PHYSICS 215 - Thermodynamics and Modern
Physics
Fall 2012
General
Information
Lecturer: Prof.
Bernard Pope, 3233
Biomedical Physical Sciences Building (BPS),
884-5582,
popeb@msu.edu
Lectures: 3:00 – 3:50 p.m., MTWTh, Room 1420
BPS
Office Hours: to be arranged.
Textbooks: Physics
for Scientists and Engineers,
Fishbane, Gasiorowicz and
Thornton, 3rd edition (chapters 17-20) (labeled FGT in the syllabus)
or equivalent.
Modern Physics for Scientists
and Engineers, Thornton and Rex, 3rd edition.
Course Info: Course
information will be posted at http://www.pa.msu.edu/courses/PHY215/.
Homework: There will be a weekly homework assignment. Homework will be due on Tuesdays (for the previous week's
assigned material). Late homework
will not be accepted. Solutions to
the previous week's homework problems will be posted on the course web site
Reading: Students
are expected to read the chapters listed in the course schedule prior to
each lecture. In-class quizzes
will often require an understanding of the contents of the chapter. A re-reading of the chapter after
the lecture is recommended.
Quizzes: There
will be unannounced quizzes during lectures, using the iClicker
system. Completing the in-class clicker
questions can earn you up to 5% extra credit. You will get 2 points for a
correct answer and 1 point for an incorrect answer. A total of 80% of the total
clicker points will give you the full 5% extra credit. You cannot get more than
5% extra credit.
Exams: There
will be three Midterm exams and one Final exam.
Grades: The
final grades will be calculated from the homework assignments (25%), the three
midterms (15% each) and the final exam (30%).
More
Detail: Plan to spend about 12 hours per week on
Physics 215:-
lectures 4
hours/week
homework 4
hours/week
reading 4
hours/week
All
exams are closed book. All absences from midterm exams require a written excuse
from your doctor, Dean, etc. The
MSU Code of Teaching Responsibilities states that any student not taking the
Final Exam will not be permitted to pass the course.