Physics 24
Spring 2008
Instructor: Jacob Morris
Office: SCI 279
Phone: 434-3520
Email: morris_jacob@smc.edu
Webpage:
http://homepage.smc.edu/morris_jacob/
Office Hours: M 1-3, T
Course Description: This
course is a calculus-based introduction to modern physics. (Prerequisites: Math 8, Physics 21; Strongly
recommended: Physics 22, 23; Helpful: Math 11, 13, 15)
Time and Place:
Tuesday
and Thursday
Text: H. Young, Roger Freedman, University Physics, Vol. 3, 11th
edition, Addison Wesley.
Supplementary Texts: There are various texts on reserve. Consult
the library reserve desk or my webpage for details.
Grade: Homework 10%
Participation 5%
Lab/Tutorial 10%
Midterm 1 15% Thursday 3/13
Midterm 2 15% Thursday 4/17
Midterm 3 15% Thursday 5/15
Final 30% Thursday,
June 5,
The grades are based on a curve. On each exam I will indicate your grade on a standard 100-point scale.
Classroom
Conduct: Under no circumstances is
there to be any food or drink in either the lecture hall or laboratory. Please make a point of
coming to class on time; doing otherwise creates a distraction to both your
classmates and me. Attendance is not mandatory, however, missing class or laboratory
might have a negative impact on your grade.
Exam Policy: There are no make-up exams. If you miss an exam due to an emergency
or personal hardship a note from a suitable professional will be required. In
such justifiable case additional weight will be apportioned to other exams. All
exams are closed note and closed book. The midterm exams will consist of
problems and conceptual questions
based on material from the homework, lecture, text, and laboratory. Failure to take the final will result in an F
grade for the course.
Lab: There are no make-up labs. If there is ever
any doubt you should submit all the work you have completed in the laboratory.
Also, make sure you receive a graded report for every report you have
submitted. In the event you do not receive a graded report that you
submitted it is your responsibility to bring its absence to my attention. Though
laboratories will be conducted in groups, the analysis and questions are
intended to reflect your own work – verbatim copying of another student’s work
will possibly result in disciplinary action.
Homework: There will be an assignment
for each text chapter consisting of roughly 25 problems. The homework will be graded based on
completeness, correctness, and clarity.
Participation:
This component of your grade is based on your active participation in
lecture and laboratory. I will consider the frequency that you ask/answer
questions in class, your attentiveness, and whether you consistently review the
relevant material prior to the laboratory and lecture.
Mistake Policy: Anyone
who finds a significant mistake in my lecture or exam solutions will receive a
2% increase of their most recent exam grade.
Help: I realize that it may be
difficult to attend my office hours. If you need help do not hesitate to drop
by any time I am in my office. There is a tutoring available in the LRC located
in SCI 245.
Academic Dishonesty: The college policy regarding academic
dishonesty will be strictly enforced. In particular I will not hesitate
to inform the campus disciplinarian of any student’s dishonest conduct relating
to the course. This includes, but is not limited to: cheating on a quiz or
exam, submission of an altered exam for a regrade, verbatim copying of lab
activities, falsification of laboratory work/attendance, and forgery of my
signature/grade or forgery of any written excuse.
Week of: Sections: Topics:
Mar. 3 38.8,
38.2 Flex Day, Cavity
Radiation, Mode Density, Planck Law, Photoelectric Effect
Mar. 24 40.1- 40.2 Schrödinger
Equation, Particle in a Box, Quasi-Classical Approximation
Apr. 7 Spring
Break
May. 5 41.4-41.5 Exclusion Principle, Multielectron
Atoms, X-Ray Spectra, Zeeman Effect
Various
Decay Modes, Half-Life
June 5 Final Exam, Thursday 6/5,
Special Dates:
drop without a W: 3/2, Last
day to drop with a W: 5/11