Physics 123 – “Physics Majors/Minors” Section

Fall 2007, MWF 1:00-1:50 p.m., C285 ESC

Physics 123 is an introduction to fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, waves, optics, and special relativity.  Physics 121 and Math 112 or equivalents should be completed before taking this course.  All majors are welcome, but this section is designed for physics and physics teaching majors and minors.  It will be more challenging and in-depth than the non-major section, and modern physics (other than relativity) will not be covered.  (Physics majors and minors will cover these topics in Physics 222.)

Class Goals:  You should gain a new understanding of physics and a greater ability to predict and control the behavior of different physical systems.  In addition, this course will teach you mathematical methods, reasoning, and general problem solving skills.  It is my goal not only for you to learn the “course material,” but to become better prepared for future physics courses, and better equipped to understand and appreciate the universe around you. 

My understanding of science and math has affected all aspects of my life, from the way I manage my finances to my understanding and appreciation of the gospel.  It has sharpened my reasoning skills, and awakened a fascination of the universe we live in and of the power that math and science give us to understand and appreciate all of the wonders that surround us.  I hope that, in addition to learning specific skills in this class, you will also broaden your interest in and understanding of, well… life, the universe, and everything! 

If you put forth the effort you will do well and have fun.  But I expect that this will be a challenging course for all of you.  You will have to discipline yourself and study perhaps harder and with greater focus than you ever have.  It has been shown that two of the most important factors in what a student learns in college are the time spent working with classmates and personal contact with faculty members.  As such, I strongly encourage and will do whatever I can to help you to establish study groups and to make myself available to you.  Students who have taken advantage of these opportunities in the past have formed friendships which have lasted well beyond Physics 123, and which have helped their learning in future courses.

Textbook:  There are two books for this course.  The primary text is Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics, Sixth Edition, Volume 3, by Serway and Beichner.  The second book is Physics phor Phynatics, First Edition, by yours truly. This book contains supplementary material on waves and General Relativity.  It is a very inexpensive book --- I shopped around for an inexpensive printer, and I don’t receive any royalties for this book.  Both books are available in the bookstore.

The reading assignments are listed in the class schedule.  It is of great importance that the assigned reading be done before class.  There will be daily reading quizzes.

Homework:  There will be an assignment due almost every day there is a lecture.  Assignments are due on their listed due date any time before the building closes.  Assignments are to be dropped off in the slot labeled "physics 123, section 2" in the boxes near room N375 ESC. You will be assigned an ID number for this course.  Be sure to fill this ID number in at the top of each assignment or I will not be able to give you credit for your work.  Homework will be returned to the slots next to the box where homework is handed in, sorted by the first two digits of your class ID.  Other students will have access to your graded homework, so if you don't want others to know your scores, don’t put your name on the assignment (you may if you wish, however).

When your grade is computed at the end of the semester, your two lowest homework scores will be dropped.  Because I’m allowing two homework sets to be dropped, late homework will not be accepted.  I will bend this rule only if circumstances out of your control have prevented you from turning in more than two homework sets on time.  Students are strongly encouraged to discuss and work homework together, but any assignment handed in must be entirely your own work.  Homework must be legible, and all steps must be clear.  If the grader has difficulty following your work you will lose points.  All homework should be done symbolically as far as possible.  When numerical results are required, do not put numbers into your equations until the end.  Unless otherwise noted, numerical answers should be given in standard SI (mks) units, and should be given to three digits of precision

Walk-In Labs:  Throughout the semester you will be assigned to perform several short laboratory experiments, similar to the “walk-in” experiments in physics 121.  Some of the experiments will be set up in room S415 ESC.  The days that they will be available are listed on your schedule.  You may do the experiment at any time you wish until the due date, but I encourage you to avoid the rush and do the experiments as soon as possible.  The rest of the experiments are computer simulations.  The simulations are available on the class web page.  You can run them on any reasonably up-to-date computer with Java and web access.  If you need access to the physics computer labs, please talk to me. 

A worksheet for each lab is available on the web.  This worksheet is to be filled out as you do the lab.  The completed lab worksheets may be turned in at any time on or before the last day of the lab (make sure you hand them in before the building is closed!).  They are to be placed in the same slot and will be returned in the same manner as homework.  You are encouraged to work and discuss the labs in groups, but everyone must be present and participate when collecting data and all analysis must be your own work.  Labs typically may not be made up (tell me ASAP if you have special circumstances).

In-Class Writing:  At various times during class I will stop and give you a minute or two to write a short but complete paragraph summarizing what we’ve discussed.  I will then randomly pick one student to read their summary to the class.  I have found that these exercises help students internalize ideas and find and fill in the holes in their understanding --- I often think that I understand an idea well, and don’t realize that I’m missing something until I try to explain it to someone else or write the idea down.  These short writing assignments will also help you improve your writing skills.  Writing skills are very important in science and engineering, and you should take advantage of every opportunity you have to develop them.  Although we don’t have time in this course to do graded, formal writing assignments, these short assignments will help you  improve your ability to organize your ideas and write concisely.

