Physics 207 Homepage

Physics 207
General Physics - Fall 1998

Prerequisites:

Calculus (Math 221 or equivalent). Algebra, trigonometry, and calculus will be used extensively.

Materials Needed:

Text: Serway, Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics, fourth edition.
Lab manual: Rollefson and Richards, Laboratory Experiments in General Physics.
Lab notebook: preferably hard-bound with cross-hatched ruling. Bring it to your first laboratory meeting.
Calculator: preferably with trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions. Know how to use it, and make sure batteries are charged for exams.

Lectures:

8:50 am MWF in 1300 Sterling Hall. Prof. J. C. Sprott (3285 Chamberlin Hall, sprott@juno.physics.wisc.edu, 263-4449). The lectures supplement but do not substitute for the reading. Read the assigned material before lecture. The Friday lectures are optional except for exams and for honors students. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Attendance will be taken.

Discussion sections:

Your discussion section will be led by your TA who will be your prime contact and source of assistance. General questions about the homework are allowed before it is due, but don't expect your TA to work out the solutions for you in advance. Quizzes will occasionally be given in your discussion session and will count toward your grade.

Electronic Aids:

All of the instructors are available by e-mail, and there is an e-mail list for the entire class that will occasionally be used for important announcements. The course has a home page on the World Wide Web at https://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/phys207/ where you will find up-to-date course information and links to useful resources.

Laboratory:

Follow the "General Instructions" in the laboratory manual (pages 1-3). The experiments are to be written up during the laboratory period in the lab notebook. Have your lab instructor initial and date the work before you leave the lab. The lab notebook is not to be taken from the lab except with permission of your instructor. The laboratory is in 4300 Sterling Hall. Further information about the lab can be found at http://phy207-a.physics.wisc.edu/.

Homework:

The homework problems are assigned in the syllabus for each week and should be handed in at the first discussion session the following week. Late problem sets will not be accepted. Homework will count toward your grade. You may work with others on the homework, but make sure the paper you turn in is not simply copied from someone else. The solutions will be discussed in your discussion session and placed on reserve in the Physics Library (4220 Chamberlin).

Hour Exams:

Exams will be given during the Friday lecture as follows:

September 25	Chapters 1-4
October 23	Chapters 5-10
November 20	Chapters 11-16

The exams will be closed-book, but you will be allowed one 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheet of notes. The exams will be graded and handed back in your first discussion session of the following week. Solutions will be discussed and placed on reserve in the Physics Library (4220 Chamberlin Hall). There will be no makeup exams.

Final Exam:

The final exam will be at 12:25 pm on Monday, December 21 in 272 Bascom. The exam will cover the entire course (Chapters 1-22) with equal weight. You will be allowed two 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheets of notes.

Grading:

The course grade will consist of the following components:

Hour exams (three)	300 points
Final exam	200 points
Homework & Discussion	100 points
Laboratory	100 points
TOTAL	700 points

Lab, homework and discussion grades will be assigned by your TA and will be normalized to the distribution on the hour exams. Letter grades will be assigned based on the total number of points accumulated.

Consultation Room:

Room 2318 Sterling is staffed by TA's from Physics 207 during much of the week. See the schedule card on the door. You may ask questions of any of the TA's or come during the hours that your TA is there. You may also make an appointment with your TA at any mutually convenient time and place.

Complaints and Concerns:

If you have a non-subject-matter question or concern that cannot be resolved by your TA or professor, contact Jean Buehlman, Instructional Program Manager (afternoons in 2520 Sterling, 262-2629).

Alternate References:

To see the same topics explained differently, try the following (on reserve in Physics library - 4220 Chamberlin):

Fishbane, Gasiorowicz, and Thornton, Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Giancoli, Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, Fundamentals of Physics

General Advice:

Physics is not something you read and memorize, rather it is something you learn how to do. Try the following study procedure:

Read the chapter prior to lecture, so that you will know what it's about.
Listen carefully to the lecture and take notes.
This is crucial: Do not go back and read and re-read the chapter until you "understand it." Rather, start working problems, going back through the chapter to clarify points as they come up.

Physics 207
Fall 1998 Syllabus

References are to Serway, Physics for Scientists & Engineers with Modern Physics, fourth edition.

Lab manual is Rollefson and Richards.

In the labs, "C" means a computer lab writeup will be handed out, and "S" means the lab is supplemented with additional computer materials.

Week	Reading	Problems	Lab
9/7	Chap 1, 2	1:4, 17, 30, 49, 57; 2:7, 10, 23, 41, 49	no lab
9/14	Chap 3, 4	3:5, 22, 34, 43, 49; 4:3, 20, 31, 39, 50	M1C
9/21	Review	Exam #1 (Chap 1-4) Sept 25	M4S
9/28	Chap 5, 6	5:17, 26, 33, 50, 72; 6:7, 15, 28, 32, 39	M5
10/5	Chap 7, 8	7:5, 14, 31, 44, 55; 8:10, 27, 35, 49, 62	M6
10/12	Chap 9, 10	9:8, 27, 35, 47, 65; 10:5, 15, 26, 32, 56	M10
10/19	Review	Exam #2 (Chap 5-10) Oct 23	M14S
10/26	Chap 11, 12	11:3, 18, 34, 39, 49; 12:6, 20, 31, 37, 48	M9
11/2	Chap 13, 14	13:3, 19, 29, 50, 55; 14:12, 20, 43, 57, 66	M3/M7
11/9	Chap 15, 16	15:9, 15, 28, 38, 56; 16:12, 24, 35, 46, 50	M15
11/16	Review	Exam #3 (Chap 11-16) Nov 20	S1C
11/23	Chap 17, 18	17:4, 23, 31, 37, 55; 18:4, 23, 34, 53, 65	makeup
11/30	Chap 19, 20	19:10, 20, 31, 39, 67; 20:3, 15, 26, 39, 68	S3
12/7	Chap 21, 22	21:3, 23, 29, 45, 55; 22:6, 15, 27, 31, 45	H2C
12/14	Review	Final Exam (Chap 1-22) Dec 21	makeup

Physics 207
Fall 1998 Special Friday Lectures

9/4	Sprott - Problem Solving and Error Analysis
9/11	Frames of Reference (film)
9/18	Cameron - The Physics of Imagination and Creativity
9/25	Exam #1
10/2	Cameron - The Good News about Radiation
10/9	The Pleasure of Finding Things Out (Feynman video)
10/16	Cox - Astrophysics
10/23	Exam #2
10/30	Sprott - Seasons, Tides, and Phases of the Moon
11/6	Sprott - Chaos and Randomness
11/13	Sprott - Fractals
11/20	Exam #3
11/27	Thanksgiving Recess
12/4	Fry - Physics of the Violin
12/11	Sprott - The Wonders of Physics (fun lecture)