Class Meetings
    View lectures on videotapes on TV at home, at school, or in groups at a friend's home.
    I advise you to follow the schedule and view three lectures per week ( Mon, Wed, and Fri).

Required Reading
    How Things Work: the Physics of Everyday Life by Louis A. Bloomfield
    You may order it from the U.Va. Bookstore 804-924-1073 or online from Amazon.com

Instructor of Record
    Dr. Richard A. Lindgren
    Office: Physics Room 302
    Office Telephone: (804) 982-2691
    FAX: (804) 924-4576
    Electronic Mail: phys585@virginia.edu

Demonstrator on Video Tapes
    Dr. Rob Watkins, Lecturer, Department of Physics, University of Virginia

WebAssign
WebAssign is a web-based homework and exam delivery, collection, grading, and recording service available to teachers and students.You will be given a user number and ID for you to log on to the system. Once you are logged on you have access to your homework  assignment or exam, etc. You may also ask any questions about anything using WebAssign. You will submit your answers to any homework or exam using it.  As a demo you may visit the WebAssign site by typing http://www.webassign.net/ and type in demo for username, institution, and password. We recommend that you use Netscape version 4.0 or later with a 28.8 Kbps modem or better. You will be given your own username and password after signing up for the course.

Help Sessions
    You are welcome to email questions at any time via WebAssign
 

Phys 585 web site
http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/585.ral5q.spring01

Grader
    TBA

Course Work
    4 Problem Sets (25% of Course Grade)
    2 Midterm Exams (30% of Course Grade)
    1 Create Exam (15% of Course Grade)
    1 Final Exam (30% of Course Grade)

A. Problem Sets
Several guided questions per problem set. Questions will require independent thought on your part in order to answer them correctly. You are encouraged to discuss problems with one another, but you must writeup 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.

Most problems will be taken from your textbook, except for those that you will be asked to create and solve.

Problem set 1 is due Mon. Feb  12,  2001, before 11 PM
Problem set 2 is due Fri. Mar 2,  2001, before 11 PM
Problem set 3 is due Mon. Apr  2,  2001, before 11 PM
Problem set 4 is due Fri. May 4, 2001, before 11 PM

B. 1 Create Exam
Due Friday, April 20, 2001. An exam that you write consisting of 25 multiple choice questions with 3 wrong answers and 1 right answer. You are to  follow these guidelines:

The exam will be graded based on:
    i.    how well your questions test the knowledge of the student taking the exam
    ii.   how well you follow the rules given below for making up good questions and answers
    iii.  Proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation

1. Make up 25 multiple choice questions with three wrong answers and one best answer.

2. Construct your questions from the physics on the video tapes from Lecture 19 to 29 (Textbook chapters 5, 6 and 7). Do not copy questions from your book or any other book or from previous years.

3. Wrong answers should not be obviously wrong. The "wrong" answers should be such that they need to be carefully considered before rejecting due to some physics reason.

4. The level of physics tested should be set at the level of the PHYS585 class that you are currently taking.

5. Personalize your questions so I know you made them up. Use situations in your class room or with your family to make up your question and answers.

6. No time limit

7. Due April 20, 2001 before 11 pm.

8. Each answer is worth 2 pts. and each question 4pts. So each problem is worth 12 pts. Total number of  points on exam is 12 x 25 = 274.

9. Some of the best questions will be selected for the final exam. Therefore, don't  show or discuss with each other your questions and answers until the final exam has been taken (May 7).

C.  2 Midterm Exams
The first two hour closed-book examination is on Wednesday, February 14, 2001. You will be responsible for:  all the material on the video tapes, especially the demos; the material in the appropiate chapters that you have been asked to read; and particularly the exercises, problems, and cases in those chapters that you have been assigned. You are expected to make arrangements with your supervisor, principal, or  superintendent,  to proctor your exam. Groundrules and policy for proctoring the exam will be given to you and the proctor. You must email your proctor's name, title, email address, telephone, and snail mail address to ral5q@virginia.edu. All U.Va. students are bound by the UVa honor system. At the end of the exam you type on the exam "I did not receive any help." Submit the exam via the WebAssign system. 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.

D. Final Exam
You will take a three-hour, closed-book examination on Monday May 7, 2001 from 1:30 - 4:30  or at a time convenient for you and your proctor. You will be responsible for all material on the video tapes and in the appropiate chapters that you have been asked to read as well as exercises, problems, and cases in those chapters. 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.

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.

Video Tapes
Do not copy the video tapes under any circumstances even if you purchase them. After the course is completed, you may purchase 19 video tapes containing 38 lectures by sending a check for $70 to Physics Stores, Department of Physics, McCormick Rd, Universityof Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903. If you don't purchase the tapes, you must return the video tapes rewound and in good working condition before you receive your final grade.

Guests and Visitors
Guests and visitors are more than welcome to view the tapes with you. No special permission is required.

Grading Information
Your course numerical grade is determined by averaging your scores on the problem sets and the exams (weighted by the factors mentioned previously).

Course Numerical Grade = (Avg of 4 Problem Sets Grade) x 0.25 + (Avg of 3 Exam Grades) x 0.45  +(Final Exam Grade) x 0.30

Work not turned in or tests not taken will receive a zero (0 pts), far worse than a failing grade .
 

Revised November 28, 2000.