PHY1033C
DISCOVERING PHYSICS (P) - FALL 2018
CLASS TIME & PLACE: T
8-9 & R 8 Period in NPB #1002
Instructor: Neil
Sullivan
Office: NPB #2235
Email: sullivan@phys.ufl.edu
Office Hours:
M and W: 8th P. Feel free to email for an appointment
outside office hours
TEXTBOOKS:
"Physics
for Poets" (5th
Ed.) by Robert H.
March; (McGraw Hill, publisher)
REFERENCES:
"Einstein's
Cosmos: How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed Our Understanding
of Space
and Time (Great Discoveries) “ by Michio
Kaku (W.W. Norton, publisher)
"Great
Experiments in
Physics:
First
hand accounts from Galileo to Einstein" (2nd Edition)
by M.H. Shamos (Editor); (Dover Publications, NY)
PREQUISITES: None
DESCRIPTION:
An
overview of the great ideas about the laws of the Universe that shape
our daily lives, ranging from the quantum revolution that has lead to
magnetic resonance imaging and the modern electronics of our cell
phones, to structure and evolution of our Cosmos. A few
simple experiments will be carried out in class.
EXPECTATION:
It is expected that students read textbook chapters thoroughly at
least once preferably before the class and review lecture notes timely.
Students should work on HW problems diligently. The
laboratory part of the course is important and should be completed.
GRADING:
Assigned
work: In addition to short
problems, short essays will be assigned on topics covered in the
course.
Homework: Selected HW problems and
writing assignments will be
tested in the exams.
In-class Quiz: There will be 4 in-class quizzes.
20 - 30 mins will be given for each quiz.
Laboratory:
There will be 8 laboratories on Tuesdays. Please
review the Laboratory
Guidelines.
Writing
Assignments:
This
course meets the State of Florida
undergraduate writing requirement (Gordon Rule 2) by which you must
submit at
least 2000 words of original writing over the full semester. You
will
accomplish this by writing about 5 article summaries, each 500-700
words in
length, over the semester. An article summary is a short essay
describing the
contents of a scientific article that is relevant to the course and the
lectures. Examples of topics will be given in class
Exams:
There will be
one Midterm exam (in-class) and
one Final exam (not cumulative). Some exam material will involve
writing in addition to elementary problem solving. Please check the Course Calendar for the exam time and
date.
Policy
on missed Exam or Quiz:
Consistent with university policies that can be found at https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx.
Composition of Grade (Total 100)
Quizzes |
10
|
Homework |
25
|
Laboratory |
15 |
Mid Term |
25
|
Final |
25
|
Projected Grading Scale*
Grade |
A |
A-
|
B+
|
B
|
B-
|
C+
|
C
|
C-
|
D+
|
E
|
G. Pt. |
4.0
|
3.67
|
3.33
|
3.0
|
2.67
|
2.33
|
2.0
|
1.67
|
1.33
|
0
|
Score |
>=
90 |
>=
80 |
>=70
|
>=
65 |
>=
60 |
>=
55 |
>=
50 |
>=
45 |
>=
40 |
|
*The passing grade for
Physics majors is C and above. The actual grading scale may
vary depending on numerous factors within +/- 2.5 points out of 100.
STUDENTS with
DISABILITIES:
Students who require accommodation for disabilities must first contact
the Dean
of Students Office. That office will provide documentation, which the
student
must bring to his/her instructors during the first week of the
semester. Contact
the Disability
Resources Center for information about
available resources for students with disabilities.
COUNSELING and MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
Student facing difficulties completing the course or in need of
counseling should call the on-campus Counseling and Wellness Center at
(352) 392 1575.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Each student
is expected to hold himself/herself to a high standard of academic
honesty.
Under the UF academic honesty policy, unauthorized assistance or the
use of
unauthorized resources is strictly forbidden on work-for-credit.
Although
discussions among the students are highly encouraged, you are to work
alone on
all homework assignments unless specified differently. Fabrication or
falsification of excuses or related documentation is also a violation
of the UF
academic honesty policy. Violations
of this policy will be dealt with severely. There will be no warnings
or
exceptions.
ONLINE COURSE EVALUATION: Students
are expected to participate in course/instructor evaluations.
These evaluations are conducted online
typically during the last
3 weeks of the semester. Summary results of these assessments are
available.
|