DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

PHYX 1200

PHYSICS by EXPLORATION

SPRING 2008

Tonya Triplett

Course Information

            Textbook:         CONCEPTUAL PHYSICS 10^TH ed. Hewitt, Pearson, Addison Wesley, 2006

            Instructor          Tonya Triplett, SER 234, 797-8308, tonya.triplett@usu.edu

            Classroom        ESLC 130

            Time                 1:30 – 2:45 Tuesday and Thursday

                                    Lab as registered

            Office hours      by appointment – T/H mornings

            Website            Use USU’s WebCT program

Course Goal

The goal of this course is to acquaint you with some of the "big ideas" in physics, to let you see those ideas in action in your own experimentation, and to convince you that physics can (at least some of the time) be fun.  The course will also attempt to acquaint you with some of the major players in science, the people who came up with the big ideas, how they did it, and how and on what scientists are working today.

Tests

            This course will have four exams over four general areas.  These tests will be given in class as listed on the calendar.  Each one will be worth 150 points such that tests will comprise 60% of the total points in the course.  Tests will be in written format, will cover concepts, labs, and problem solving.  The last test will be given as the scheduled final and will NOT be comprehensive.

Homework

            Homework will be assigned approximately weekly.  Each homework assignment will be worth 20 points.  Homework will be worth 200 points of the total score or 20%.  More than 10 assignments will be given so you may drop your lowest scores.  Assignments will be available during class and posted on WebCT.  The answers to homework will be posted on WebCT, so late homework will not be accepted.  WebCT is available from the USU home page.  Your login name is your A # and the password is your standard password.  All assignments and due dates are available on WebCT.

Labs

            Labs are your chance to “try it out”.  They will be held in SER 110 during your scheduled lab time.  A total of 8 labs will be held during the semester and you will need to attend them all.  You will receive credit for attendance and for an exit quiz.  A total of 25 points per lab is available.  If you miss your lab section, you may be able to attend another section during that week.  Lab points will comprise 200 points of the total score or 20%.

Next-Time Question

            At the beginning of each class there will be a thought question about the previous day’s material.  Students will answer these questions in a journal format.  This completed journal may be turned in at the end of the course to excuse absence from one lab.

Composition of Final Grade

Chapter Tests                                       60%                 600 points

Homework                                           20%                 200 points

Labs                                                     20%                 200 points

Question Journal                                   0%                     (ONE LAB)

The assignment of letter grades will be as shown in the table below:

Letter grade      A         A-        B+       B          B-        C+       C         C-        D+       D

% Score           94.0     90.0     87.0     84.0     80.0     77.0     74.0     70.0     67.0     60.0

The scores represent the lower bound for the adjacent letter grades.  Marks of 59% and below will be graded F.

Supplemental Instruction (SI)

This class is scheduled to have a Supplemental Instructor (SI) to assist individuals or groups.  At the time of printing, one had not been assigned.  More information may be given in the future.

Lab Fee

A lab fee has been assessed for this course to pay for lab materials.  It should have been paid at registration.

Materials for Persons with Disabilities

In cooperation with the Disability Resource Center, reasonable accommodation will be provided for students with disabilities.  Please meet with the instructor during the first week of class to make arrangements.  Alternative format print materials, large print, audio, diskette or Braille will be available through the Disability Resource Center.