| Class Meetings: | MWF 1:00PM-1:50PM, Physics Room 203
Lectures may also be seen in Physics Rooms 204 and 205 (via television link), and will be on video tape at the Clemons Library Reserve Desk. |
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| Required Reading: | "How Thinks Work: the Physics of Everyday Life" by Louis A. Bloomfield |
| Instructor: | Lou Bloomfield, Professor of Physics
Office: Physics Room 133 Office Telephone: (804) 924-6595 FAX: (804) 924-4576 Electronic Mail: lab3e@virginia.edu |
| Office Hours: | Mondays, 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Thursdays, 11:00AM - 12:00Noon Fridays, 3:00PM - 4:00PM |
| Discussion Session: | Wednesdays, 2:00PM - 2:50PM, Physics Room 203 |
| World-Wide Web: | http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/106/home.html |
| Evening Help Sessions: | To be announced |
| Course Work: | 3 Problem Sets (10% of Course Grade Each, 30% Total)
1 Midterm Exam (15% of Course Grade) 1 Term Paper (25% of Course Grade) 1 Final Exam (30% of Course Grade) |
| A. Problem Sets: | Five guided questions per problem set. Questions will required 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. Points will be deducted
from your problem set if you use someone else's words or allow them to
use your words.
Each problem set will be issued on a Friday and will be due 10 days later on a Monday. Problem set 1 is due on Monday, February 2, 1998, 1:00PM
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| B. Term Paper: | An original discussion of how something works. Term paper may be written
individually or in a group of 2 or 3 people.
Length for Individual Term Paper: 1500-1750 words (approximately 5 typed, double spaced pages of text). Length for a Group Term Paper: 3000-3500 words (approximately 10 typed, double spaced pages of text). Additional pages detail what is expected in a term paper, a list of topics used by previous students, a list of topics that are not permitted, and a sample grading sheet for the term paper. You do not need to get my permission when selecting a topic but I will be glad to assist you up until Monday, April 13, 1998. The term paper is due on Monday, April 20, 1998, 1:00PM. |
| C. Midterm Exam: | A fifty-minute, closed-book, in-class examination given on Friday,
February 27, 1998, 1:00PM-1:50PM.
2/3 of the grade will involve multiple choice questions.
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. Compelling reason for an alternate midterm exam time will be considered only up until Friday, February 20, 1998. |
| D. Final Exam: | A three-hour, closed-book examination given during Finals Week on Tuesday,
May 5, 1998, 9:00AM-12:00Noon.
2/3 of the grade will involve multiple choice questions.
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. Compelling reason for taking the final exam late, as a 1 hour oral examination, will be considered only up until Tuesday, April 28, 1998. You must obtain permission from the Dean. No early final exams will be given. |
| Late Policy: | Specific grade deductions for late work and final deadlines are discussed on the list of course rules. Exceptions for illness, family illness or death, religious holidays must be obtained in advance. You must contact me before something is due or before you miss an examination. |
| 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, I will consider
the numerical scores from previous semesters when I establish the relationship
between numerical grades and letter grades.
After each assignment or test, I will provide an individual report to each student via email. This report will include an estimated letter grade for that assignment or test so that you can gauge your situation as the semester progresses. 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 that 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. |
| University Deadlines: | Add Deadline: Friday, January 30, 1998
Credit/No Credit Deadline: Friday, January 30, 1998 Drop Deadline: Wednesday, January 28, 1998 Withdraw Deadline: Wednesday, March 11, 1998 |