At the end of the semester you will receive a score based on my perception of your efforts.  To simplify grade keeping, this score will be recorded as lab #12.  You will receive full points if you make an honest effort – even if your summaries contain incorrect information.  If you don’t take the assignment seriously, fail to write, or refuse to present when called upon you will lose points.  However, as with any assignment, I will do everything I can to accommodate those with special circumstances or needs (but I can only meet your needs if you let me know what they are).

Exams:  There will be three unit exams during the semester and a final exam during finals week.  Exam problems will be similar to homework problems.  Unit exams will be given in the testing center.  There will be no time limits, other than the closing time of the testing center.  You will be allowed one 8 1/2" x 11" page of hand-written (not photocopied) notes and an un-programmed calculator. 

The final exam will be given in the classroom at the date and time given in the BYU final exam schedule.  The final exam will be comprehensive.  You will be allowed to use your textbook, any course handouts, your graded homework, exams, and labs, and any notes that you yourself have written.  You will also be allowed to use an un-programmed calculator. 

Quizzes:  There will be several “quiz” and “thought” questions presented in each class period.  The first question will be given at the beginning of class, so it is important for you to be on time.  In order to participate in the quizzes, you will need to check out a remote from me and register your remote on the class web page.  Quiz questions will check your preparation for each class, and should not be very difficult if you are caught up on the reading.    You will be awarded three points for every correct answer to a quiz question, and one participation point for every wrong answer.  Thought questions will be used to help me see how well the class is following the material and to encourage discussion.  A participation point will be given for any answer on these questions, regardless of whether your answer is right or wrong.  At the end of the day, the total score for your quiz and thought questions will be tallied.  Your lowest two daily quiz scores will be dropped when computing your final grade.  As with homework, quizzes cannot be made up.  Talk to me ASAP if you have a problem which will result in missing more than two quizzes.

Term Project:  The term project is an opportunity for you to propose and conduct a simple experiment or to theoretically, mathematically, or computationally investigate an aspect of the course in more depth.  Term project guidelines, as well as a list of suggested projects and examples of projects done in prior semesters are available on the class web page.

Mid-way through the semester, you will submit a short (less than one page) description of what you intend to do (worth 10 points).  This proposal will allow me to make sure your idea is relevant to the course and possible to do.  Later you will submit a short (less than one page) typewritten progress report (worth 10 points).  This will allow me to see if there are potential problems I can help you with, and to make sure that you are making headway on your project.  A two to five page informal write-up of your project will be due the last day of class (worth 80 points).  All of these reports should be emailed to me (dallin_durfee@byu.edu) by midnight of the day they are due.  All reports must be in a format that I can read on my computer.  These include Postscript (.ps), Acrobat (.pdf), Rich Text (.rtf), Text (.txt) and Microsoft Word (.doc).  If you need to submit in another format, please check with me first.  If you wish, you may bring your project or a presentation of your results to show to other class members the last day of class.

Grading:  Your scores will be recorded and available online through the class web page.  Please regularly check that your scores are recorded correctly.  Your letter grade will be determined from your total percentage, according to the cutoffs below.  I reserve the right to soften the grading scale, based on my perception of this class’s performance relative to other semesters, but I will not raise it (i.e. you are guaranteed at least the letter grade given below for a given percentage).  Note that since the class is not graded on a curve, it is to your advantage to help one another!

Tutorial Lab:  The tutorial lab is located in N304 or N361 ESC (it changes each semester, check the sign on the door) and is open most of the day.  It is a great place to do your homework.  This way, when you get stuck you can get immediate help from classmates who are also doing their homework there!  (The tutors there can also be helpful --- but many of them did not take this section of 123 and will not be of much use for many homework problems).  The tutorial lab is a great place for study groups to meet.

In the past, due to crowding in the tutorial lab, my students have often held study groups on the mezzanine above the pendulum court.  I have also held my office hours there to make it easier for students to ask questions as they do the homework.  If desired, I could do this again this semester.

Physics Majors Handbook:   I strongly suggest that all physics majors and minors take a good look at http://www.physics.byu.edu/Undergraduate/handbook.aspx

University Policy: BYU encourages teachers to include the following statements in each class syllabus.  I strongly support these statements.  In addition, I urge you to review the honor code of the University, found at http://www.byu.edu/stlife/campuslife/honorcode/

BYU's policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to students as well.  If you encounter sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, or other inappropriate behavior, please talk to your professor, contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895 or 367-5689, or contact the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.

BYU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities.  If you have any disability that may adversely affect your success in this course, please contact the University Accessibility Center at 422-2767.  Services deemed appropriate will be coordinated with the student and instructor by that office.

The study of (insert discipline) requires a degree of concentration and focus that is exceptional. Having small children in class is often a distraction that degrades the educational experience for the whole class. Please make other arrangements for child care rather than bringing children to class with you. If there are extenuating circumstances, please talk with your instructor in advance.

© Dallin S. Durfee 2004