Physics 201
General Physics I
Spring Semester 2003
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Instructors
Professor Al Erwin Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 4:00-5:00
pm or by appointment Professor Tao Han web: pheno.physics.wisc.edu/~than Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday
4:00-5:00
pm or by appointment |
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General Information Physics 201 is the first semester of a 2-semester introduction to physics that is designed mainly for engineering, science and medical students. The main topics are mechanics and thermodynamics. There are two lectures, two discussions and one three-hour lab per week. Our goal is for you to develop an understanding and intuition for physics so that you can solve practical problems. The best way to accomplish this goal is by thinking about and solving lots of problems and experimenting in the lab. We hope that Physics 201 will develop the critical thinking and collaborative skills you will need in your future career. It's not possible to learn physics without asking lots of questions and working lots of problems. The more active you are, the more you will learn. We have tried to offer as many ways as possible for you to ask questions: discussion sections, office hours, email, labs, etc. Never be shy about asking a question! Chances are half the class has the same one. We strongly recommend studying together with other students in the class. Administrative announcements about the course, examinations, etc., will be made in lecture and will sometimes be sent out by email. All course information is also available on the course home page at pheno.physics.wisc.edu/~than/phys201.html . Please let us know how we are doing. We need input from you to make Physics 201 as effective and enjoyable as possible. Feel free to offer suggestions (by email or office hours or even by an anonymous note) to any of the teaching staff. Prerequisites Calculus (Math 221 or equivalent). Materials Needed Text: Serway and Beichner, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 5th ed. (all materials available in bookstore) Laboratory Manual: Rollefson and Richards, Laboratory Experiments in General Physics, January 2001 edition. Laboratory notebook: Spiral bound, preferably with 5 or 6 mm cross-hatched ruling. Bring to first lab. Calculator: trig, exponential, and log functions. Know its use and bring it charged to exams. Class Structure There are three weekly components to Ph 201: lectures, discussion sections, and labs. The lectures will be given by Professors Erwin or Han on Tuesday and Thursday 1:20 - 2:10 (lecture 1) or 2:25-3:15 (lecture 2) in 1300 Sterling. You may attend either of these lectures. The lectures are to supplement, not substitute for, reading and studying the text. We expect you to do the assigned reading before coming to lecture. The discussion sections meet for 1 hour twice a week. The homework assigned the previous week is due at the start of the first discussion section of each week. Your knowledge of the homework material will be tested with a 10-minute quiz generally given at the beginning of the second discussion period each week. It will consist of one or two problems similar to one of the assigned homework problems. The weekly laboratory exercises are 3 hours long. YOU MUST COMPLETE AT LEAST 10 OF THE 11 LABORATORY ASSIGNMENTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE COURSE. Follow the " General Instructions" in the laboratory manual (pages 1-3). Information about the laboratories is also found on badger.physics.wisc.edu/lab/ manual/. The experiments are to be written up during the laboratory period in the lab notebook. The lab notebook is not to be taken from the laboratory. You must get written permission from only your lab TA to take a make-up lab. Make-up time is given for the labs covered in each exam period during the week of the exam only. Honors Credit The course may be taken for honors credit. Honors students are required to attend regularly an additional lecture on Fridays at 12:05 in 1300 Sterling. Attendance will be taken. Teaching Assistants (office hours) (TA contact information) Your discussion sections and lab are taught by teaching assistants who have a lot of experience with physics. You will spend at least 5 hours a week with your TA -- take advantage of every moment! In addition to the discussion sections and labs teaching assistants have office hours in the consultation room (2318 Sterling). |
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Ph 201 Course Schedule Spring 2003
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Homework The homework problems are assigned in the course schedule for each week and are due at the first meeting of your discussion section in the week following the assignment. You will be quizzed on the material covered in the homework at the start of your second discussion section the week the homework is due. Homework will count toward your grade. Feel free to discuss homework with others. The solutions will be explained in discussion section and available in the Physics Library and on www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/Physics/reserves/201.htm on the Wednesday of the week when the assignment is due. Laboratory The weekly laboratory exercises are 3 hours long. YOU MUST COMPLETE AT LEAST 10 OF THE 11 LABORATORY ASSIGNMENTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE COURSE. Follow the "General Instructions" in the laboratory manual (pages 1-3). Information about the laboratories is also found on badger.physics.wisc.edu/lab/manual/. The experiments are to be written up during the laboratory period in the lab notebook. The lab notebook is not to be taken from the laboratory. You must get written permission from only your lab TA to take a make-up lab. Make-up time is given for the labs covered in each exam period during the week of the exam only. Examinations DO NOT REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE UNLESS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND ALL OF THE FOLLOWING EXAMS: EXAM 1 Monday Feb. 17 7:15-8:15 pm EXAM 2 Monday March 24 7:15-8:15 pm EXAM 3 Monday April 21 7:15-8:15 pm FINAL Monday May 12 5:05-7:05 pm Makeup exams will not be given. The average of the other exam scores will be substituted for the missing exam, provided you have a written excuse from a physician, dean, or academic advisor only. There will be three one-hour exams on the dates shown. Rooms are assigned (click here). You may bring one 5" x 8" card (crib sheet) to each exam (8.5" x 11" for the final). We strongly encourage consulting the sample exams on www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/Physics/reserves/201.htm. There will be a review session before each exam:For exam 1 Sunday Feb. 16 6:30-8:00 pm For exam 2 Sunday March 23 6:30-8:00 pm For exam 3 Sunday April 20 6:30-8:00 pm For final Sunday May 11 6:30-8:00 pm Grading The course grade will be made up of 75% exams (15% per hour of exam), 25% discussion, homework and labs. |