Course Materials

• Physics, James S. Walker, 2^nd Edition, Prentice Hall.
• Scientific calculator (has numerous math functions and can do calculations using parentheses)
• Storage medium for saving laboratory report files
• Resources
  • Physics resources link
  • Your grades
  • WebAssign account for homework delivery, submission and correction

Introduction

This course is the second half of a two semester sequence of Gallaudet's physics-with-algebra courses. The two semesters will present two views of the universe that seem to conflict. Both views are supported by evidence from a wide range of experiments:

• FALL SEMESTER: THE CLOCKWORK UNIVERSE
  • The rules of this universe are mainly derived from studying the behaviors of large (human-sized) objects.
  • The effects of measurement on the system under study can be reduced to a negligible (ignorable) level.
  • Measurements can be made to unlimited precision, bounded only by money, time and technology constraints.
  • Identically prepared experiments have a single, well-defined outcome.
  • Theories predict relations between measurable parameters
  • Reality changes in a continuous way.
  • Physics laws are never violated.
• SPRING SEMESTER: THE QUANTUM UNIVERSE
  • The rules of this universe are mainly derived from studying the behaviors of small (atom-sized) objects.
  • The act of measurement can fundamentally change the outcome of an experiment.
  • All our measurements have limited precision, constained by laws of Nature.
  • Identically prepared experiments can have many possible outcomes.
  • Reality changes in a discontinuous and jittery manner.
  • Physics laws may be violated under suitable conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I pass this course?
Past experience shows that students who participate regularly in all course activities (do homework, take tests, come to class, work in laboratories), will pass the course. Skipping activities will hurt you. This is not a course to just talk about physics, but to do physics. You get better at the work as you immerse yourself more completely in the material. Imagine someone who tries out for a tennis, cross-country or basketball team and only shows up every other week or just sits on the sidelines. They won't do well.

How many tests will we have?
Five. We complete one chapter per week so having 5 tests helps to break up the material into 3-chapter chunks. There is NO comprehensive final exam. Test #5 is like a regular test and it takes place during final exam week. During final exams, you can also repeat any ONE test without penalty. Of the 5 test scores, only the best 4 will count in your final grade.

What essential facts do I need to remember about PHY108-110?

• Weekly homework is due every Wednesday @ 2PM. After that time it is worth 50%. No excuses, no exceptions.
• There are five tests, one can be repeated during finals and only the top 4 grades out of 5 count.
• The PHY108 and PHY110 grades are combined. The same grade is assigned to PHY108 and PHY110.
• To do a laboratory experiment, you have to be in attendance before 10 minutes after the starting hour. No exceptions and no excuses.

Will the grades be "curved"?
No. I add up the numbers that you have scored and give you that grade. Your lowest homework, test and laboratory grades will be eliminated. In a **FEW** cases (usually 0 or 1 person), students who are right at the boundary between letter grades **MAY** be boosted to the upper letter grade when I assign FINAL grades. Here is a calculator to try out some sample scores and see their effect on the final grade

Can I be excused from activities?
If you have a documented reason for missing an activity, give me a letter of excuse. In general, otherwise, there are no make ups for activities. Anyone who is not in lab on time or fails to hand in homework, deserves (and will get) a zero. Showing up on time and participating actively in the work in a professional fashion IS being evaluated.

Who should take this course?
I assume that anyone in the course has a desire to work professionally in the fields of science, medicine, computer science, mathematics and technology. I (and maybe you also) don't know specifically if you will become a researcher, technician, doctor, professor, health care provider, environmentalist,... Keep your mind open about the future. Most professional people change what they are doing every few years and learn to collaborate with people outside their field.

What skills can I gain from this course?
I'm trying to provide you the organization, structure and encouragement to gain skills with the following:

• CONCEPTS: Learn a wide range of physics theory that helps you understand cause-and-effect relationships in complex situations.
• FORMULAS: Develop the ability to use formulas to calculate, model and estimate behaviors of physical systems. This helps you to intelligently design, construct and use apparatus, control technologies and interpret experiment outcomes.
• ANALYSIS OF DATA: Provide practice making accurate calculations and practice drawing conclusions through statistical and visual analysis of data. This helps you to think and reason about data.
• DOING YOUR EXPERIMENT: Learn to safely manipulate materials, tools and measurement protocols to design, construct, calibrate and test equipment that help us learn about nature. Be able to estimate the uncertainty in your conclusions.

What is WebAssign?
WebAssign is a service that provides and grades your physics homework. Your fee for this service will be paid by the Chemistry and Physics Department. when you do online homework, be sure to write up your solution and save it to study for the tests.

