Physics 263 is the third of a three-semester introductory physics sequence designed primarily for engineering students.  The address of the course web page, which you should make a habit of checking frequently, is http://www.physics.umd.edy/courses/Phys263/wth/. The major topics included in the course are magnetism & magnetic fields, alternating circuits, electromagnetic waves & optics, special relativity and an introduction to modern physics & quantum mechanics.  The course consists of three parts -- lecture, recitation and lab.
 
 

Lecture:	MWF (12:00-12:50)	All sections	PHY 1410
Recitation:	W (13:00 -13:50)	Sec. 0301	PHY 1402
	W (14:00-14:50)	Sec. 0302	PHY 1219
	Th (10:00-10:50)	Sec. 0303	PHY 3301
	Th (13:00-13:50)	Sec. 0305	PHY 4220

 

Laboratory:

PHYS263A, is required. You must complete PHYS263A (do all the labs) in order to pass PHYS 263.  If you believe that you have completed the lab in a previous semester, go to Student Services (PHY 1120) during the second week of this semester to have your grade verified.  The lab is run separately and is organized by Prof. Roos this semester. Neither I nor your recitation TA have anything to do with running the lab!  Please click here for more information.

General Information

Homework: 
Homework will be done via WebAssign.  For information on how to get connected click here.  Problem sets will generally be due by 6:00PM each Friday.  Late homework will not be accepted!  For most homework assignments, you have twenty-five tries to get the problems correct.  Note, each time you submit your answers, even if you have not attempted some of the problems, it is considered a try.  You should do all problems before submitting your results.  WebAssign will tell you if your answers are correct.  Although I encourage you to work with your classmates on your homework assignments to enhance your learning potential and experience, the numbers for the problems will be changed randomly for each student you so each of you will need to calculate your own results.
Quizzes:
Approximately every week you will have a one-problem quiz done on WebAssign.  You will have 24 hours to complete the quiz and will be due 2 hrs before your discussion section.  You will only have one attempt to the answer quiz questions.  WebAssign will provide no feedback on the quiz question.  The quiz question will be reviewd in your discussion section. 
Exams:
There will be three midterm exams given on lecture days and a final exam. You must take the final to pass the course! The dates of the exams are listed in the schedule.  All exams will be closed book. You will be allowed one 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper for notes. 
A single make-up exam will be given on the last day of classes via WebAssign to those with a valid excuse (a documented illness or an emergency). Arrangements to take the make-up exam must be made within a reasonable time (typically one week) of the missed exam. These arrangements must be made with me; your recitation TA does not have this authority.  You will only be excused from one exam.  If you miss more than one your will receive zero points for the additional missed exam. 
Calculators:
You can use a standard scientific calculator to all exams. Your calculator should provide arithmetic, trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic functions, and arbitrary roots and powers. 
Grade Budget: 



Homework	15%
Quizzes	10%
Midterm Exams	25%
Final Exam	25%
Laboratory	25%

Bonus Points
There are various ways to earn bonus points.  Those who attend discussion sections regularly will receive the benefit of the doubt in borderline cases.  Generally, there will be a bonus question on exams.  Finally, there could be one or more pop quizzes in lecture.  Exam bonus points will be added to your cumulative midterm score and the quiz bonus points will be added to the cumulative quiz score.

Letter Grades
Final letter grades are based upon the distribution of class scores and will not be known until the end of the semester. Recognizing that the actual divisions will most likely be different, you may use the following as an approximate guide.




A:	100 - 80%
B:	70 - 80%
C:	55 - 70%
D:	45 - 55%
F:	0 - 45%

Regardless of your point accumulation, if you do not take and pass the lab you will have earned an F! 

Again, you must take the final and pass the lab to pass the course!