Goucher College
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Principles of Physics II
PHY.116
Spring 2009
Class schedule
Homework schedule
Blackboard
· Instructor Dr. Sasha Dukan · Course Assistant Mr. Semyon Ginzburg Office: B19 Phone: 410-337-6321 · Course Description Physics 116 is a second semester of algebra-based course designed for students majoring in life sciences or for non-science students exploring physics as a general education requirement. Main objective of the course is to introduce students to the basic concepts of electricity and magnetism and optics. This course will use algebra and trigonometry tools in developing universal language of physics, but emphasis will be on student's intuitive understanding and visualization of various phenomena in nature governed by physical laws. Lectures will not simply involve following the textbook, there will be many demonstrations to aid in understanding of physics concepts. There will be an extensive use of multimedia presentations in order to enhance classroom experience and connect covered material to everyday life. A significant amount of time will be spent in developing problem solving strategies which are necessary in learning and understanding physics principles. Problems worked in the lectures and laboratories will occasionally appear on the exams, so it is in your best interest to regularly attend the lectures. · Textbook Serway and Vuille, “College Physics”, Saunders College Publishing, 88h edition. Spring semester will cover Chapters 14-25. Expectation is that students will read assigned chapter in preparation for a class. Unless otherwise stated in the class, a student is required to master all the material covered in the textbook. The textbook material will be tested on the exams and quizzes. · Lectures Lectures are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1:30-2:20 pm in HS B27. · Laboratory PHY116L (1 credit) is a laboratory course that accompanies PHY116 and has to be taken concurrently with PHY116. If a student withdraws from the lecture course (PHY116) he/she must withdraw from the laboratory course (PHY116L) and vice versa. · Exams There will be four hourly exams and a final exam at the end. Tentative dates which may be adjusted according to the rate at which the material is being covered are: First exam: Tuesday, February 24, Ch 14, 15, 16 Second exam: Tuesday, March 31, Ch 17, 18, 19 Third exam: Tuesday, April 21, Ch 20, 21, 22 Fourth Exam: Wednesday, May 6, Ch 23, 24, 25 Final exam: Thursday, May 14, 12:00pm to 2:00pm (Chapters 14-25) There will be a review session before each exam. · Homework A homework assignment of about 5 to 10 problems per chapter will be assigned each week. These will be due at the beginning of the lecture according to the homework schedule. There will be a quiz assigned on Blackboard every week, typically due two days after a weekly homework assignment due date. No late homework will be accepted. You are encouraged to work on a homework assignment with other students, but this does not mean distributing work load or copying. The main purpose of homework is to give you practice in solving problems and prepare you for the exam. Solving problems is a very important part of a learning process in this course. · Grades The course grade will be based upon exams, laboratory reports, homework and class participation. There will be no make-up exams. If the lowest exam grade is lower than the average homework grade it will be dropped. The grade break down is as follows: Quizzes: 15% · numerical grade between 90.1% and 93% is A-, larger than 93.1% is A, · numerical grade between 85.1% and 90% is B+ · numerical grade between 75.1% and 85% is B · numerical grade between 70.1% and 75% is B- · numerical grade between 67.1% and 70% is C+ · numerical grade between 63.1% and 67% is C · numerical grade between 60.1% and 63% is C- · numerical grade between 57.1% and 60% is D+ · numerical grade between 53.1% and 57% is D · numerical grade between 50.1% and 53% is D- · numerical grade below 50% is F · Academic Ethics All students are bound by the standards of the Academic Honor Code, found at www.goucher.edu/documents/General/AcademicHonorCode.pdf |