Physics 2401
Principles of Physics II Course Outline First Summer Semester 2015
Instructor: Thomas L. Gibson Office: Sc 27 Office Hours: 9:00-10:00 (M-Th) Required Text: Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 9th edition, by Serway and Jewett with Enhanced Web Assign (online homework student access kit) and Laboratory Manual for Physics 2401 Principles of Physics II.
This course satisfies part of the Natural Science core curriculum requirement. The objective of the study of the natural sciences component of a core curriculum is to enable the student to understand, construct, and evaluate relationships in the natural sciences, and to enable the student to understand the bases for building and testing theories. The natural sciences investigate the phenomena of the physical world.
- Course Purpose:
- Students graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to explain some of the major concepts in the natural sciences and demonstrate an understanding of scientific approaches to problem solving, including ethics.
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Expected Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcome Assessment Demonstrate a basic understanding of optics, E&M fields, and simple circuits. Beginning of the semester pretest and an end of the semester posttest. Develop facility with optical and electrical measurements. Evaluation of laboratory data. Verify the centrality of experiment to the scientific method. Evaluation of written laboratory reports.
Course Coverage: Time permitting, the course will cover material from chapters 23-38 in the text. Course Web page: www.phys.ttu.edu/~ritlg/courses/p2401/index.html
- Grading Policy:
- The following six scores will be accumulated during the course of the semester: OHLD; Exam 1; Exam 2; Exam 3; Final Exam; Final Exam. The course grade will be the weighted average of the OHLD at 40% and the four highest exam scores of the five listed above at 15% each. NO MAKEUP EXAMS will be given. Your letter grade will be determined on the following scale: (55-65) D; (66-81) C; (82-91) B; (92-100) A. I do use +/- grades one point either side of a grade boundary, e.g., grades of 80 or 81 earn a C+ while grades of 82 or 83 earn a B-.
- OHLD:(Online Homework + Laboratory/Discussion)
- Online homework from the Enhanced WebAssign website (enroll in section ttu 9823 7896 using your name and TTU student ID#) will be assigned and graded on a regular basis. This will constitute half of the credit for the OHLD category.
- Laboratory/Discussion will be conducted during the assigned periods. Your laboratory/discussion score will constitute the other half of the credit for the OHLD category.
- Exams: Three class period exams will be given. You will need a scantron sheet for each exam.
- Final: A comprehensive two-and-a-half-hour final exam will be given. You will also need a scantron sheet for this exam.
- Important Dates:
- June 02 = Tuesday---Classes start for the First Summer Semester.
- June 22 = Monday---Last day to drop course.
- July 01 = Wednesday---Last day of classes.
- July 02 = Thursday---Final Exam (Chapters 23-38) (11:00 a.m. to 01:30 p.m.) in SC010 unless we are notified otherwise.
- Course Goals:
- This course is intended to acquaint students with the basic laws of physics, to develop a better understanding of physical science in general, and help prepare you for other upper-division physics and engineering classes. To this end, the course will emphasize a mix of laboratory, conceptual understanding and standard "end-of-chapter" homework solving skills.
- Approximate Coverage and Dates for In-class Exams
- Chapters 23-26; Friday, June 12, 2015.
- Chapters 27-31; Friday, June 19, 2015.
- Chapters 32-36; Friday, June 26, 2015.
- Important Notes:
- Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor's office hours. Please note instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, you may contact the Student Disability Services office at 335 West Hall or 806-742-2405.
- The faculty is strongly committed to upholding standards of academic integrity. These standards, at the minimum, require that students never present the work of others as their own.
- Rude, disrespectful, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
- Since there are many of you and only one of me, if you have questions about the course, please check the Frequently Asked Questions page first.
- Strategy for Success:
- Be prepared! Study your notes, read the material in the text before we cover it in class, and take advantage of the online resources. This will help you keep up, will make for more productive classroom interaction, and will help keep you prepared for those exams that will make up most of your semester grade.
- Begin all homework assignments as soon as possible. The assignments take time and thought.
- Once you can work through a problem with your notes, book, study group, etc., write the question down on a blank sheet of paper and then try to rework it entirely on your own a day or so later.
- Never wait until the night before a test to "begin" studying.
- Physics requires a lot of work outside the classroom. Don't get behind.
- See your instructor if you are stuck--that's why they pay me the big bucks!