (22.75% each)
Final Exam
34.0%
Homework and Pop quizzes 20.5%
Note that the homework carries a significant portion of the grade!
Grading scale:
100 - 95 A
94 - 90 -A
89 - 85 +B
84 - 80 B
79 - 75 -B
74 - 70 +C
69 - 65 C
64 - 60 -C
59 - 55 +D
54 - 50 D
49 - 45 -D
45 or less F
I
do not grade on a "curve". You do not want me to grade on a curve.
That would mean that a certain percentage of the class MUST fail. I would be
delighted if everyone earned a good grade in the course. Physics is challenging
enough without artificial competition, so let’s all work together. I am
an experimental physicist, so I treat grading as a measurement with an associated
uncertainty. I will add the uncertainty to the final grades. However it is
almost always less than 5 points.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- YOU are ultimately the one who decides what this course will be to
you.
- Enjoyable; if you let yourself
enjoy; removing all mental blocks and negative attitudes.
- VALUABLE for a professional career
- Good Grade if you do the following:
- put in quality time.
- do the assigned reading before
coming to class
- ask questions
- work/answer and understand all
of the assigned problems/questions
- do well on your laboratory work
- demonstrate a deep understanding on the
tests and final
- I strongly urge you to form study groups. A sign-up sheet will be
circulated to facilitate this.
- I also strongly urge you to make frequent use of my office hours. I
have noticed that "regulars" at office hours typically do better in
the course.
- You should strive for the big picture first before focusing on the details.
- Keep this syllabus and look at it! It is also available at my web site.
- Honesty is expected. Dishonesty will be dealt with harshly. Anyone caught
cheating may receive a failing grade for the course!
- Be sure to ask questions. The only dumb question is the one left unasked.
- A study room is available (PS-104). You may even, on occasion, find a strange
beast in there: a physics professor.
- Be sure to see me if you have any problems. We are all human and deserve to
be treated as such.
- If you have a concern about your grades, be sure to speak with me before
taking any drastic measures.
- Audio/Visual aids (films, videos, computer programs, etc.) are available. The
series "The Mechanical Universe" is particularly recommended.
- Many services are available at the University. See Bulletin for details.
And many more; see the Bulletin http://catalog.csusb.edu/documents/2009-2010.pdf
(this is a huge file) or purchase a hard copy from the bookstore.