Instructor: Eric W. Harpell
email: eharpell@laspositascollege.edu
Office: 1830 Science building
office hours: T 12 - 1:30(1830) , W 1 - 2:30 (tutorial center), Th 12 - 2(1830)
phone: 925-424-1379
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required materials
Optional materials:
Assessment and Grading
Your course grade will be based on a percentage of the total points in the class as follows:
Hopefully, no one in physics 8D will have to worry about getting a "D" or an "F" , but if you aren't turning in assignments, your point total may be less than 65%, and then you will have to worry about it!
Ancient Physics Proverb #1: It is far wiser to turn in what you have on time, and get some points, then to prolong your work past the due date and get none Lab Write-ups will be due on the week following the last lab session for a particular lab (some labs may take more than one week to complete). Since labs are on Fridays, this means that the complete lab report will be due no later than the start of class on Wed, 12 days later. You may turn them in one class session late, but they will be given a maximum grade of 90%. If you are unable to attend class for a legitimate reason, then you can still get 100% if you bring in the lab when you return. After that, no points will be given except in the unlikely event that the instructor agrees (ahead of the due date) that more time is in order. Note that labs in physics 8D will include "traditional" lab experiments, computer simulations, and assigned problems. Approximately half of your time in physics 8D will involve completing the lab activities and reports. For approximately half of the labs reports, you will have the option of turing in one lab write-up for the entire team. Other reports must be done individually. More information will be provided in class and in the class schedule. Ancient Physics Proverb #2: If a group works on a single lab report, than each section of the lab report should glow with the collaborative efforts of the entire group.
Note on efficiency
Extra Credit: There isn't any! Please don't ask to do it. The participation points will reflect your efforts to go "above and beyond" the normal class requirements. Homework problems from textbook and from the mastering physics websites are assigned in the schedule/syllabus. These
are to be worked out outside of class, and discussed in class. All assigned problems are to be done in Mastering Astronomy. Many are also in the end of chapter problems in your textbook, so you can work on them "off line" and submit them later on-line for credit. You will see a few problems on quizzes in a similar form to those assigned..in some cases, the tested problems will be identical to assigned problems. Working problems are a very important part
of the physics course, so be sure to set aside 5 - 10 hours a week to
work on them. There will be 8 or 9 homework assignments, all due on Wednesdays unless otherwise indicated in the class schedule. Remember that when you register for Mastering Physics, you need to give the participation and attendance You are strongly encouraged to come to class prepared with questions about material covered in lecture, on line, in the text, or simply from current events you have heard about. About 5% of the total points possible in the class will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor for your "informed participation" in class. Of course, if you don't come to class you can't participate! Coming to office hours can also help in this regard, especially if you can't make it to class. Field Trips
Field Trips to LLNL, LBL, Chabot Science Center,SLAC, and elsewhere are being considered. At least one field trip will definitely take place..Field Trips will be on Friday and will replace the regularly schedule lab session. Suggestions for other field trips are welcomed. The dates are still to be arranged. Students who cannot attend a field trip will be provided with an equivalent project.
Class Schedule
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