This course offers an introduction to two important areas of physics (1) mechanics and (2) thermal physics. In mechanics we will study newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics and wave mechanics. In thermal physics we will understand the concept of temperature and study the three laws that govern systems at finite temperature. The course is intended for physics majors and minors with a strong interest in physics.
General Information
Prerequisites: High School Math and Science and Basic Calculus
Both TA's will be present during the recitation section. However,
Hung-Ming will grade all Lab reports, while Sam Gong will grade the
recitation and quizes.
Help Room : Room 251 in the Physics Building (tentatively).
Look on the door for changes if any.
Lecture/Laboratory Schedule:
The schedule of lectures and laboratories planned can be down loaded
as a pdf file here
Laboratory Instructions
The instructions for the various labs can be found at
here . You can use these to develop your lab reports.
Grades: Grades will be assigned according to the
following weighted average:
Homeworks: 15%
Quizes: 10%
Labs: 15%
Two Midterms: 15% each
Final exam: 30%
Midterm 1: Monday, October 1, 2006; In class
Midterm 2: Friday, November 2, 2006; In class
Final Exam Time: Sunday December 16, 2pm-5pm; In class
Grading Policy
Punctuality is very important. If you come to recitations and
labs more than 10 mins late you may not be allowed in the section.
So make sure you are on time.
Attending recitations is important. At the end of every recitation
you will be given a quiz which accounts for 10% of the total grade.(see above).
If you miss a recitation, you will not get any credit for that particular
quiz. At the end, you will be allowed to drop ONE (the worst) quiz grade.
No exceptions.
Attending lab sections is important. If you miss a lab, you will not
get any credit for that lab. At the end, you will be allowed to
drop ONE (the worst) lab grade. No exceptions.
Lab reports are due before 1pm on Fridays the same week as the lab.
Homeworks are due in the box (beside room 146) near the physics
office before 1pm on Wednesdays .
If you miss the above deadlines you will not get credit for that Laboratory or Homework. At the end of the course, you will be allowed to drop
ONE (the worst) homework grade. No exceptions.
If you need to be absent, or cannot return a homework in time, due to
an emergency you need to produce a Dean's excuse in order to receive a grade
for the missed exam/quiz/lab. Please contact the professor as soon as possible
to inform him of the problem. The professor will make a judgement call in
such cases at the end of the course depending on your overall performance
in the course including attendance and understanding of the material.
Normally, if the absence was well justified and you made good progress,
your overall performance in other similar activities will be reweighted.
For example, if you missed two labs because you were sick, then your
performance in the other labs will be weighted by 15%. If you miss
two recitations, your performance in the other recitations will be
weighted by 10% etc. Note: This will only be possible in exceptional cases.
Expectations:
Complete all reading assignments before you come to the lectures.
Complete all weekly tasks such as Homework assignments/Lab Reports before the deadline.
Think about the problems assigned for recitations before coming to class.
Read the material for the lab before coming to the lab.
Be punctual to all the classes (lectures, recitations and labs).
Attend all the lectures, recitations and labs.
Ask questions if you do not understand something and don't wait until
the exam to clarify your questions.
Do extra problems from the text book and other sources beyond your
regular homeworks as much as possible. As you solve more problems, you
will understand the material better!
Follow the "Honor Code", that you signed when you entered Duke,
very strictly.
Weekly Tasks/Updates:
Will be updated often. So please check regularly.
9/3/07 Helproom hours have been posted. Please look above. Helproom will be in room 251 in physics building. But in case it is not available a new room will be found a note will be put on the door of 251.
9/28/07 The midterm practice exam can be found
here
9/30/07 The solution to the above practice exam can be found
here
10/30/07 The second midterm practice exam can be found
here
11/01/07 The solution to the above practice exam can be found
here .
12/10/07 The final exam from last year and the solution can be found
here .