Course objective: PHY215 covers the foundations of modern physics. The topics include relativity (both kinematics and dynamics), experimental evidence for quantization and the wave nature of matter, elementary quantum mechanics and atomic physics, and statistical physics. If there is time at the end of the semester, some of the applications of this knowledge to molecules, condensed matter, nuclei, and particle physics could be covered.
The course supports the mission of Wake Forest College by encouraging (perhaps even demanding) reasoning and intellectual curiosity in the area of Physics. Your first physics course (PHY 113-114 if taken at Wake Forest) began development of your problem-solving skills, and this course will continue that development.
Obtaining an understanding of the kinematics and dynamics of special relativity is the goal of the first part of the course. Students who go on to take PHY 339-340 should be well prepared to understand the role of relativity in Electricity and Magnetism.
Textbook: Modern Physics, 4th edition, by Tipler and Llewellyn. Reading assignments and most of the problem assignments will be made from this book. The authors are experienced science educators who have carefully considered how to present the material. Therefore you should consider the textbook to be your primary source of information about the subject.
This book contains enough material for a course lasting one year. Chapters 1-8 are foundation material, and we will go more or less straight through those. Then we will see how much time remains (if any) and select additional topics from the rest of the book.
There is a web site for the text book, with which you will become familiar.
Your instructor wants to emphasize the interrelatedness of all the subfields of physics and the generality of the principles of physics. Therefore references will be made to material that was introduced in your introductory course (PHY 113-114 if taken at Wake Forest). It would be good if you still have the textbook for that course, because references will be given to specific sections in Serway's, Physics for Scientists and Engineers.
Assignments: After every class, two different kinds of assignments will be made for the next class.
One is a reading assignment, to prepare for the next lecture. Find the reading assignment by going to the web site and clicking on Assignments. The assignment for each date will be given there in the Schedule. After reading the assignment, go to the web site for the course, click on Warmup Quiz, login and take the warmup quiz for that assignment. Your answers to these online quizzes must be submitted by 9 am on the due date. Multiple submissions of the warmup quiz are not allowed. After each class the answers for the warmup quiz will be available on the web site.
There will also be a problem assignment made at every class, usually taken from the problem collections at the end of every chapter in the book. The problem assignment for each class can be found on the web site for the course. Click on Assignments and get the assignment for the relevant date. Homework is to be handed in at every class period. Teaching assistants will grade a random selection of homework problems. Homework is to be handed in before class starts; after the lecture begins no homework will be accepted. Solutions to the problems will be made available on the web site. Homework solutions must be written clearly and neatly with explanations of steps given. Points will be subtracted by the graders if they can not tell quickly what you did.
Tests: Three 50-minute tests will be given during the semester. They will occur at approximately every 10-th class and will be announced at least one week in advance. The test questions may include (multiple-choice) concept questions, discussions, problems, and derivations. No formula cards are allowed on the tests in this course.
Occasionally questions arise about grading on the tests, which could result in changing the grade received. Such questions will be entertained until the end of the second class meeting after the tests are returned. After that time no changes will be made in test grades
Attendance: Class attendance is expected, but there are no explicit penalties for absence from class. Students have the responsibility for being aware of the test dates. Make-up tests will be given only when a signed excuse from the Dean's office or Student Health Services is presented showing infirmary confinement, family emergency, or participation in official University activities requiring you to be elsewhere.
Class interruptions, such as arriving late, leaving early, letting your cell phone ring, or chatting are not acceptable. Your cooperation in maintaining a good atmosphere for learning is expected. To keep the building free from vermin, food is not allowed in the lecture room.
Laboratory: The separate laboratory course, PHY 165 Intermediate Laboratory, has its own course number, credit, grade, and instructor. Many of the experiments done in that course relate to material covered in this course. Both courses are required for physics majors (both BA and BS), and to obtain maximum benefit from them, you should take them concurrently. Exceptions to this practice should be discussed with the instructors for the two courses.
Final Exam: The final exam is comprehensive and integrative. It will be given only at the officially scheduled time, Monday, December 4, 2006, at 2 PM (the first day of the examination period).
Grading: The components of the final grade and their weights are:
Let G denote your total numerical score for the course as determined by the above components and weights. Then your final letter grade is determined from this list: 93 1/3 <G < 100, A; 90 <G < 93 1/3, A-; 86 2/3 <G < 90, B+; 83 1/3 < G < 86 2/3, B; 80 <G < 83 1/3, B-; 76 2/3 <G < 80, C+; 73 1/3 <G < 76 2/3, C; 70 < G < 73 1/3, C-; 66 2/3 <G < 70, D+; 63 1/3 <G < 66 2/3, D; 60 <G < 63 1/3, D-; G < 60, F.
Office hours: Tuesday 4-6 pm, Thursday 9-11 am and 5-6. If these times conflict with events on your schedule, call or send e-mail to make an appointment for a different time. Office hours may be preempted ocasionally by University business, such as faculty meetings, and committee meetings. One time that I would prefer not to see you is the hour before class, 10-11 MWF; this is when I read your answers to that day's Warmup Quiz.
Instructor info: Name: William Kerr; office: Olin 311; telephone: 5339; e-mail: wck@wfu.edu.