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Elementary Physics (101N)  Syllabus Fall 2003

Lecturer: Prof L. Weinstein
Office: OCNPS 217 or Nuclear Facility, 1021 W 47th St, Room 104, 683--5803
Email: weinstei@physics.odu.edu
Office Hours: Friday 10:00--11:00 in the Learning Center, Monday 10:00--11:00 in OCNPS 217, and by
appointment
Web Page:  http://www.physics.odu.edu/~weinstei/101f03.html

If you are confused or don't understand something, get help immediately.  You can avoid large problems by getting help early.

Textbooks:
Lecture: Conceptual Physics, 9th ed, by P. Hewitt, Addison Wesley, 2002.
Optional Text: The Cartoon Guide to Physics,  by L. Gonick
Lab Manual (required): Physics 101 Lab Manual, 7th Ed
Last Year's Lecture Notes:  (highly recommended) Coursepack in Monarch Copy Center

Grading:  This course is uncurved. Everyone can get an A.
25% -- Homework
30% -- 2 Exams, 15% each
30% -- Final Exam
15% -- Laboratory
Yes, I give more weight to the homework than to the lab.  If you can do the homework then you will be able to ace the tests.

Exams:
Tentative dates: Oct 6 and Nov 7
No make-up exams will be given.  If you have to miss a test, contact me as soon as possible.
The first test is on Yom Kippur. If this will be a problem, please let me know as soon as possible.
Closed book exams.  Bring a calculator and a one page crib sheet (no xeroxes).
Final Exam: 8:30--11:30 AM, Monday Dec 8, 2003, Room 200 OCNPS

Homework:

• Homework will be assigned Wednesday on the web and due the following Friday by 12:00 noon in the homework mailbox outside OCNPS 124. Late homework will not be accepted.
• The lowest  homework score will be dropped.
• Homework is not a test.  You are encouraged to work together.  However, all explanations must be in your own words.  You must show your work on all numerical problems. One word answers are never sufficient.
• Homework is to be submitted on 8.5x11 paper.  Place a box around your answer to each problem.  Fold your  paper once along the long side.  On the outside of your homework put the following information: your printed name, 'Physics 101', Homework Assignment Number, and the date.
• Solutions will be posted on the web.  Check the solutions to make sure that a) you understand the problem and the solution and b) the grader did not make a mistake.
• Use of published homework solutions is considered cheating.

Laboratory:

• Oceanography and Physics, Room 140.  See Laboratory Schedule for details.  Labs start the first week of class.
• Students who fail the laboratory will fail the entire course.
• Attendance is mandatory. You will be allowed one (1) unexcused absence during the semester.  If you have two or more unexcused absences, you will fail the entire course.  It is your responsibility to inform your instructor of any absence and to arrange to make up the missed work.
• Read the assigned experiment before the lab begins and bring the lab manual and graph paper.
• Laboratory reports should be prepared according to the instructions in the Physics 101 Laboratory Manual.  Your lab instructor will also discuss the format for your lab reports and the grading procedure.

1. The Virginia Children's Festival, October 4, 9-4, Town Point Park, Norfolk.  The Physics Department will bring a lot of our favorite demonstrations and explain them to children and their parents.  Come help for two hours and earn one point for the semester course grade (equivalent to 6 points on a midterm exam).
2. The Pumpkin Drop, October 28 or 30, 12:30-1:30, BAL.  The Society of Physics students will drop pumpkins from the top of BAL.  Build a device to catch a pumpkin without damaging it.  Answer some questions explaining the physics of the drop and the catcher.  One to two points extra credit (depending on the quality of the pumpkin catcher and how well you answer the questions).  Teams of up to four can participate.  

Course syllabus (subject to change):

Week	Chap	Comment	HW Assigned	HW Due	Lab
Aug 25	1-2		1	none	organizational meeting
Sep 1	2		2	1	Math Review
Sep 8	3		3	2	Uncertainty
Sep 15	4		4	3	Gravity
Sep 22	5		Practice Test	4	Newton's 2nd Law
Sep 29	6	Review and Test	5	none	Composition of Forces
Oct 6	7		6	5	Friction
Oct 13	8	No class Monday	7	6	Momentum Conservation
Oct 20	9,10		8	7	Ballistic Pendulum
Oct 27	22		Practice Test	8	Torque
Nov 3			9	none	Rotational Motion
Nov 10	23		10	9	Resistance
Nov 17			none	10	Magnetic Force
Nov 24	24	Thanksgiving	11	none	none
Dec 1	25	Review Friday	none	11	TBA

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