Physics 213
Modern Physics
Fall 2021
Office Hours:
Wednesday 2:30-3:30pm by Zoom - Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83121991638?pwd=V05oVGtaUUpkMjc3alVERTllQkNvQT09
Semester schedule (calendar)
Web
Projects
(under construction)
Videos
of Class (videos of the online classes and extra videos)
Links to Web info (to help with your project)
Link to Auroral Forecast at the GI
This syllabus is located at: http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/213_fall_2021.html
Course Syllabus
In approaching this (and all) classes, please note the following ancient Chinese proverb:
Teachers
can open the door,
but you must enter by yourself.
Prerequisites: Calculus and Physics 211. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus will be used extensively.
Materials Needed:
|
Required Text:s |
Physics for Sci & Engrg w/Mod Physics 4th Ed.,
Knight or University Physics, 2nd
edition, Bauer and Westfall |
| |
|
|
Calculators: |
No calculators may be used during exams or quizzes. Otherwise, buy yourself a nice one. A basic, simple scientific calculator with trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions is all that you need. |
Lectures: 1:00pm MWF in . The lectures supplement but do not substitute for the reading. Lectures will cover the major topics, emphasizing and discussing the important points. They are not sessions to regurgitate material already written in the text. Your personal participation is important, and it is critical that you read the assigned material before lecture. Time permitting, several Friday lectures will cover special topics beyond the scope of the text. These will be announced before hand.
Homework: There will be
approximately one homework assignment per week. The assignment will be
given out (and posted on the web) on Wednesdays and will be due in on
the following Wednesday by 5:00. Place your homework in the
appropriate box in the Physics Department Office. You are encouraged
to work with others on the homework, but make sure the paper you turn
in is not simply copied from someone else. These assignments help me
assess your understanding of the material, and will count toward your
final grade.
Late problem sets will in general not be
accepted.
Only a selection of problems will be graded each week, totaling about
25 points each.
Quizzes: S8 short quizzes will be given in class during the semester. They will be closed book and no calculators allowed (or needed). All difficult formulas needed will be given and the quiz will be similar to some of the recent homework. The quizzes will be announced in class and on the schedule page at least one week in advance.
Project: There will be a project due worth a maximum of approximately 10% of the course grade. The project will be in the form of a web page on a topic in physics that you find interesting and we agree on together. These topics could include biographies of important scientists, scientific projects and scientific ideas. The topic must be agreed to by Oct 4th and must be competed by Nov. 17th. They will be graded both for presentation and content. More details will be discussed in class.
Labs: There is a lab associated
with this course. ALL labs and
reports must be completed to get a passing grade for the lab.
A PASSING GRADE IN THE LAB IS NECESSARY TO
PASS THE COURSE.
Questions about the lab should be directed to the teaching assistant
in charge of your lab or Zak Tourville(Rm 114) or as a last resort me.
Hour Exams: Exams will be given during the Friday lecture as follows:
Oct. 1, approx. Chapters 34,35,33 Knight and chapter 1 Krane
Nov 8, approx. Chapters 2-7 Krane
The exams will be closed-book, but you will be given one side of an 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet with most of the needed equations. No calculators are allowed. The exams will be graded and handed back the following week. Solutions will be discussed.
Participation: Come to class
having done the assigned reading (if any) with questions and being
prepared to participate in discussions.
Final Exam: The final exam will be at 1:00-3:00 pm on Mon., Dec 6th. It will cover the entire course (Chapters 22-24 Knight and 1-7 +?? Krane), with some emphasis on the more recent material. You will be provided a formula sheet 8 1/2 x 11-inch with all the needed formulas.
Grading: The course grade will
consist of the following components (though I reserve the right to
make grade adjustments based on performance trends):
2 hour exams 25 % Final exam 20 % Homework 10 % Participation 10 % Quizzes 10 % Project 10 % Lab 15 %
I grade on a curve however to satisfy university requirements, above
95% will be at least an A, above 85% will be at least a B above 75%
will be at least a C, above 65% will be at least a D (in most cases
the actual curve is significantly lower!).
Contacting Me: I have office hours 4:15-5:15 Mondays and Wednesday 2:30 - 4:30. You can drop by at other times if I'm not busy, or make an appointment. I am never available before class.
COVID-19 statement: Students should keep up-to-date on the university’s policies, practices, and mandates related to COVID-19 by regularly checking this website: https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/coronavirus/uaf/uaf-students?authuser=0 Further, students are expected to adhere to the university’s policies, practices, and mandates and are subject to disciplinary actions if they do not comply.
Special Needs: The Office of Disability Services implements the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and insures that UAF students have equal access to the campus and course materials. We will work with the Office of Disabilities Services (203 WHIT, 474-7043) to provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities.
Plagiarism etc: Plagiarism and cheating are matters of serious concern for students and academic institutions. This is true in this class as well. The UAF Honor Code (or Student Code of Conduct) defines academic standards expected at the University of Alaska Fairbanks which will be followed in this class. (Taken from the UAF plagiarism web site, which has many links with good information about this topic)
Complaints and Concerns: You are always welcome to talk to me about anything, however, if you have a non-subject matter question or concern that cannot be resolved by me, contact the department chair, Dr. Truffer, Physics Department Office, room 102 REICH.
Student protections statement: UAF embraces and grows a culture of respect, diversity, inclusion, and caring. Students at this university are protected against sexual harassment and discrimination (Title IX). Faculty members are designated as responsible employees which means they are required to report sexual misconduct. Graduate teaching assistants do not share the same reporting obligations. For more information on your rights as a student and the resources available to you to resolve problems, please go to the following site: https://catalog.uaf.edu/academics-regulations/students-rights-responsibilities/.
Student Academic Support:
Student Resources:
Nondiscrimination statement: The University of Alaska is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution. The University of Alaska does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, physical or mental disability, status as a protected veteran, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, parenthood, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, or other legally protected status. The University's commitment to nondiscrimination, including against sex discrimination, applies to students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. Contact information, applicable laws, and complaint procedures are included on UA's statement of nondiscrimination available at www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination. For more information, contact:
Alternate References: To see the
same topics explained differently, try the following:
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Serway and Jewett. Fundamentals of Physics, 8th edition, Halliday Renick and Walker. The Feynman Lectures on Physics, Richard Feynman ( a great set of books...and rather deep) Here is a good web site on how to study physics which might be of interest and use: How to study physics
General Advice: Physics is not something you read and memorize, rather it is something you learn how to do. Try the following study procedure:
NEW
Links to interesting sites:
Relativity animation this is a fly through of a city at regular and relativistic speeds.