Class Meetings:

MWF 1:00PM-1:50PM, Physics Room 203
Lectures may also be seen in Physics Room 204, and videotapes of the lectures are put on reserve at Clemons Library.

Required Reading:

"How Thinks Work: the Physics of Everyday Life, 2nd Edition" by Louis A. Bloomfield

World-Wide Web Site:

http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/106.rbw2b.spring03/

Instructor:

Robert Watkins
Office: Physics Room 134
Office Telephone: (434) 924-4173
FAX: (434) 924-4576
Email: rbw2b@virginia.edu

Office Hours:

Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 pm and Fridays 2-3 pm. (except during Spring Break). Last day of regular office hours: April 29,2003.

Teaching Assistant:

 Peter Gee

phg2m@virginia.edu

TA Office Hours:

Thursdays 10-11 am and Fridays 2-3 pm, in the Physics building room 220.

Discussion/Help Sessions:

These are run by the TA, Peter Gee, and will be announced in class.

Course Work:

4 Problem Sets (6.25% each, 25% total)
1 Midterm Exam (25% of Course Grade)
1 Term Paper (25% of Course Grade)
1 Final Exam (25% of Course Grade)

A. Problem Sets:

Several guided problems per set. Questions will require independent thought on your part in order to answer them correctly. You are encouraged to discuss problem set problems with one another but must write up your answers separately and in your own words. Problem sets are not pledged assignments, however, points will be deducted from your problem set if you use someone else's words or allow them to use your words. The real purpose of these problem sets is to help you understand the material, not to assign grades. We have observed over the years that students who simply "borrow" answers from other students or from the instructors, and who don’t make a serious effort to understand why those answers are correct, do very poorly on the exams. It’s in your best interest to work on the problems yourself initially and to make sure that when you discuss them with others that you have some insights to share.

Each problem set will be issued on a Friday and will be due 10 days later on a Monday.

Submission, grading, and solutions will occur only over the web. See the course web site for the link and instructions.

Problem set 1 is due on Monday, Feb. 3^rd 2003
Problem set 2 is due on Monday, Feb. 17^th 2003
Problem set 3 is due on Monday, March 31^st 2003
Problem set 4 is due on Monday, April 21^st 2003

B. Term Paper:

An original discussion of how something works. Term paper must be written individually. The term paper is a pledged assignment that must be completed entirely on your own.

Submission and grading will occur only over the web. See the course web site for the link and instructions.

Length for Individual Term Paper: 1500-1750 words.

The term paper is due on Monday, April 7^th, 2003. In general, you may not write about an object that is discussed extensively in the book, in class, or on the "How Things Work" web pages. If you’re uncertain whether a topic is acceptable, ask me. While you do not need to get our permission when selecting a topic, we will be glad to assist you up until Monday, March 31^st, 2003.

C. Midterm Exam:

A fifty-minute, closed-book, in-class examination given on Wednesday, February 26^th, 2003, 1:00PM-1:50PM.

The exam will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering the questions than basic insight into how things work. Many questions will come from the lectures.

D. Final Exam:

A three-hour, closed-book examination given during Finals Week on Saturday, May 3^rd, 9:00AM-12:00 Noon.

The exam will emphasize understanding of concepts so that memorization will be far less valuable for answering the questions than basic insight into how things work. Many questions will come from the lectures.

Late Policy:

In general, late work will not be accepted. If you have a serious conflict, ask well before the due date.

Meeting Place:

If you do not know anyone with whom to discuss the problem sets, meet in Clemons Library on the 4th floor at 2:00PM on the Saturday before a problem set is due. Look for other people carrying the textbook.

Guests and Visitors:

Guests and visitors are always more than welcome (except during the exams, naturally). No special permission is required.

Grading Information:

Course grades will be based strictly on your numerical scores for the semester. To minimize internal competition within the class, we will consider the numerical scores from previous semesters when we establish the relationship between numerical grades and letter grades.

Your course numerical grade is determined by summing your scores on the problem sets, the exams, and the term paper (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.