Syllabus

Syllabus for ISP209

Spring 1998

Lecturer: Prof. Carl Bromberg, E-mail: bromberg@pa.msu.edu

Office: 251 PA, Phone: 353-1809, Office hrs.: Tues., Thurs., 3:00 – 4:00 in 251/255 PA,

or by appointment (call or E-mail)

TA: Cheryl Trevino, E-mail: trevinoc @pilot.msu.edu

Phone: 37512, Office hrs.: Wed., 9:00-11:00, Thurs., 10:00-12:00 , meet near 224PA

Lectures:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, at 11:30-12:20 in room 326NS as indicated in the table that follows.

Required Course Pack & Tools:

The Course Pack can be purchased at the MSU & SBS bookstores: The Elastic Universe, Spring Term 1998. A calculator with scientific notation may be needed. A knowledge of algebra is required and trigonometry may be used. A lecture may include a review of the relevant mathematics but exams will not. A review of the algebra of units and scientific notation are included in Chapter 3 of the Course Pack. You must be familiar with metric units of length (m, cm, mm) and mass (kg); they will be used almost exclusively.

Course Topics:

Exams & Grades:

There are three 50 min. exams and a 2 hr. final exam as indicated in the table that follows. Please take alternate seats during the exams. The exams will cover the material from all previous lectures including the first lecture presented today. The three regular exams will contribute 10%, 15%, and 25% of the grade, respectively. The final exam will contribute 50% of the grade. Documented medical excuses for missing one exam will be accepted up to one week following the absence; the final exam will be weighted to compensate for a missing grade. Homework is not optional! An I-grade for the course may be given if homework is incomplete.
Exams will contain most required formulae. Any needed constants, such as the speed of light or the mass of the earth, will be provided on Exams and in Homework assignments. Metric units and terminology will be used freely.

Homework (HW):

There is a homework assignment each week, as indicated in the table that follows. Standardized homework sheets will be distributed in class for each assignment and are due at 11:30 AM in 326NS on the dates shown. The homework assignment following an exam is to resubmit the exam sheets with the correct answers indicated.
Homework is not optional! An I-grade for the course may be given if homework is incomplete.

ISP209 Schedule

Spring 1998