PHYSICS 2426 TECHNICAL PHYSICS II SPRING 2008

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Francis Redfern, Phys. Sci. Office #3, 838-4541 x3312

OFFICE HOURS: Posted on my door. Come in and ask me questions!

WEB: http://prism.texarkanacollege.edu/

CLASSROOM: Physical Sciences Classroom #1 (Lecture and Lab)

LECTURE: 9:30-10:50 TuTh

LAB: 2-5 Tu

TEXTBOOK: University Physics, by Young and Freedman

SCHEDULE:

January 22 - February 21: Chapters 17-22

TEST NO. 1 in Testing Center Wednesday & Thursday, Feb. 26-27

February 26 - March 27: Chapters 23-27

TEST NO. 2 in Testing Center Wednesday & Thursday, April 1-2

April 1 - May 1: Chapters 28-32

TEST NO. 3 in Testing Center Monday & Tuesday, May 5-6

Week of May 5: Review for comprehensive final exam

QUIZZES: There will be a quiz after each chapter. Quizzes will consist of multiple choice questions and one or two problems taken from the homework assignment. The problems will be worded almost the same as the homework, except that numbers will be changed. You can work from your completed homework assignment so be sure to bring your completed homework and a calculator to class. THE QUIZZES WILL BE TIMED! The time allotted will vary depending on the difficulty of the quiz but will usually be 12 minutes.

TESTS: Tests will consist of problems, multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank. Review sessions, conducted during lab period, will precede each test and will be interactive. These sessions will account for 24% of your test grade. (The actual test itself will count 76%.) You will be given a handout of formulas and physical constants to be used for the test. On blank areas of the handout, you may write down other formulas you think will help you on the test but no extensive notes or worked out problems. (You may identify equation symbols by name and include notes on the use of the equations, however.) If you are uncertain if something is allowed, come and ask me, because the equation sheets will be examined after each test. (You MUST turn in your equation sheet with your test or you will NOT RECEIVE CREDIT!). No other materials will be allowed for the test except pen or pencil and a calculator.

GRADING: There will be 3 tests during the semester, worth 15% each for a total of 45%. Weekly quizzes will be worth a total of 10% and the comprehensive final will be worth 25%. Lab will count 20%. There will be no makeup tests or labs. However, the final exam grade will substitute for any missed tests or lower test scores. Students carrying an 85 (NOT rounded up!) or better test average going into the final exam may waive the final exam and letting their test average count for the final exam grade. If you qualify to waive the final exam but wish to take it anyway, the grade you are assigned for your final exam will be the higher of your final exam score or your test average. The two lowest lab grades (or missed labs) will be dropped as will the two lowest quiz scores. Grading scheme: 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D.

INTERNET-BASED HELP: My email address is given above. You may contact me to ask a question, to report an expected absence from class, or for any other concerns you may have. Course information, including any “late-breaking news”, is available on my Web site (URL above). At the beginning of the semester everyone will be given a user ID and password by e-mail to access their grades at my site. You must send me an email to which I can reply with this information. This should allow every student to keep up with their class standing. THESE ARE YOUR OFFICIAL GRADES, SO YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY HAVE BEEN CORRECTLY RECORDED! If anyone wishes their grades not to accessible over the Internet, I need to be told. Access to the grades protected as strictly as possible, maintained behind both the college firewall and my firewall. In addition, I monitor all uses of the site and can identify any unauthorized attempt to access information.

DROP POLICY: I will be taking attendance and will adhere to the college attendance policy. You may be dropped after four absences. Two tardies counts as one absence.

MISCELLANEOUS: Students are expected to show up on time for class. If you do arrive late or must leave the class temporarily, do so quietly. If you must leave early for any reason, please inform me ahead of time. In particular, if you need to leave a lab early, it must be with the knowledge and consent of both myself and your lab partners. I reserve the right to penalize a student for noncompliance with these requests. If you are going to be absent for more than one class period for any reason, be sure to let me know ahead of time if possible.