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PHY2005
APPLIED PHYSICS 2 - Spring 2009 DESCRIPTION: The course covers Chapters 19-30 of Technical Physics (4 ed.) by Bueche/Wallace: electricity, magnetism, optics and modern physics with an emphasis on conceptual understanding rather than lengthy calculations. Some material will be covered and tested with less detail than other. Clicker quizzes will be given in most of the classes using the H-ITT system. Understanding physics is understanding how to apply general mathematical concepts to specific situations. Do not memorize a problem's solution. Rather, understand the underlying concept and its application to the problem. EXPECTATIONS: You are assumed to have a working knowledge of algebra, geometry and elementary trigonometry functions, such as sine, cosine and tangent. Vectors will be used extensively in this course. It is expected that students will complete reading assignments as specified in the Course Schedule before class, work on the suggested homework problems and actively participate in class. Announcements will appear occasionally on the course home-page and will often be made at the beginning of lectures. You are responsible for being aware of all such announcements. EXAMINATIONS: There will be two in-class tests and a final exam. Exams will contain questions of a conceptual nature, questions related to the demonstrations done in class and questions similar in style and difficulty to the homework problems and to the clicker quizzes. Working and understanding the homework is necessary for your success on the tests and your success in this course. The final exam is comprehensive with a slight emphasis on the last few weeks of the course. All tests and the final exam have a multiple choice format. Each in-class test has 15 questions and the final exam has 25 questions. There will be only one make-up test (see the schedule). If you wish to take the make-up, then you must inform me via email ahead of time. The make-up will have 15 questions from the subjects covered in the two in-class tests. Students may take this test with the understanding that the make-up test will replace the lowest in-class test even if the make-up score is lower than either of the first two tests. If you take the make-up test, then the make-up score will be counted. After having emailed me that you intend to take the make-up, if you change your mind, then you must inform me via email of your change in intentions before the start of the make-up test. If you sign up for the make-up but do not take it, then you will be penalized by a 20% reduction of your lower test score. History shows that students who do well in this class are unlikely to have taken the make-up test. The Final Exam must be taken at the official University assigned time. GRADES: Grades are based on Two in-class tests: 2 x 15 = 30 Final exam: 25 Clicker quizzes: 20 Maximum total: 75 There will be NO curving of your scores. The numerical grades will completely determine your letter grade. Fractions will be included in your final numerical score and will not be rounded. Your final grade will be assigned based upon your total score as follows: A range: above or equal to 60 B range: above or equal to 50 and below 60 C range: above or equal to 40 and below 50 D range: above or equal to 30 and below 40 E range: below 30 Plus grades will be given within these ranges. After the final grading is done, many students will be very close to one of the cutoffs, but there will be no rounding. No student whose total score is less than yours will have a grade higher than yours. It is possible but unlikely that this grading scale will be eased. The grading scale will not be made more difficult.
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