Physics 3740 - Summer 2009

Teaching Assistant

• Jacque Butterfield (email Jacque)


• Assistance and Office Hours: E-mail Jacque at jacquedee@gmail.com for help with homework questions. Jacque lives rather far from campus and has a newborn baby. If you wish to meet with her in person, she will hold office hours on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the rotunda (west end) of the physics lecture building (JFB). Because of the long drive, she asks that you send send her an e-mail abefore 5:00 p.m. on Monday if you need to see her on Tuesday. If no one requests to see her (i.e., if all questions can be handled by e-mail) she will not make the trip for that week.

Exam Schedule

MIDTERM EXAMS

Exam 1	Friday, June 26
Exam 2	Friday, July 10
Exam 3	Monday, July 27

The FINAL EXAM is Thursday, August 6, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in JFB 102

Course Description

We shall cover Part 1 of our textbook (essentially the first 7 chapters), some sections in more detail than others. The lectures will follow the book fairly closely, but supplementary information may also be discussed in class, and you will be held responsible for it as well as for textbook material on the examinations. Therefore, regular class attendance and participation are strongly encouraged.

To get the most you can from this course, it will behave you to study your textbook and notes carefully till the material makes sense to you. If it does not seem to make sense, talk to the TA who marks your papers (Jacqualine Butterfield; jacquedee@gmail.com) or to me. We shall be glad to help you. Please seek assistance as soon as you have a significant problem, so as not to fall behind in a subject that is unavoidably cumulative in nature. I urge you to read the relevant sections of your textbook at least once before we get to them in the lectures (and again afterwards), as we shall not have enough time to discuss in class all the textbook material that is relevant to the course. Also, feel free to ask questions or raise points of concern during the lectures. That way we can use our class time as efficiently as possible by concentrating on those parts of the subject that you find most difficult.

Homework and Exams

There will be a set of homework problems (see Homework Schedule) due each week (usually on Wednesday; see pp 2 and 3). The lowest two of your homework scores will be dropped when computing your total for the course. If you wish, you may work together on homework, provided that each of you writes up his or her own solutions and does not merely copy from someone else. You may find that you learn more by discussing concepts and collaborating with other students of approximately the same level as yourself than you would by simply working alone. Homework solutions will be posted on the course web page, along with past examination problems for review.

There will be three examinations during the term (see There will be three in-class examinations (see exam schedule) during the term (see page 2 for probable dates and coverage), testing you on both the information in the textbook and that discussed in class. You may use one standard sheet of paper (front and back) with formulas and notes during the exam. The lowest one of your three exam scores will be dropped when computing your total marks for the course. The Final Examination (for which you may use four note sheets), on Thursday 6 August, will be comprehensive, but weighted somewhat towards Chapter 7, since that chapter will not have been covered on the previous exams.

The total marks for the term will consist of 24 per cent (the sum of your best six homework scores), plus 48 per cent (the sum of your best two ordinary exams), plus 28 per cent (Final Exam), for a total of 100 per cent. Depending upon the difficulty of the exams, as well as other factors, the grading scale for the course is expected to be approximately as follows (in per cent):

A	93		B-	78		D+	60
A-	90		C+	74		D	54
B+	87		C	68		D-	50
B	81		C-	64		E	below 50

Important Dates

Last day to drop (delete) classes with no tuition penalties is 3rd day of miscellaneous courses.
Last day to withdraw from term length classes contact Registrar's Office for miscellaneous course deadline.
Last day to add classes contact Registrar's Office for miscellaneous course deadline.
Last day to elect CR/NC options contact Registrar's Office for miscellaneous course deadline.

Holidays

Friday, July 3	Independence Day
Friday, July 24	Pioneer Day

Students with Disabilities

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services, and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Union Building, 801 – 581 – 5020 (V/ TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.