Q. What happens when your homework grade is over 100%, do you get those extra points or do you just get the 100%? (posted 11/11)
A. You get to keep the bonus points above 100%. Since homework counts for 30% of the total score, you can get more than 30 from homework in the final tally.
Q. Is the final going to be cummalative or just over the chapters that we are going to cover the next few weeks? (posted 11/11)
A. The final will cover all material from chapter 1 to chapter 14.
Q. Can you tell me what my class grade is up to this point? (posted 11/8)
A. You can try to answer this question for your self by using the information given on the class web page on grades.html, quizzes, ... etc.
Q. What is the class average on Midterm II? (posted 11/8)
A. Just about 8.
Q. How do we find out the right answers to the quiz problems? (posted 9/10)
A. We will try to briefly discuss the
answer to the quiz problem at the beginning of the following class.
In the future, we could also experiment with posting the solutions
on the web.
Q. Will my Quiz results be available? (posted 9/10)
A. Yes, after this week, we will post
the cumulative quiz results on the Web page.
Q. I will not be able to come to class next time due to a family emergency. If a quiz is given, can I take a make-up?
A. We understand that exigencies, such
as yours (as well as those due to illness), do occur from time
to time for some students. For a class of over 700, there are
many such cases each week. There is no practical way to deal with
this problem, other than our system of dropping 4 worst scores,
including absences, at the end of the term.
Q: Will we be allowed to bring and use a summary sheet during our exams?
A. Yes, you are allowed to bring one sheet of notes.
You don't need such a sheet for physical constants, since all relevant information needed for solving the problems will be supplied on the exam sheets.
If you do prepare a summary sheet for formulas, our advice is to make it relatively simple, containing the most important basic definitions and equations. Since you cannot possibly guess what specific problems are going to be on the exams, too much detailed information on a dense sheet of formulas only confuse and distract you. The basic equations, on the other hand, apply to all problems. The summary sheets of equations used in the lectures are good examples. To use them correctly, you need to understand the concepts behind the symbols and formulas.
Q. I have a family emergency this weekend. Can you extend the homework deadline until sometime next week for me?
A. We understand that exigencies, such
as yours (as well as those due to illness), do occur from time
to time for some students. The fact is, however, there is no mechanism
to extend homework deadlines for individual students. Even if
there were, to allow for individual extensions would be logistically
impossible for a class of over 700, since there are many such
cases each week, and since there is no practical and reliable
way for verification.
Students need to deal with such problems the best they can. If
one keeps up with class in general, a couple of missed homework
will have no substantial consequence on the final score, especially
since we have built in a bonus system which allows students to
earn extra points on problems done in time.
Q. I was wondering if the three sections will have the same quizzes and exams?
A. The quizzes (given at different class
times) will be different in the three sections;
but the midterm and final exams (which are held simultaneously
for all sections) will be the same.
Q.
How do I enter a number, say 531000, in Lecture-on-line homework
problems?
A. Enter as: 5.31 * 10^5. If you have more than 10 digits, say 100,000,000,000, then enter as 10^(11).