Dr. Jonathan Bennett

PH308 NCSSM Winter 2007-8 Dr. Jonathan Bennett Office: BR441 Phone: 416-2760 Email: [email protected]

Texts: Conceptual Physics (CP) by Hewitt Physics: Principles and Problems (P3) by Zitzewitz The Way Things Work ((TW)2) by Macaulay

Course Website: http://courses.ncssm.edu/bennett/ph302_304/index.html

Welcome to NCSSM Physics ! I hope that you, your classmates and I will ponder thought-provoking ideas, gain practical skills and knowledge, and share fun times in this class. Please read this course information handout, refer to it later as needed, and ask about anything that seems unclear.

EXPECTATIONS

Most important to your success in this class will be your willingness to put forth an effort to learn the material. I hope that you will find this class to be interesting and enjoyable enough that learning physics doesn’t always seem like hard work, but it is not likely that you will learn very much without making an effort. Physics is a practical subject, but it involves abstract ideas that are not always easy to grasp. Also, you will soon find that my teaching style is generally aimed at getting you to think and solve problems for yourself. This means that I will generally NOT give you answers or “tell you what to do”, but instead will ask you questions that lead you to find answers yourself. In other words, I am trying to help you become a better independent learner and thinker.

Although I will not assume that you have taken physics classes before this one, I will expect that you already know some physics based on having done the assigned readings for class every day. Coming prepared to class by having done the assigned reading will be critical to your success in this class. You might want to take notes as you read, to summarize what you think are the main ideas the author is trying to convey, or to write down questions or ideas of your own to follow up on. If the book gives example problems, you should work them yourself and make sure that you get the same answer the book does !

You will need to be comfortable with math at the level of Algebra II. If you need practice with algebra, this class will give you lots of opportunities ! If you have trouble with algebra, don’t worry, just come see me if you need help.

Bring the following items to class every day, unless otherwise notified: notebook (a three ring binder would be best), pen or pencil, TI graphing calculator. When you arrive in class, get these items out right away, and open your notebook to a fresh page. GRADES: Your grades will be calculated as follows:

Lab reports (8-12 total), homeworks (10-20 total) 40% Tests (2-3 total) 30% Quizzes (5-7 total) 15% Class commitment 15%

Your final grade will be a weighted average of the above work (80%) and the final exam (20%).

The grading scale will be: 83 100 A- through A+ 70 < 83 B- through B+ 62 < 70 C through C+ 60 < 62 C- < 60 D

WRITTEN WORK:

 It is your responsibility to keep up with what is expected of you in the way of reading, problem solving and lab work. The syllabus is a rough guide to the order of topics we will study this year. Specific assignments will be available via a weekly schedule that I will post on the course website.

 You should solve at least twice as many problems on your own as I assign. After you complete any assigned reading, you should always attempt a few questions/problems from the end of the chapter in CP or P3. If you cannot quickly solve these, you need to reread the sections and restudy the examples. As we delve further into a topic, you should progress to working more difficult (level 2 in P3) problems. Keep all of these extra problems organized in a notebook or folder--they can be helpful for studying and may be considered for extra class commitment credit if a test performance is below expectations.

 Be sure your name and your class block are legibly written on the upper portion of the first page of all written assignments. Written work MUST be stapled if more than one page long. There is a stapler mounted on the wall across from room 441 on the physics hall.

 Late homework will NOT be graded (this means you will not get the benefit of a grader’s careful attention and comments about your work if it is turned in late). You can receive 60% of the credit for work that is turned in up to one day late, provided the work is substantially complete and correct. An exception is electronic assignments completed online. There is no late credit for those assignments. Late lab reports will receive a 10% penalty for every day they are late.

 You will be reported for not turning in an assignment, and will therefore be assigned Saturday morning Restricted Study, the second time you do not turn in an assignment by 4:20pm on the due date, and every time this happens thereafter.

 If you miss class, you are responsible for finding out what you missed ! If you miss class due to an approved absence, you are responsible for letting me know well in advance (at least 2 days for a regular class, at least a week for a lab class) so that we can make arrangements for making up any work you miss (you must still turn in all work by the regular due time, though). If you miss class due to an unexcused absence, you will not receive credit for any work that you missed. If you miss class due to a medical absence, you should arrange with me a plan for making up any work you missed.

 There will be several tests. You will be notified of these "opportunities to excel" at the appropriate times. The best preparation for the tests is keeping up with the reading, lab and problem assignments; cramming just before a test is not recommended.

CLASS COMMITMENT: You will be tested every day in class in a variety of ways; examples of such are in the following (non-exhaustive) list.....

 coming to class on time  staying alert in class  treating all in the classroom with respect  setting a good example in class  showing enthusiasm in your learning of physics  doing the preparation problems before class  turning in assignments on time  working problems beyond those assigned for preparation or turn-in  taking coherent, useful class notes  asking useful questions of your own and answering mine in class  probing the meaning of examples and explanations that leave you confused  convincing me that you did your assigned reading and problems before class  being prepared for and taking a leadership role in lab activities  helping your classmates where appropriate  getting missed notes and assignments from a classmate immediately after an absence  preparing for work to be missed during a planned absence  getting extra help at tutorials and after school when appropriate  presenting problems to the whole class when assigned

Your class commitment grade is my assessment of how committed you are to making this course a successful learning experience for yourself and your classmates. This means that just trying your best (not necessarily always being “correct”) enhances your grade! Maximum credit will go to those who contribute positively to the classroom experience without dominating or disturbing the learning environment of others. Feel free to discuss your class commitment grade with me periodically during the year. TARDIES: Classes will begin on time. Because Physics classrooms have radio-controlled, accurate clocks, it will be easy for everyone to know whether you are Tardy or not. For classes that start at 8am and at 1pm (after lunch), if you are not present at the beginning of the class period, you will be marked tardy. For classes that start at other times, I will allow 5 minutes after class has started before counting you tardy, unless you are habitually late. If you are 15 or more minutes late, you will be marked severely tardy. If you arrive 25 minutes or more late, you will be marked absent. If you are late to class and feel that you have a valid excuse for being late, you need to talk with me immediately after class to settle the issue.

You will be considered Tardy even if you arrive on time, but have to return to your room because you are inappropriately dressed, do not have your calculator, or do not have your lab materials (lab handout, for example) on days when lab is scheduled.

The preceding policy is in accordance with the schoolwide tardy policy. In addition, unexcused tardies will be dealt with according to the physics late policy and will result in a lowering of your class commitment grade (see Class Commitment above for more about this).

COMPUTER USAGE: Computers may be used in the classroom only for activities appropriate to physics instruction and learning. The instructor will guide these computer-appropriate activities.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Each of you will receive a copy of the physics academic honesty policy; it is also posted.

TUTORIAL: Schedule TBA

OFFICE HOURS: Feel free to visit me in my office at any time to discuss physics or anything else.