PY212: General Physics II Electricity and Magnetism Fall 1999 - Spring 2001

Lectures: The chapters to be presented during each lecture are listed on the course syllabus/calendar. Attendance at lectures is required. In order to gain the most from each lecture, you should read the chapters and work the example problems prior to attending the lecture.

Discussion Sections: Discussion sections are a required part of the course. You must have an assigned discussion section. While we try to accomodate individual preferences, many sections are already filled to capacity, so changing sections will be limited. The teaching assistant for each section will supplement the lecture material, assist in problem solving, and help prepare you for exams. Conceptual exercises will be a graded part of each discussion section. These exercises are subject to the rules of allowable academic conduct, for instance you may not hand in work for students not in attendance.

Homework: The assigned questions for all homework sets are provided periodically during term, and are available here on the PY212 web pages. Homework sets are due by 5 PM Friday in boxes located in the basement of the Metcalf Science Center. The teaching assistant for your section will grade your homework. You may work together on homework questions, but the work you turn in must be your own. Your problem sets should be neat, readable, and sufficiently well organized that your approach to the problem is clear to the grader. Place a box around final answers so they are easy to find. The homework will be graded by your section teaching assistant and will be returned during section. All problems will be graded. Solutions will be posted on the PY212 web page and placed on reserve in the library. Once the solutions are posted we can not accept homework for grading.

Your homework plus discussion exercise grades will comprise 25% of your final grade. Each homework question is worth 3 points for a subtotal of 321 points. Each discussion exercise is worth 10 points for a subtotal of 100 points. However, your final score will be calculated out of 400 total points, rather than 421 possible points.  This is roughly equivalent to dropping one homework or two discussion exercises. Sorry- no bonus points for scores exceeding 400, but congratulations on work well done!

Laboratories: Laboratory sections are a required part of the course. You must have an assigned laboratory section. While we try to accomodate individual preferences, many sections are already filled to capacity, so changing sections will be limited. You will perform seven experiments and write up your observations and measurements in two quadrille laboratory notebooks. The required format is available here on the PY212 web pages. The write-ups are due at the end of each laboratory period. While one is handed in for grading, you use the other notebook for the next lab. It is O.K. to use remaining pages from your PY211 laboratory notebooks. The laboratory teaching fellows are responsible for presenting extra material related to each lab, helping you with the measurements, and grading your writeups. Your lab grade will comprise 15% of your final grade. Turning in fewer than 7 labs will result in automatic failure.

Makeup rules: For students with valid excuses (determined by your assigned lab or discussion TF, and in some cases the lecturer), you may be allowed to attend an alternate section. If you need to miss a section, we would rather have you complete the work the same week. It is up to the student, to follow up on any graded assigments (lab or discussion quiz) and make sure they are properly recorded by his usual T.F. There will be an opportunity to makeup a missing lab at the end of the semester, again if a valid excuse is authorized.

Exams: There will be regular exams as indicated in the course calendar. The questions will emphasize problem solving and physical concepts. Knowledge and proficiency with calculus is expected. Remember to bring your calculator to each exam. Sharing calculators during exams is not allowed. Storing information such as formula is not allowed. The first two exams will each cover a separate part of the course. The final exam will cover the entire course material. There will be no makeup exams except for very serious, documented excuses such as illness.

Getting help: If you have difficulty with any of the material there are a number of ways to get help. You should ask questions of your teaching fellow during discussion section. You may also obtain help from your teaching fellow or any PY212 professor during office hours. Make use of the Undergraduate Resource Room (SCI 121), which is staffed with PY212 teachers to answer your questions. Free tutoring is available from the University Resource Center at 1 University Rd., suite 150. Call 353-7077 for more details.

Academic conduct: You are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the College's Academic Conduct Code. Cheating on exams or other course work will not be tolerated. The homework and labs you turn in must be your own work. Evidence of cheating will be reported to your college's Academic Conduct Committee.