Phys104 - How Things
Work
University of Maryland, College Park
Fall 2013
Professor: Ted Jacobson
Room 4115 (Physics Bldg.), 301-405-6020, jacobson_at_umd.edu
Office hours: After class, or by appointment.
Class meetings: TuTh 12:30-1:45pm, Room PHY 0405
Tutoring session: TBA
Grader: Adnan Choudhary, adnanchoudhary1_at_gmail.com
Course
web
site : Homework assignments, class notes,
supplements, and solutions will all be posted
at the course web site,
http://www.physics.umd.edu/grt/taj/104d/ .
Piazza course web forum:
http://piazza.com/class#spring2013/phys104
: Please use piazza for questions on course material.
E-mail:
I
will
use
e-mail
and Piazza to communicate with the class. I can often be reached
at night or on weekends by email.
Students are responsible for making sure I have their correct
email address and checking their email daily. Important
messages
will sometimes be sent to the class by email. You may
submit questions about the homework to Piazza and I will usually
answer
very quickly, often even at surprising times. Also your classmates
may answer your questions or discuss the problems.
Homework:
The
purpose
of
the homework if for you to engage with the material.
This is how you will master it,
and it will help you discover what you don't yet fully understand. Discussing physics helps
understanding.
You are encouraged to discuss the homework in our Piazza forum,
with fellow students,
with our grader/tutor, or with Dr. Jacobson.
However, what you turn in should be your own answers. Beware: if you just copy answers,
you won't
be well prepared for the exams!
+
Usually
assigned
once
weekly.
+ Must be turned in at the beginning of class on the due
date
(not to the grader).
+ Please make sure
you include your name and the
homework and
course numbers, and staple the pages together.
+ Late homework accepted
only
under dire circumstances: if you know it will be
impossible to
turn in an assignment
on time you must discuss this with me in
advance of
the due date. Medical reasons accepted only with a doctor's note.
Exams:
Two
mid-terms
and
a final exam (Thursday, May 16, 1:30pm-3:30pm).
The final will just be a third "mid-term".
If you know ahead of time that you will miss an exam you
must notify me before
the exam. For emergencies, I will
accomodate those with valid, documented excuses and who have given
me
timely notification.
Religious Observances: Students are responsible for
notifying the instructor of any intended absences for religious
observances
within the first two weeks of the semester.
Grading: The course grade
will
be based on the homework and exams. The lowest two homework scores
will
be dropped.
The relative weights are adjusted to maximize your total score as
follows: either 25% for hw and 15,25,35%
for your exams
(in order of increasing exam score), or
15% for hw and 15,35,35% for exams.
The
letter
grades
corresponding to
numerical
scores will be determined after reviewing the class performance
as a whole, consistent with the grade definitions
indicating
mastery of the material:
A:
excellent, B: good, C: adequate, D: marginal. The exams
are
"curved" so that the letters generally
fall close to the standard ranges: A: 100-90%, B:
89-80%, C: 79-70%, D: 69-60%, possibly stretched a
little on the lower ends.
Tips
for
doing well :
- Attend class.
- Freely
ask
questions
both
in and out of class.
- Read the textbook before and after class.
- Do all of the homework problems. This is mostly where you
learn,
and there is a strong correlation between homework and exam
grades.
- Seek help immediately if you don't understand the material.
Academic
honesty: The University of Maryland, College Park
has a
nationally recognized Code of Academic Integrity,
administered by the Student Honor Council. This Code sets
standards for
academic integrity at Maryland for all undergraduate
and graduate students. As a student you are responsible for
upholding these standards for this course. It is very
important
for you to be aware of the consequences of cheating, fabrication,
facilitation, and plagiarism. For more information on the
Code of Academic Integrity or the Student Honor Council,
please
visit
http://www.shc.umd.edu.
The University has adopted an Honor Pledge, which is a statement
undergraduate and graduate students are asked to write
by hand and sign on examinations, papers, or other academic
assignments
not specifically exempted by the instructor.
The Pledge reads: "I pledge on my honor that I have not given or
received any unauthorized assistance on this
assignment/examination." In this course it is assumed that all
students
have entered the University agreeing to the
honor principle which would apply in general to all campus
activities,
so usually no specific statement is required.