| Class Meetings: | MWF 1:00PM-1:50PM, Physics Room 203
(Lou Bloomfield) 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 | |
| World-Wide Web Site: | http://www.phys.virginia.edu/classes/106 | |
| Instructors: | Lou Bloomfield, Professor of
Physics Office: Physics Room 133 Office Telephone: (804) 924-6595 FAX: (804) 924-4576 Electronic Mail: lab3e@virginia.edu |
Mike Noel, Instructor Office: Physics Room 107C Office Telephone: (804) 924-6599 FAX: (804) 924-4576 Electronic Mail: mwn4n@virginia.edu |
| Office Hours: | Mondays, 10:00AM - 11:30AM in Alderman Cafe (at
Alderman Library) Wednesday, 2:15PM - 3:45PM in Alderman Cafe (at Alderman Library) |
Mondays, 2:15PM - 3:30PM in Alderman
Cafe (at Alderman Library) Wednesday, 7:30PM - 9:00PM in Alderman Cafe (at Alderman Library) |
| Discussion/Help Sessions: | Sundays, 6:00PM - 8:00PM, Physics Room
203 (Eric Dunham) Informal, optional times to answer questions and discuss the material. |
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| Experimental Sessions: | Tuesday, 7:30PM - 9:00PM, Physics Room
206 (Mike Noel) An informal, optional time to disassemble, build, or experiment with everyday objects. You bring the objects, we'll bring the tools. No grades, no credit. |
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| Teaching Assistant: | Eric Dunham, Fourth Year College Student Office Hours: 7:00PM - 8:00PM in Alderman Cafe (at Alderman Library) |
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| Course Work: | 10 Problem Sets (3% 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) |
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| A. Problem Sets: | A couple of guided problems per 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 via the web on a Friday and will be due 10 days later on a Monday (except PS 2, which will be due on Wednesday). Submission, grading, and solutions will occur only over the web. See the course web site for the link and instructions. Problem set 0 is an ungraded orientation exercise--it is intended to help you understand the web submission system and to verify that your course records are set up properly. Problem set 0 is due on Monday, January 24, 2000,
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. 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. Length for a Group Term Paper: 3000-3500 words. 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 our permission when selecting a topic but we will be glad to assist you up until Monday, April 17, 2000. The term paper is due on Monday, April 24, 2000, 1:00PM. |
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| C. Midterm Exam: | A fifty-minute, closed-book, in-class
examination given on Friday, March 3, 2000,
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 25, 2000. |
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| D. Final Exam: | A three-hour, closed-book examination
given during Finals Week on Friday, May 12,
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 Friday, April 28 (the College deadline for such requests). You must obtain permission from the Dean. No early final exams will be given. |
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| 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 us 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, we will consider
the numerical scores from previous semesters when we
establish the relationship between numerical grades and
letter grades. After each assignment or test, we 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): (Problem Set #1 Score) x 0.03 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. |
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| Grading Incentive: | If you select a topic for your term paper promptly and submit that topic via the EClass site by Monday, April 17, 2000 at 1:00PM, we will drop your lowest problem set score when computing your semester grade. This arrangement applies to both individual and group term papers. | |
| University Deadlines: | Drop Deadline: Wednesday, February 2,
2000 Add Deadline: Friday, February 4, 2000 Credit/No Credit Deadline: Friday, February 4, 2000 Withdraw Deadline: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 |
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