Combined PHYS 262/266 Fall 2010 Syllabi

NOTE: Recitation & lab instructors should have their own syllabi

Lectures:  RA 111, MWF 11:30-12:30. Recitations:   W 1:30 & 2:30 in ENGR 1107 & ST1 126

Lecturer:    Dr. Robert Ehrlich, rehrlich@gmu.edu  703-993-1268,  

Office: Ehrlich: ST 1, Rm. 303, Office Hours: MW 10:30-11:30 or by appt,

Course Description: Prerequisite: PHYS 260. Corequisite: MATH 214. Physics 262 is the third semester of university physics and it serves as an introduction to thermodynamics, optics, relativity, atomic physics, and quantum mechanics.  Physics 266, Introduction to Thermodynamics, is a one credit course and it corresponds to the first third of Physics 262 (up to the first exam).

 

Text: University Physics: with Modern Physics, 12 th Edition by Young & Freedman.  If you do not have the edition “with modern physics,” don’t buy an extra book.

 

Grading (Phys 262) Exams 1 and 2 count 25% each, final 35%, and homework & recitation 15%

For PHYS 266, your grade will be based 85% on Exam 1 and homework & recitation 15%

 

Alternative grading scheme: Exam 1 counts 20%,  exam 2  is 15%,   final is 50%, and homework & recitation is 15%.  Your grade will be based on either the standard or alternative method – whichever one is higher

Recitation Policies: The policy on homework & the grading of recitation will be announced in recitation and posted here.   You are encouraged to work on your homework assignments together in small groups, but copying homework from each other is not allowed.   Recitation is a mandatory part of the course.  We will be using the online “Mastering Physics” homework system in this course – see your recitation instructor with any questions about it..

Exams:  You are expected to observe the GMU Honor Code on exams, and violations will be taken very seriously.  The exams are closed-book, but you will be given an equation sheet for each exam.  Only equations on the sheet will be considered valid starting points on the exam.  Any other equations you use on the exam must be derived in order to receive credit.  Calculators will be needed for quantitative problems.  It is the responsibility of each student to attend classes during scheduled examinations as listed in the syllabus regardless of work or family considerations. Make-up exams will be given only to students with a VALID medical excuse and they should contact the instructor as soon as they return to school. If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the DRC.  Please do not schedule any flights or other things that interfere with the date of the final exam, and simply assume that you would be allowed to take a make-up exam.  If you have any issues with the grading of any exam, you must see me about the matter within 2 weeks of the date the exam is returned.

E-mail  From time to time I may send the class a mass e-mail, so  be sure to activate and check your gmu account.  If you use a different account for e-mail you can arrange to have e-mail to your gmu account forwarded to you.

 

Snow closings.  If the University is closed because of weather or other emergencies, a test scheduled on that day will be given at the next class meeting after the University reopens.  (Listen to the radio or Call 703-993-1000 for info on snow closings.)

 

Tutoring.  The physics department has a free tutor (Dr. Shalom Fisher: tel 703-993-1286, sfisher2@gmu.edu), who sees students in his office, and whose hours are posted on http://mason.gmu.edu/~sfisher2/tutor

 

Homework is due on the indicated dates at noon.

 

Assignment    

Date due

Homework

1

Wed, Sept 8

Ch. 17, ex 11,19.25,32,34,50,59,77, probs 111,116

2

Wed, Sept 15

Ch 18,  ex 5, 7, 16, 25, 32, 33, 39, 42, 44, prob 57

Mon is Labor Day recess

3

Wed, Sept 22

Ch 19 , ex 8, 16, 27, 29, 35, 38,  prob 48

 

Mon, Sept 27

Exam 1: Ch 17-20

This is the last day for those in PHYS 266

4

Wed Sept 29

Ch 20, ex  1, 8,10, 19, 29, 31, 33, probs 39, 40

 

Fri, Oct 1

Last day for dropping classes (262 only)

6

Wed, Oct 6

Ch 33, ex 4, 9, 10, 17, 22,  probs 42, 46

7

Wed, Oct 13

Ch 33, ex 28, 30, 52, 60,  Ch 34: 2,5,6,8, 14

Mon is Columbus Day recess (Mon classes meet Tuesday)

8

Wed, Oct 20

Ch 35, ex 20, 26, 27, 30, 35, probs 41, 46, 52

9

Wed, Oct 27

Ch 36, ex 16, 21, 23, 26, 32, 51, prob 52

Last elective withdrawal date is Oct 29

 

Mon, Nov 1

Exam 2: Ch 33-36

10

Wed, Nov 3

Ch 37, ex 4, 8, 9, 11

11

Wed, Nov 10

Ch 37,  ex 14, 16, 19, 23, 25, 28, 33, 34, 44, probs 71

12

Wed, Nov 17

Ch 38,  ex 39, 40, Ch 39 ex 9, 11, 19, 26, 35

Thanksgiving recess this week (no Wed classes)

13

Wed, Dec 1

Ch 40, ex 3, 6, 20, 25, 27, 30, prob 39

14

Wed, Dec 8

Ch 41, ex 2, 4, 6. 23, 30, prob 32

 

Fri, Dec 11

Last day of classes

 

Fri, Dec 17

Final exam 10:30 AM – 1:15 PM

*

 

A very readable book on the frontier of modern physics by one of our GMU physics faculty is available: Robert Oerter, The Theory of Almost Everything: The Standard Model, the Unsung Triumph of Modern Physics (Pi Press, 2005).