Week 1
Course Comments. I won't post more materials than needed. The syllabus outlines the chapters we cover, and approximate times. The grade is basically hw and exams. Some times/dates may be open ended at this point (I reserve the right to change).
Goals and Course: The course covers a survey of modern physics topics from relativity, photoelectric effect, blackbody radiation, and some quantum mechanics. The math level is not the most rigorous. The concepts can be boggling. There are many fun independent topics to discover that tie together in a broader manner. The broad goal includes historical context and an understanding of elements that contributed to paradigm shifts in our understanding of physics. Relativity and Quantum mechanics have become the foundational concepts to current physics.
For those of you that have not handed in hw for me at uppper level, it must be neat (not your scratch work or sloppy copy). You should leave plenty of room for comments. Write big, not cursive (unless you have exceptionally legible physics cursive--check with others), and in a penmanship that is legible (see mine--LOL). Latex is fine too. Really---I will check your neatness/readability demonstrably using other people reading your work if you are unable to check on your own. In general you should start a new problem on a new page, however some of these are short. I'm OK with two problems on a page as long as you make sufficient comments, don't skimp, and leave room for my comments. ONE SIDE OF PAGE ONLY. I/You should be able to tell what the problem is asking for and the context---without needing to open the book. When preparing hw you may discuss work with classmates, but you may not copy nor can you have any electronic copy of pages or other work from other students OR FROM ANY HISTORY OF MY CLASS OR OTHER FORMER STUDENTS---NO, NO, NO. In general if your work is a closer copy to someone else's work than your own (if I made you start from scratch), then there is a problem. Read, study, review your own paper. Study together, but write work up ON YOUR OWN.
FOR EVERY HW SET------You must author your own problem WITH SOLUTION on the relevant topic. You will of course provide a solution to that problem also (which must be correct---it's your problem). Create Your Own Problem (CYOP). Grading includes achieving a sufficient level depth or rigor to the problem. Redoing examples with new numbers, or simple plug'n chug is generally insufficient and I may reduce grades if I see that. Some topics lend to rich deep problem topics, others do not, and I am aware of this. If you are uncertain--ASK, AND ASK EARLY. With each CYOP PROBLEM---YOU shall have a classmate review your problem statement and make sure it is clear. WRITE DOWN THE NAME OF YOUR "CYOP BUDDY" WITH THE PROBLEM. If I can't understand the problem, I can't do much with it. I may ask either Author or CYOP buddy to explain the problem (in class).
On the use of AI. You should just use "I"--being your own. There are many tell tale signs of AI. If you wish to engage AI for CYOP--then you will need to find flaws in the work, and really go deep into the nuance and description of the problem. Ask first.Using AI would mean doing several prompts and comparing. If you use AI you must say so.
No late hw. Exceptions---you are in a coma, you have been shipped overseas, in hospital, unfriendly alien abduction , a robot dog ate your homework (if you build it), Daleks, various biohazards, etc---See me if life happens, I'm reasonable.
Homework format policy (Read me)
Collaboration--you may discuss problems with each other. You may work together on boards, and discussion. YOU MAY NOT COPY. YOU MAY NOT PHOTOGRAPH BOARDS. YOU MAY NOT ASK FOR OR SEEK OUT OLD COPIES OF EXAMS, HWS, ETC. If I see work that is clearly copied with one of a kind unique errors showing up on multiple papers-- that is considered academic dishonesty and may result in penalties ranging from reduced credit to withdrawal from course or additional disciplinary action (something not short of keel hauling, perphaps some Vogon poetry!). If I see correct work copied from other students or sources of online information, that may also be considered academic dishonesty. Note that there is no solution manual that I am aware of for this text....I grunt through problems same as you do. Let me know if you find sources. There appears to be no full record of this course on Mr. Peabody's WAYBAC machine (https://youtu.be/ZzEI15FQ_io?si=jeT7ZaXFIAS_mhmD ) Wormhole Activating and Bridging Automatic Computer---or just watch Rocky and Bullwinkle (https://youtu.be/smhwTE5YtL8?si=oA7xThQqQ_qYndxl).
I encourage collaboration. If you discuss problems fully, and no paper crosses hands or gets copied directly from a board, and you go home and sleep on it, and then write up your work on your own---then you are doing an original write up, which is what I ask for.
Scoring. Each problem is generally one point. I may (no notice given) count some problems that are more involved as 2 points. For your CYOP problem---I may count that as one or two points. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SKIP ATTEMPTING ANY PROBLEM. Leaving blank problems--NO Don't skip--
START WORK NOW. Start work early.
Ch. 1 4,5,6,7, 11, 15, , 22 +your CYOP prob. Due Wed. Jan. 14th. ALL WORK IS DUE AT THE START OF CLASS
Ch. 3 9,13, 16, 20, 23, + your cyop prob. Due Wed. Jan. 21
ch. 4 6,7,9, 16, 18, 32, 36, plus your problem --- (last time I am reminding of CYOP---it is on every HW) Due Wed. Jan. 28th
Ch. 5 7, 11, 16, 21, 30 + I won't say. TBA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
My notes: I provide copies of notes that are useful for you, but are exactly what I say---"my notes". They are notes for me. They are not intended to replace your primary resource---the text. I use my notes to guide me through an outline of daily in class material to present to you. I may modify as needed. As we go, I may post additional materials that are cool, useful, etc. You should also be aware that your Calculus Based intro physics text is an excellent resource for many of the topics we cover. Other texts may also be great for reference, but we will tend to use notation developed in our text!