Physics 221
Syllabus
Fall 2009
Instructor: Catherine Jahncke
Office Hours: M 2:15-4:15
Office: Bewkes
225 H 2:15-4:15
Text: Taylor, Zafiratos, and Dubson, Modern
Physics for Scientists and Engineers 2nd
ed. (Prentice
Hall, 2004).
Course overview: This is a two-semester course which
examines the two major theories of physics developed in the 20th century:
relativity and quantum mechanics.The first semester will be devoted to understanding these two theories,
including the experimental basis for them. The second semester will look more closely at applications
of these theories.
Course requirements: The requirements for this
course include regular homework, three mid semester exams, a final exam, and a
weekly laboratory. You will also give a report on a physics topic of your choice. I encourage you to work with other
students in the class on homework assignments, and lab, but I also expect that
all work you turn in for a grade is your own, and not the work of anyone else. Please keep this in mind.
Homework: There will be weekly homework assigned Tuesdays and due the
following Tuesday. Similar to
Physics 151/152, you will be responsible for correcting your homework from the
solutions posted, and handing the corrected version in the following Thursday.
Exams: There will be three mid semester exams, each covering the material
completed in class and lab prior to the exam. Questions on the exams will be similar to the homework and
the material covered in laboratory and in class. The final exam
will be cumulative, but with an emphasis on the last section of the class.
Laboratory: You will receive separate
laboratory instructions. The
laboratory is required and there may be questions on the exams covering
material from lab. Failure to pass
laboratory will automatically result in failure in the course. Your passing lab grade will be averaged
in with your class grade as described below.
Reports: Each of you will do one oral review/reports of a current article in physics during the
semester. The subject of these
reports should be the discussion of an article about physics published in the
last 10 years. The reports should
not be lengthy, but should summarize the major points of the article in a clear
and concise manner. In fact,
picking two to four main points from the article is sufficient. These reports will be presented orally. The article you choose to present must be turned in one week prior to the
report due date. The oral reports
should be 10 to 15 minutes in length.You are required to use visual aids: handouts, blackboard, or
Powerpoint. Some journals that you may want to use as sources of articles to review
include the following: Physics Today,
Journal of Contemporary Physics,
Scientific American, American Scientist, American Journal of Physics, or Physics in Perspective. If you choose a journal outside of this list, you should get approval from the instructor. Early in the semester, we will visit the science library to locate some of
these journals and other sources you will need to consult during the semester.
Grading:
| Hour exams | 3 at 10% each for 30% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Laboratory | 25% |
| Reports | 5% |
Other Stuff:
„Office
Hours: My office hours are
indicated above, but please feel free to look for me at any time during the day. I am usually around and happy to answer
your questions.
„Class
participation: While participation
in class is not a part of your formal grade, you are expected to attend class,
and your contribution to the class will be considered in determining your final
grade.