Elementary Physics (102N)  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 OCNPS 217, Wednesday 11:00--12:00 in the Learning Center, and by
appointment
Web Page:  http://www.physics.odu.edu/~weinstei/102s03.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, 2003.
Optional Text: The Cartoon Guide to Physics,  by L. Gonick
Lab Manual (required): Physics 102 Lab Manual, Monarch Copy Center
Last Year's Lecture Notes:  (highly recommended) Coursepack in Monarch Copy Center or on the web site.

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: Feb 21 and Apr 4
No make-up exams will be given.  If you have to miss a test, contact me 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, Wednesday May 7, 2003, Room 100 OCNPS

Homework:

• Homework will be assigned Wednesday and due the following Friday by 12:00 noon in the homework mailbox outside OCNPS 124. Late homework will not be accepted.
• Homework assignments will be posted on the web and displayed in class.
• 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.
• 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 102', 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 second 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. Missed labs will lower your lab grade.
• 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 102 Laboratory Manual.  Your lab instructor will also discuss the format for your lab reports and the grading procedure.

1. The Tidewater Physics Olympics will be held on Saturday morning, March 22.  Hundreds of Middle and High School students will compete in fun events like the Penny Barge or the Constant Acceleration Race.  Come help judge and earn two points for your semester course grade (equivalent to 12 points on a midterm exam).
2. Tour of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, VA.  Visit the world's best Nuclear Physics research lab.  Time and date TBA.  One point extra credit (equivalent to 6 points on a midterm exam).

Course syllabus (subject to change):
 

Week	Chapter	Comment	HW Assigned	HW due	Lab
Jan 13	11-12		1	none	none
Jan 20	13	King Day 1/20	2	1	Math Review
Jan 27	14		3	2	Archimedes Principle
Feb 3	15-16		4	3	Specific Heat
Feb 10	16 & 18		Practice Test	4	Latent Heat
Feb 17	18	Review and Test	5	none	Thermodynamics I
Feb 24	19		6	5	Thermodynamics II
Mar 3	20 & 26		7	6	Harmonic Motion
Mar 10	SPRING	BREAK
Mar 17	26-27		8	7	Vibrating String
Mar 24	28		Practice Test	8	Color
Mar 31	29	Review and Test	9	none	Lenses and Mirrors
Apr 7	30-31		10	9	Spectrometry
Apr 14	32-33		11	10	Microwaves
Apr 21	33-34		none	11	none
Apr 28	Review	Last day of class			none

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