Outline of Physics 314, "Introduction to Modern Physics"

Course material can be found online at URL

http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys314/phys314.html

Instructor

Michael Richmond
Building 76, Office 1274
Office phone: 475-2538
E-mail: mwrsps@rit.edu

Class hours

   Monday     9:00 -  9:50 am   08-A300  
   Tuesday    9:00 -  9:50 am   08-A300  
   Thursday   9:00 -  9:50 am   08-A300  
   Friday     9:00 -  9:50 am   08-A300

Office Hours

   Monday    10:00 am - 11:00 am    
   Tuesday   11:00 am -  noon       in the Physics Study Center
   Wednesday  4:00 pm -  5:00 pm    
   Friday    11:00 am -  noon

You may call to make an appointment. If my office door is open, feel free to enter.

Grading

There are several components to the final score in this course. The list below is not definitive, but a rough guide to the importance of each component.

   15  percent  quizzes 
   15  percent  homework 
   20* percent  test 1     <
   20* percent  test 2     < --- drop the single lowest test score
   20* percent  test 3     <
   30  percent  final exam 
    4  percent  extra credit (optional)
   -----------
  100  percent

Course grades are based on a total of 100 percent.

At the end of the course, I shall calculate the total score for each student. Based on the overall distribution of scores in the class, I may use the traditional means of assigning letter grades to scores ("A" for greater than 90%, "B" for 80% to 90%, etc.); or I may slide the grade boundaries downward to some degree.

If you know in advance that you will have to miss a test, or if you miss a test unexpectedly, you may request a makeup test. However, you must provide a letter explaining the reason for your absence, which must be signed by you, your academic advisor and the head of your department. Without such a letter, you will receive a score of zero for the test.

There will be no makeups for quizzes or homeworks. However, you may submit an Extra Credit project to gain back the points you have missed.

Textbook

Modern Physics , by Kenneth Krane, second edition. You may purchase copies in the bookstore. There are two other books which may help you to understand some of the material we'll be covering: Mr. Tompkins in Paperback, by George Gamov, and Understanding Physics, Vol III: The electron, proton, and neutron by Isaac Asimov. The latter is out of print, but you can find a copy of it (and Mr. Tompkins, too) in the RIT library.

Lab course

This course has an associated laboratory course, but it is not required for those who enroll in the lecture course; in fact, it is usually taken by Physics majors only. Students take the lab course after having passed Physics 314.

Other resources

There is a Physics Study Center on the first floor of the College of Science. A schedule posted outside the room lists times at which someone will be available to help with questions. You may also contact the Learning Development Center, in the Eastman Building, second floor. The Office of Special Services can arrange one-on-one tutorial sessions for qualified students.

If my office door is open, please feel free to visit.

If you have any special needs, you must inform me during the first week of classes. Otherwise, I may not be able to make arrangements in time to help you. Please contact me after class or at my office.

This page maintained by Michael Richmond. Last modified Nov 27, 2005.