Combined PHYS 262/266 Syllabi

Spring 2009

Exam 1 is the last day for those in PHYS 266.  Students signed up for the HNRS section should see me after class.

Lectures:  East 201, M & W 8:00 -9:15. Recitations:   M&W 9:30am to 10:20am in Innovation Hall 205

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

Recitations: Dr. Andrew Shabaev, ashabaev@gmu.edu 703-993-9221

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

Shabaev: Research I, Rm 347, Office Hours: Mon 1:00 – 3:00 or by appt.

Course Description: 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).

 

Prerequisite:  PHYS 260. Corequisite: MATH 214.

 

Text: University Physics: with Modern Physics, 12 th Edition by Young & Freedman. 

 

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%

Recitation Policies: The policy on homework & the grading of recitation will be announced in recitation,   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 not be using the online “Mastering Physics” homework system in this course.

Exams:  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 2002A SU2, and whose hours are posted on http://mason.gmu.edu/~sfisher2/tutor

 

Homework is due in the recitation that follows completing the assigned topics in lecture.

 

Assignment    

Date

Homework

1

Wed. Jan 21

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

2

Mon, Jan 26

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

3

Mon, Feb 2

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

4

Mon, Feb 9

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

5

Mon Feb 16

Exam 1: Ch 17-20

 

Fri, Feb 20

Last day for dropping classes (262 only)

6

Mon, Feb 23

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

 

Mon, Mar 2

Spring break week

7

Mon, Mar 9

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

8

Mon, Mar 16

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

9

Mon, Mar 23

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

 

Mon, Mar 30

Exam 2: Ch 33-36

10

Mon, Mar 30

Ch 37, ex 4, 8, 9, 11

11

Mon, Apr 6

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

12

Mon, Apr 13

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

13

Mon, Apr 20

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

14

Mon, Apr 27

Ch 41

 

Mon, May 4

Last day of classes

 

Fri, May 8

Final exam 7:30 -10:15 AM

*

 

A very readable new 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). This is a good supplemental reading if you want to learn more about quarks, QED, Feynman diagrams, and string theory.