Physics 110, Fall 1997, G. E. Matthews

Welcome to Physics 110, Introductory Physics.

Description and Goals:

My goals for the course are to have you: Toward that end, physics concepts will presented in the context of real-world examples, applications, and demonstrations. You will learn to explain many things around you using only a few fundamental concepts. You will discover that science is a process, rather than a set of results. The class will be highly interactive, as we seek to do science. We will develop models and theories, based on observation of classroom demonstrations.

Text:

Inquiry into Physics, by Ostdiek and Bord, West Publishing Company, plus other readings as assigned.

Homework:

Homework is due the class period after it is assigned, unless otherwise specified. I want to get solutions posted promptly, so homework will not be accepted late. Homework should be turned in at the beginning of class

Homework will be collected every class period. Not every problem will be graded. Solutions to all problems will be posted on the World Wide Web, so be sure to check your work each time.

I permit and encourage forming study groups for working homework. Copying another student's homework is wrong, but collaboration is not.

Laboratory:

You must pass the lab to pass the course. Your lowest lab grade is dropped. This means a single absence from lab would not significantly affect your grade. There are no make-up labs, so save this for an emergency. Please see the accompanying document on laboratory grading.

You will purchase your lab manual at the first lab.  Bring $6.00 to your first lab meeting.

Attendance:

Classroom participation is expected. Excessive absences may adversely affect your final grade. If you do not plan on coming to class, do not take this course.

Excused absences:

Please send me e-mail notifying me of any class you will miss with a University-approved excuse. If there is quiz or test that day, you must also give me a copy of the excuse. Your homework should be sent to me by class time. If you are out of town, you may send your homework to me by e-mail (matthews@wfu.edu) or FAX ( 910-759-6142).

If a short quiz is given on the day you have a University-excused absence, the quiz is omitted from your quiz average. You do not need to make up the quiz. Hour tests, however, must always be made up. Be sure to arrange for this before your absence.

Hour Tests:

Three tests are given during the course of the session. Alternate test times are normally given only in the event of infirmary confinement. Please notify me of such a problem prior to the test.

Test dates:

Quizzes:

Occasional quizzes will be given on recent material. These quizzes will be closely tied to recent lectures or homework assignments. This quizzes will be announced the preceding class.

Final examination:

The final examination will be given only at the regularly scheduled time. There will be no alternate exam times.

Grading:

Your final grade will be composed of the following contributions: *The lowest test grade will count only one-third as much as the other two test grades. However, if your final exam grade is lower than any test grade, all test grades will be kept and the final will count the same as each of your tests, with all the test and exam scores accounting for 70% of your final grade.

**Your lowest quiz grade is dropped.

***Your lowest homework grade is dropped.

****Your lowest lab grade is dropped.

Office hours:

8:00 - 10:00 a.m. Tuesday

8:00 - 10:00 a.m. Thursday

If these times do not fit your schedule, give me a call and I can usually arrange to see you quickly.

The Net:

Class information will be available through the Physics 110 Web page,
http://www.wfu.edu/~matthews/courses/phy110.

In addition, there is a class "listserv." This will allow you to exchange e-mail with everyone in the class. This is a good place to get help with those late-night questions.

The listserv will use your ordinary electronic mail. Anything you mail to "phy110" will go to the entire class and to me. This offers an easy way to ask questions, discuss problems, etc. More information is available in the accompanying Physics 110 listserv document.

You may also mail me directly at matthews@wfu.edu. Unless the question is confidential, you may prefer to send to "phy110," since a class member may be able to answer the question before I can.