Elementary Physics (102N)  Syllabus Spring 2006

Lecturer: Prof L. Weinstein
Office: OCNPS 217 or Nuclear Facility, 1021 W 47th St, Room 104, 683--5803
Email: weinstei (at) physics (dot) odu [dot] edu
Office Hours: Friday 10:00--11:00 in the Learning Center, Friday 11:00-12:00 in OCNPS 217, and by
appointment
Web Page:  http://www.physics.odu.edu/~weinstei/102s06.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, 10th ed, by P. Hewitt, Addison Wesley, 2005.
Optional Text: The Cartoon Guide to Physics,  by L. Gonick
Lab Manual (required): Physics 102 Lab Manual.
Last Year's Lecture Notes:  (highly recommended) Coursepack in Monarch Copy Center or on the web site. (Note that the course pack will be available on Friday 1/6 or Monday 1/9.)
Transmitter: PRS Interwrite transmitter (at the bookstore).  Needed for the in-class participation grade.  New textbooks should include a coupon to save money on this item.   You will also need to activate your clicker (instructions here). 

Grading:  This course is uncurved. Everyone can get an A.
20% -- Homework
30% -- 2 Exams, 15% each
30% -- Final Exam
15% -- Laboratory
5%  -- Class participation
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 24 and Mar 31
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 of the book or of my notes).
Final Exam: 8:30--11:30 AM, Wednesday, May 3, 2006, Room 200 OCNPS

Homework:

• Homework assignments are posted on the web and are due on the date specified by 12:00 noon in the homework mailbox outside OCNPS 124. Late homework will not be accepted.
• The lowest homework score will be dropped.
• Explain all your answers to Exercises. One word answers are not acceptable.
• Show your work on all numerical Problems and on One-Steps
• Homework is not a test.  You are encouraged to work together.  However, all explanations must be in your own words.
• 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 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. 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, March 18, from 8:30 to noon.  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 9	11-12		1	none	Lab Intro
Jan 16	13	King Day 1/16	2	1	Mathematics Review
Jan 23	14		3	2	Archimedes Principle
Jan 30	15-16		4	3	Specific Heat
Feb 6	16 & 18		5	4	Latent Heat
Feb 13	18		Practice Test	5	Thermodynamics I
Feb 20	19	Review and Test	6	none	Thermodynamics II
Feb 27	20 & 26		7	6	Harmonic Motion - pendulum
Mar 6	SPRING	BREAK			none
Mar 13	26-27		8	7	Vibrating String
Mar 20	28		Practice Test	8	Oscillation -- mass on a spring
Mar 28	29	Review and Test	9	none	Light and Color
Apr 4	30-31		10	9	Lenses and Mirrors
Apr 11	32-33		11	10	Spectrometry
Apr 18	33-34		none	11	Refraction and Reflection
Apr 25	Review	Last day of class			none

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