Physics 141, Fall 2022.

Instructor:

Professor F. L. H. Wolfs
Department of Physics and Astronomy, B&L 203A
Telephone: (585) 275 - 4937
Email: wolfs@pas.rochester.edu
URL: http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/

Teaching Assistants:

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• TBA

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Text:

R. Chabay and B. Sherwood, Matter & Interactions, Volume 1, Modern Mechanics, Fourth Edition (required)
P. Bevington and D. Robinson, Data Reduction and Error Analysis (strongly recommended).

PRS:

PRS transmitters (Turning Technologies, RCXR-02) are required to be able to participate in the quizzes and Q&A during lecture. These transmitters can be obtained from the bookstore. If you return them at the end of the semester you get a refund equal to the purchase price minus a $29 rental fee.

Course Homepage:

http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/Phy141/Phy141HomePage.shtml

Lectures:

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9.40 am - 10.55 am (Hoyt).

Recitations:

Tuesdays: 3.25 pm - 4.40 pm (B&L 269, TBD)
Tuesdays: 4.50 pm - 6.05 pm (B&L 203H, TBD)
Wednesdays: 2.00 pm - 3.15 pm (B&L 269, TBD)
Wednesdays: 6.15 pm - 7.30 pm (Hylan 202, TBD)
Recitations will start on Tuesday September 6.

Laboratories:

During the semester you will complete 5 laboratory experiments (roughly one experiment every two weeks). The schedule of these experiments is as follows:

Experiment 1: September 12
Experiment 2: September 26
Experiment 3: October 10
Experiment 4: October 31
Experiment 5: November 14 (data) and November 21 (analysis)

Office Hours:

Frank Wolfs:

Thursdays between 11.00 am and 12.00 pm, between 2 pm and 3 pm, and by appointment. Office hours start on Sept. 8. Location: B&L 203A.

Teaching Assistants:

John Steinmetz: Wednesdays 9.30 am - 11.30 am, B&L 304 (starting Sept. 7)

Paul Wrona: Thursdays 3.30 pm - 4.30 pm, POA (starting Sept 8)

Homework:

Homework will be assigned each Friday. The homework is due the following Friday at noon. A fraction of the homework assignments are distributed and completed electronically, using WebWork, while the rest have to be dropped of in the Physics 141 homework locker, across from B&L 106.

Each homework set will consist of a number of quantitative problems that are based on the material discussed the previous week. The problem sets will reinforce the course material and it is critical for your survival in this course to complete the assignments and understand any mistakes you may have made while working on these problems.

Extra credit can be earned by completing various programming problems using the VPython programming language. The extra credit problems will be part of the regular homework assignments.

Final Grade:

The final grade will be the weighted average of:

1. Final exam (20 - 25%)
2. Mid-term exams (15 - 20% each)
3. Homework (15%)
4. Lab (15%)
5. Quizzes (5%)
   

Pre- and Post Tests:

A pre- and post-test is required to take Phy 141. The pre-test will help the instructor determine your initial skill level to ensure that you have the required experience to be successful in the course. The post-test will provide you with information about how well you have mastered the material and will be used to identify areas that will require special attention when you are preparing for the final exam. The pre- and post-tests are required components of the course, but will not influence your course grade. These tests will take place on the following dates:

Midterm exams:

Thursday September 29, 8.00 am - 9.30 am (Hoyt).
Tuesday October 25, 8.00 am - 9.30 am (Hoyt).
Tuesday December 6, 8.00 am - 9.30 am (Hoyt).

Final exam:

Tuesday December 20, 4 pm - 7 pm (Hoyt).

Exam policy:

As part of each exam you will receive a sheet of useful equations that cover the material that is covered on the exam.  You will be able to view/download the equation sheet before the exam so that you will be able to determine what information will be provided on the exam.  Do not spend your time memorizing formulas; it is more important that you understand how to use them!

Quizzes:

Quizzes will be given during lecture. Each quiz will contain 3 - 4 short questions, related to the material being discussed. The answers will be submitted electronically using your Personal Response System (PRS) transmitter. It is thus very important that you stay up-to-date with the material that is covered in class.