Phys 320 - Syllabus

 

Syllabus

week-by-week

Modern Physics

Instructor:  Dr. Craig Tyler, tyler_c@fortlewis.edu; please contact me by email or in office hours, but not by phone.

Course web page:  http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/tyler_c/classes/320/home.htm

Final Exam: Monday 14 December at 9:45 am in our usual classroom.

Objective:  Physics majors always take a year of more-than-100-year-old physics (217 and 218) before they get to "the good stuff" - the stuff they majored in physics to learn about. That stuff starts now. For engineering-physics, the main advantage over a pure engineering major is that you also get to learn about more exotic topics like relativity and quantum mechanics and nuclear energy. That stuff starts now. Modern Physics is a survey of the scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century. Some of these topics you'll revisit in more detail in future courses, like quantum mechanics and advanced lab.

Readings and assignments: see "week- by- week" link, above & left.

Homework:  The "week-by-week" link at the top left of this web page lists all assignments and due dates. Your homework will be evaluated on a zero-to-five point scale. I will probably grade by spot-checking only a few problems per homework assignment; you have to do all problems to ensure that you get credit for the ones I select to grade.

Help sessions: Possibly... we'll wait and see.

Grading:  Your grades will break down approximately as follows:

  • Cumulative final exam: 17.5% 
  • Three midterm exams (combined):  45%
  • Homework:  30%
  • Participation/subjective aspects:  7.5%

Some important notes about grading:

  • I might curve the final grades somewhat; I will only curve up, never down. I also might change the weightings listed above, although I won't change them much. If I feel that greater grading accuracy will result (or greater fairness), I might change the weightings differently for one student than for another.
  • I will automatically drop your lowest homework score. Apart from this action, I will not excuse or accept any missing or late homeworks.
  • You may withdraw (for a grade of "W") any time prior to the second midterm. If you take the second exam, you are committed to a grade from A to F.
  • Exams will probably be open-book, open-notes, open-homework, and timed.

Text:  The required textbook for this course is Taylor, Zafiratos, & Dubson "Modern Physics," second edition, from Pearson Prentice Hall.

Academic honesty:  I expect you to work on homeworks in teams. However, in all cases, when you write up your answer to turn in, it must be done alone. Discuss strategy with teams, but repeat the problem on your own to turn it in.  Violations will result in a score of zero, and severe violations will be reported to the vice president for academic affairs. Cheating on quizzes or exams will result in a zero on that test, or (more likely) an F in the course, and/or whatever action I feel is appropriate.

ABET outcomes:  This course is designed to meet the following ABET (engineering) learning outcomes in particular: ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, ability to apply knowledge of physical science, ability to continue with lifelong scientific and technical learning, knowledge of current issues, and ability to think critically.

Also, see the syllabus addendum for this course.