Before you start with WebAssign, please note the following:

• Most standard Web connections should work with WebAssign. We recommend that you use Netscape version 7.0 or later or Internet Explorer 5.5 or later with a 56 KBPS modem, broadband or school network. We do not recommend AOL.
• Bookmark only http://webassign.net/student.html or the appropriate address for your school. If you skip the login page, WebAssign may not know it is you taking the assignment!
• Before starting WebAssign on a shared computer, exit any browsers and restart a browser application. If you simply close the browser window or open a new window, login information contained in an encrypted key may not be yours. Likewise, to prevent losing credit for the work you have done, exit the browser completely when you are finished.
• Make sure that your browser has both JavaScript and Java enabled.

Instructor Schedule

The instructor for this course is Dr. Henry David Snyder (henry.snyder@gallaudet.edu) and his office is in HMB N302B. Our class will meet in SAC 2214 for lecture. Thursday 1-4 lab will be in HMB350. Homework will be handed in electronically. After the homework deadline, all work is worth half credit (50%) - NO EXCEPTIONS AND NO EXCUSES! My schedule of available times is given below (blue = busy, green = available). During "available" times, I work on various things on campus. If you need to see me, it is a good idea to make an appointment for a specific day and time.

Course Schedule

Evaluation and Grades

All people are not the same and do not learn in the same ways. In view of these facts, this course provides everyone with diverse opportunities to demonstrate learning, to show improvement and to be rewarded for time and effort. This course does not require you to be a "rocket scientist" - all the material is presented on an introductory level. The course does require you to make a steady, weekly effort in studying. There are several tests and weekly homework. Emphasis is always on providing opportunities for to to expand your understanding and improve your personal skills/habits in working with knowledge. Your active participation and positive attitude in your study are essential to this effort.

There are no make-up activities for missed tests or labs or late assignments. The lowest score for tests, homework, labwork will be eliminated from your grade. All assignments handed in after the deadline are worth half (50%). I will enforce deadlines to be fair to all students and prepare you for the "real world". To be excused from an activity requires documented (hard copy!) evidence. My course grading system provides all with equal, ample opportunity to demonstrate your skills and be rewarded for your efforts - successes as well as failures.

Tests (50%)

There will be 5 tests that will be based on questions and problems on the same level as your homework. During the final exam week, you may retake any ONE of the 5 tests.

Homework Problems (40%)

Each week you will hand in assignments based on problems discussed in class and the problems in each chapter of your textbook.

Class Attendance (10%)

Attendance will be taken during the first 10 minutes of each class.

Class Attendance

Class attendance will be taken at the start of class and laboratory. 10% of your grade will be based on your attendance. The purpose of doing is not punishment but reward - you benefit in several ways from being present AND active in class.

Laboratory Schedule

The following shows the schedule for laboratory activities. The lab topics may change due to various reasons (student suggestions, weather, current news topics, equipment concerns,...).

Each lab is completed in three parts:

• EXPERIMENTING: Collect all the necessary data and hand in a preliminary report
• DRAFT REPORT/MODELING: Write a draft report, do further calculations and comparisons with computer models
• FINAL REPORT: Improve the draft report and hand in the final report (with the graded preliminary and draft reports attached) before 3PM May 2, 2006.

This laboratory meets from 1PM to 3:50PM of each week. Lab work usually takes place in HMB 350 and reporting takes place in HMB402. Please be on time. Lab normally starts with an explanation and discussion of what needs to be accomplished. Don't bother showing up for an experiment if you are more than 10 minutes late. It is unsafe to do experiments if you miss the introductory explanation. Reports (preliminary or draft) must be handed in at 3:50PM at the end of a lab session, otherwise it is worth 50%.

Lab Reports

Experimenting (50%)

This is the first lab session and it will normally take place in HMB350. For this activity, you do the building, measurement, and documenting required by the experiment. At the end of this lab, you will hand in a written description of your experimental activities. This will be used for writing the next week's lab report.

Reporting (50%)

This is the second session of each lab and it will take place in HMB402 (computer lab) and will involve writing a report about your experiment and posting it on line. See the lab report guidelines. At the end of this lab, you will hand in a draft version of your laboratory report (25%). A final version of each report is due before the end of final exams in December (25%).

Today, we benefit tremendously from the records of accomplishments and failures of people who have come before us. The people who took the time to accurately record their efforts, decisions, measurements, tests and conclusions are the same people who will live forever in their records and will serve as guides for future generations.

Composing your experimental protocols, results and conclusions into a readable, informative published report is an essential skill in the sciences and many other fields. You improve your report writing and publication composition skills by practice. In this course, you will be given the tools and time each week to record the efforts that you have made individually and with your team.

Every report starts with 100 points and points are added or subtracted following the following table. The standards of "very good", "good", "fair" and "poor" change somewhat as you go from "preliminary" to "draft" to "final".