1PHY 2061 Spring 2008FAQFrequently Asked Questionsor: Excerpts from emailBelow are some email messages along with my responses. Of course, all personal identi-fying information has been removed and I have made some editing changes to correct mygrammar and spelling and to remove all appearances of “texting” abbreviations, which Icannot understand.An email from you similar to one of these, will probably result in a similar, if not identical,reply.If you don’t get an email reply from me then check the last FAQ listed below for a possibleexplanation.What is this course about?Question: I am a biological sciences major, but I have a deep interest in the most recentdiscoveries shaping our current view of the universe, but I don’t know if I would be whollyout of place in the course — is it mostly for physics majors?Or: I have a solid background in mathematics, having obtained A’s for the calculussequence and differential equations, but I tested out of physics with an 5 on the AP examin high school and haven’t taken any physics since. Are there any specific topics I shouldreview over the winter break? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.Answer: Most of the students in Phy 2061 are physics or math majors or engineeringstudents, mostly electrical or nuclear.If you are worried about your preparation, then I suggest that you take a look at thetextbook, “Physics Volume 2” by Halliday, Resnick and Krane.Also to test your math background, please look carefully at the Math Self-Assessmentwhich is online. For preparation you might review Newtonian mechanics, F = ma, conser-vation of energy, conservation of momentum, oscillatory motion, and gravitation.A college education is the only consumer product for which the less the consumergets the happier he is.Question: A friend in this class told me we don’t have class on Tuesday and I waswondering if this is true?Answer: What a disappointment that would be for all of us! I’m going to be thereteaching as always. I can’t imagine why someone would think otherwise.What is important about homework?Question: I have a simple question concerning problem number 5 on the current HWassignment. Are we suppose to assume the penny is entirely formed of copper or are we2to use the current construction of the coin to answer the problem (where zinc is moreprevalent)?Answer: My philosophy on homework questions is to check general understanding ratherthan to try to get an accurate number. So within a reasonable factor the makeup of a pennymakes no difference.What are the tests like?Question: I was wondering if the tests in PHY 2061 will be more suited to lectures ratherthan the textbook or homework?Answer: I really like the way that I teach electricity and magnetism, and I don’t care forsome parts of the book’s treatment — although it is quite good on most subjects. For thedifficult subjects I will follow the book pretty closely. My lectures focus on what I think arethe important parts of the subject. And my test questions usually focus on what I think arethe important parts of the subject.Question: Is there anything in addition to the homework sets that you would recommendus studying for the exam tomorrow? I am really not sure how else to study for this exam.Are there any book problems you would suggest we go over? We just don’t know what toexpect...Answer: To prepare for the test I suggest that you (in order): go over class notes, reviewthe homework problems, read sections of the text that are related to the lectures, and tryto find additional problems from the book that involve the same subjects.In general a student who understands the homework problems and has been awake inclass should do just fine on the test.Question: Will the test cover sections # and #? I don’t believe we went over those inclass and they’re not included in the homework.Answer: As to sections # and # ... I didn’t talk about them in class and there weren’tany homework problems on them. So, if I were studying for the test then I wouldn’t spendmuch time on them.What should I expect if I am late with homework, or miss class or a test and wouldlike special consideration?Question: When I got up an hour late this morning and saw that the class hour hasalready passed, I thought to myself, ah not the second class! I don’t plan on another missagain. I finished the homework last night. Is it ok that I turn it in to your office before4:30pm today?Answer: Absolutely! Everyone gets a no cost, homework extension until 4:30pm.Question: I missed PHY 2061 today due to a more adverse parking situation than ex-pected. I was wondering if you could inform me as to what topics were covered today inclass.3Answer: Chapter 25.If you miss class it is your responsibility to find out was covered. I spent over an hour onthe material in class. I won’t spend that amount of time with you individually covering thesame material. So don’t ask me what I said in class. Instead, ask a classmate who is likelyto give a better answer than I could.Question: I am writing you because my car broke down today at about 4:00, as I wason the way to turn in homework set #4 to you at your office, as I normally do. My clutchmechanism malfunctioned and so I was unable to put the car in gear and move it. I had towait for AAA to arrive and have the car towed to a repair shop on 13th. In light of this,I was wondering if I might be able to turn that set in to you tomorrow, whenever is mostconvenient for you. I understand what the policy for late homework is, but I was hopingthat you might be able to make an exception in this case. If need be, I can bring a copy ofa receipt of some sort so you may verify this. Thank you for understanding.Answer: Sorry. When homework comes in late it creates a real grading and record keepingnuisance for me. And your problem becomes my problem. I haven’t accepted any of the 2or 3 requests like yours that I get every week.Question: (Same student) I suppose I understand your predicament. Of course, I wouldhate to lose such a mass of points over something so silly, as I could have abandoned my carand run the homework in to you, but I figured that would have been a bad decision. Oneof the reasons I was going to turn it in at that time and come talk to you was because Ibelieve there was some sort of error on the first problem, regarding the given velocities andthe one which we were asked to solve. It seems that the answer to both of the parts thatwere asked came out to
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