Outline of Physics 369, "University Physics IA (Workshop)"

Course material can be found online at URL

http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys369/phys369.html

Workshop Instructor

Michael Richmond
Building 76, Office 1274
Office phone: 475-2538
FAX: : 475-5988
E-mail: mwrsps@rit.edu

Class hours

 Section 06
   Monday    10:00 - 11:50 am   08-3178  workshop
   Tuesday    6:00 -  6:50 pm     TBA    tests (only 2 per quarter)
   Wednesday 10:00 - 11:50 am   08-3178  workshop
   Thursday  10:00 - 11:50 am   76-1125  lecture  
   Friday    10:00 - 11:50 am   08-3178  workshop

Office Hours

   Monday     9:00 -  9:50 am   76-1274  (my office)
   Wednesday  noon -  1:50 pm   76-1274  (my office)
   Thursday   noon - 12:50 pm   76-1274  (my office)
   Friday     2:00 -  2:50 pm   76-1274  (my office)

You may call to make an appointment. If my office door is open, feel free to enter. I'm almost always in my office :-(

Prerequisites

In order to take this class, you must

ALREADY have received a grade of C or better in Calculus I (1016-262, 1016-271, or 1016-281)
CURRENTLY be enrolled in (or have received credit for) Calculus II (1016-272 or 1016-282)

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.

   30  percent  in-class quizzes and reports
   10  percent  homework 
   15  percent  test 1
   20  percent  test 2
   25  percent  final exam 
    4  percent  optional extra credit assignments (2 percent each)
   -----------
  104  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.

Absences

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.

If you miss a class in which we perform a large lab exercise, you may make up the work on Fridays from 12:00 to 2:00 PM in room 08-3125. There will be a Teaching Assistant in the room and some equipment. You are responsible for bringing the lab writeup with you -- no materials will be provided in the room. At most 2 exercises may be made up, and each makeup exercise will receive a 20 percent grade penalty.

Textbook

University Physics, by Young and Freedman. The latest edition is number 12, but any recent edition should be fine. It's fine if you want to use any other calculus-based university physics textbook -- they all have pretty much the same material. You might also look at some material describing measurements and calculations based upon them:

Examples of uncertainty calculations and measuring a slope by me.
Uncertainties and Error Propagation by Professor Lindberg (PDF).
Graphing by Professor Lindberg (PDF).
Using a Vernier Caliper by Professor Lindberg.

You will need to purchase a pad of good graph paper for your use in class. The paper must have 10 squares per inch. The RIT bookstore sells a good variety, Ampad 10x10 Cross Section Pad, item #22-026, for $5.95.

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 Academic Support Center in the SAU Building, second floor, room 2080.

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 28, 2010.