Physics 104

General Physics
Spring 1996

[Book Cover]

Prerequisites:  Physics 103 or equivalent.  

Materials Needed: 

     Text: Serway & Faughn, College Physics, fourth edition.  

     Physics 104 Lab Manual, Spring 1996. 

     Lab notebook: preferably hard bound with cross-hatched ruling.  
     Bring to first laboratory meeting (week of Jan 29).  

     Calculator: preferably with trigonometric, exponential, and 
     logarithmic functions.  Know how to use it, and make sure 
     batteries are charged for exams.  

Lectures: 1:20 or 2:25 pm MWF in 1300 Sterling Hall.  Profs. Clint 
     Sprott (3285 Chamberlin, 263-4449, [email protected]) 
     and Don Cox (6205 Chamberlin, 262-5916, [email protected]).
     Course information is also available on the World Wide Web at 
     http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/104syl.htm.  The lectures 
     supplement but do not substitute for the reading.  Read the 
     assigned material before lecture.  

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.  

Laboratory: Follow the instructions in the introduction to the 
     laboratory manual.  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.  

Homework: The homework problems are assigned in the syllabus for each  
     week and should be handed in at the beginning of the Monday 
     lecture the following week.  Late problem sets will not be 
     accepted.  Homework will count toward your grade.  Feel free to 
     discuss the homework with others, but make sure the paper you turn 
     in is not simply copied from someone else.  The solutions will be 
     discussed in your discussion section and placed on reserve in the 
     Physics Library (4220 Chamberlin).  

Hour Exams: Exams will be given at 7:15-8:15 pm on the following 
     Thursday evenings: 
  
                February 15, Chapters 15-17
                March 21,    Chapters 18-21
                April 18,    Chapters 22-25

     The exams will be closed book, but you will be allowed one 8 1/2 x 
     11-inch sheet of paper on which you may write anything you wish.  
     The exams will be graded and handed back in your discussion 
     section.  Solutions will be discussed and placed on reserve in the 
     Physics Library (4220 Chamberlin). 

Final Exam: The final exam will be at 7:25-9:25 pm on Saturday, May 11 
     (room to be announced).  It will cover the entire course (Chapters 
     15-30) with equal weight.  You will be allowed two 8 1/2 x 11-inch 
     sheet of notes. 

Grading: The course grade will be made up of the following components: 
 
                3 hour exams         300 points 
                Final exam           200 points 
                Labs and homework    100 points 
                TOTAL                600 points 

     Lab and homework 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 2402 Sterling is staffed by TA's 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.  

Alternate References: To see the same topics explained differently, try 
     the following on reserve in the Physics Library (4220 Chamberlin): 

     Blatt, Principles of Physics, 3rd edition 
     Cutnell and Johnson, Physics, 3rd edition 
     Giancoli, Physics, 4th edition
     Jones and Childers, Contemporary College Physics, 2nd edition 

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

     1) Read the chapter prior to lecture, so that you will know what 
     it's about.  

     2) Listen carefully to the lecture and take notes.  

     3) 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 104 SPRING 1996 SYLLABUS References are to Serway & Faughn, College Physics, fourth edition. Lab manual is Physics 104 Lab Manual, Spring 1996 Week Reading Problems Lab 1/22 Chap 15 5, 20, 34, 51, 66 no lab 1/29 Chap 16 7, 16, 36, 44, 54 E1 2/5 Chap 17 11, 18, 36, 40, 53 E2 2/12 Chap 18 6, 22, 34, 37, 59 Exam makeup 2/19 Chap 19 6, 22, 29, 43, 54 E4 2/26 Chap 20 5, 11, 24, 41, 52 E6 3/4 Chap 21 4, 12, 23, 37, 53 E7 3/18 Chap 22 4, 26, 35, 46, 51 Exam makeup 3/25 Chap 23 4, 12, 29, 57, 68 E8 4/1 Chap 24 5, 18, 38, 50, 57 L2 4/8 Chap 25 8, 17, 25, 48, 62 L3 4/15 Chap 26 7, 19, 32, 47, 61 Exam makeup 4/22 Chap 27 8, 24, 40, 45, 58 L1 4/29 Chap 28 6, 24, 32, 39, 42 L5 5/6 Chap 29 11, 22, 29, 45, 67 N2 5/11 Final exam Saturday, 7:25 pm, Chapters 15-30 (room to be announced)
Physics 104 Hour Exams Spring 1996 Semester There will be three hour exams in Physics 104 at 7:15-8:15 pm on the following Thursday evenings: February 15, 1996 Chapters 15-17 March 21, 1996 Chapters 18-21 April 18, 1996 Chapters 22-25 If you have a serious conflict with one of these times, you were instucted to notify your TA before the deadline of February 2nd, in which case you will be expected to take a makeup exam at 7:30 am the next morning (Friday) in room 4331 Sterling. In the event of an emergency or other serious conflict with these times, you should contact Professor Sprott as soon as possible. If you have permission from the McBurney Center to take the exam in a separate room, you should come to Professor Sprott's office (3285 Chamberlin) at 6:45 pm on the day of the exam. Room Assignments for Physics 104 Hour Exams TA Sections Exam Room Ted Allen 309, 319 52 Bascom Guangshun Chen 312, 316, 321 165 Bascom Roger Feeley 310, 318, 320 165 Bascom John Frandy 301, 304, 305 165 Bascom James Ireland 302, 307, 308 272 Bascom Guomin Mao 311, 313, 317 272 Bascom Warren Miller 303, 315 272 Bascom Susan Sulzer 306, 314, 326 272 Bascom
Physics 104 Final Exam Spring 1996 Semester The final exam in Physics 104 will be at 7:25-9:25 pm on Saturday, May 11th. The exam will cover the entire course (Chapters 15-30) with equal weight. You are allowed to bring two 8 1/2 x 11-inch sheets of notes on which you may write anything you wish. In the event of a scheduling conflict or other emergency, you should contact Professor Sprott as soon as possible. If you have permission from the McBurney Center to take the exam in a separate room, you should come to Professor Sprott's office (3285 Chamberlin) at 6:15 pm on the day of the exam. Room Assignments for Physics 104 Final Exam TA Sections Exam Room Ted Allen 309, 319 165 Bascom Guangshun Chen 312, 316, 321 165 Bascom Roger Feeley 310, 318, 320 165 Bascom John Frandy 301, 304, 305 165 Bascom James Ireland 302, 307, 308 272 Bascom Guomin Mao 311, 313, 317 272 Bascom Warren Miller 303, 315 272 Bascom Susan Sulzer 306, 314, 326 272 Bascom

Additional Information

* Don Cox's Home Page
* Clint Sprott's Home Page
* Ted Allen's Home Page (head TA)
* Discussion Section Openings
* Physics 104 Instructors
* Consultation Room Hours
* Physics 104 Grades
* Physics 104 Grade Histograms
* Comments on Grading
* Extended Access to Student Information
* Physics 104 Contextual Problems
* Physics 104 Topics for Third Exam
* Physics 104 Topics for Final Exam
* Hints on How to Study Physics


J. C. Sprott