D EPARTMENT OF P HYSICS
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/phys272H/
Professor in Charge: Prof. Yulia Pushkar CHIP Administrator: Dr. V.K. Saxena
Office: PHYS 70
Phone: 496-3279
Email: ypushkar@purdue.edu
Office:
Phone:
PHYS 176
494-9575
E-Mail: Chip_272H@physics.purdue.edu
Office Hours: Monday 5-6 pm
Recitation and Laboratory Teaching Assistant: Jonathan Nistor
Office: PHYS 263
E-Mail: jnistor@purdue.edu
Office Hours: by appointment
TEXTBOOK:
Matter & Interaction II – Electric and Magnetic Interactions , 3 rd
Edition, 2010, Ruth Chabay and Bruce Sherwood, ISBN: 9 780470503461 , Publisher: Wiley.
I-Clicker2,
Physics 272/272H00 Laboratory Manual , On Course Website under the Course Content tab.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
The course has three different components: lecture, recitation and laboratory. The lectures will concentrate on developing an understanding of fundamental concepts. In order to achieve this goal you must be an active participant. Ask questions!
The recitations will focus on developing problem-solving skills. The laboratory provides computational simulation exercises and hands-on demonstrations that provide the opportunity for you to apply the concepts.
COURSE WEBPAGE:
You can find this syllabus, calendar, textbook information, course announcements, learning center hours and other important resources on the PHYS 272H webpage: http://www.physics.purdue.edu/phys272H/ .
The Physics Department webpage: http://www.physics.purdue.edu
.
We will use the Computerized Homework In Physics (CHIP) system to assign credit for homework completed during the semester. Instructions for CHIP can be found on the course homepage. The CHIP webpage is: http://chip.physics.purdue.edu/public/272H/spring2012/ .

READING ASSIGNMENTS:
A reading assignment schedule is posted online. You should read the assigned sections before coming to each lecture.
LECTURES:
The lecture will be used to expand upon topics introduced in the text and will contain clicker questions. You are expected to arrive at lecture having read the text, reviewed the lecture slides (posted prior to lecture) and prepared to be an active participant during the lecture period. You will need a wireless keypad ( iClicker or iClicker2 - available at the bookstore) in order to participate. During the clicker questions, you will be allowed/encouraged to confer with neighboring students as you contemplate the question. The idea is to provoke you to think more deeply about the material and hopefully learn more. Clicker questions are designed to provide feedback to both the lecturer and the students with regards to understanding important physics concepts. Your three lowest clicker scores will be dropped, so you can miss up to three quizzes without any penalty. You must register your iClicker/iClicker2 in CHIP in order to receive credit for the clicker lecture quizzes.
( http://chip.physics.purdue.edu/public/272H/spring2012/ ).
Lecture will also be your chance to ask questions and to discuss things that you find interesting or hard to understand. Please do not hesitate to, or be shy about, asking questions.
Demonstrations and discussions will take place during lectures to illustrate the physics concepts.
EXAMS:
There will be two 90-minute evening exams and a two-hour final exam. The evening exams will consist of both a multiple-choice and free response component. The times and locations of the evening exams are as follows:
Exam 1 : Thursday, February 13, 2014, @ 8 – 9:30 PM in PHYS 203
Exam 2 : Thursday, April 3, 2014, @ 8 – 9:30 PM in PHYS 203
All exams are closed book. For the exams you will need a #2 pencil, a calculator and your student ID. Many, but not all, formulae will be provided on an equation sheet. Cheating will result in an F in the course and will be reported to the Dean of Students.
Those with adaptive learner status as certified by the Office of the Dean of Students should email or speak with Prof. Pushkar as soon as possible. Adaptive learners will take the exam in a Test
Center.
LABORATORY: In the laboratory portion of the course, you will perform computational simulation exercises and do hands-on activities to improve your understanding of physics concepts as well as develop skills for working with equipment, performing data analysis, and writing technical reports. Laboratory experience is an important and required part of this course.
Lab will start the first week of classes . A schedule of laboratory topics is posted on the course website.
RECITATIONS:

Recitation assignments will be posted on the course website the week prior to the recitation assignment. You should come to recitation prepared to: ask your TA to clarify any questions you might have about the recitation problems; being discussing the problems with your group members. It is not sufficient to simply arrive at a correct answer to a problem. Your goal is to understand the physics! What principles were deployed in order to describe the physical situation? What fundamental quantities govern the underlying behavior of the physical system? These are typical questions that you should ask yourself. Recitations will start the first week of classes.
HOMEWORK:
Go to www.webassign.net/login.html
You must be registered for this course with the online computerized homework service
WebAssign. Instructions should come with your textbook. Note that the first assignment is due during the first week of class .
GRADING POLICY:
Grades will be determined from points awarded in each of the following categories:
• Two evening exams (February 8, March 22) worth 100 points each.
• A final exam scheduled for 2 hours during finals week, worth 200 points
• The weekly laboratory sessions are worth a total of 100 points
• The total score possible on WebAssign homework will be normalized to 75 points
• The total score possible on Clicker questions will be normalized to 55 points
• The total score possible on quizzes and recitation problems will be normalized to 70 points, with quizzes and recitation problems receiving equal weighting. Quizzes will be given in either the Recitation or in the Lab.
Course Component Percentage of Total Possible Points
2 Exams + Final
Homework
Recitation, including quizzes in either
Recitation or Lab
Clicker Questions
Lab
57.1%
10.7%
10%
7.9%
14.3%
TOTAL = 700 points.
The table below lists the point total (lower bound) corresponding to each letter grade. Within each letter grade range “+” and “-“ designations will be assigned to approximately 1/3 of the students.
Grade Lower Bound
A
B
C
D
599
549
475
385

A running tally of your scores will be posted in a gradebook on the CHIP system. These posted scores will not be normalized! See the course homepage for a link to CHIP. You should check this on a regular basis and report any questions you have about grades to your Recitation instructor.
ALERT:
During the semester, you should regularly check that your exam, homework, and quiz grades have been correctly entered into your Gradebook in CHIP. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
BRING ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR ASSIGNED GRADES TO THE ATTENTION OF
YOUR INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY, AND TO NOTIFY DR. SAXENA IMMEDIATELY
IF YOUR CHIP ACCOUNT IS NOT OPEN TO YOU. All problems must be reported by the 1 st day of exam week. After this date, no changes will be made without the consent of the
Professor.
Getting Help:
This course will require a significant amount of time and effort. You will minimize the effort while maximizing your mastery of new material if you spend time on this course regularly, each day. When you have a question because a topic is confusing or because you are stuck on a problem get help promptly. Here are some ways to do that:
• Go to the Help Center, room 12 in the Physics Building. It is staffed during regular hours by TAs who understand this material.
• Ask the instructor or your TA during lecture, recitation or lab sessions.
• Make an appointment with the instructor or see your TA during office hours.
• Ask a fellow student in this class. Discussing physics with others and figuring things out together (as opposed to simply exchanging answers to problems) is an extremely effective way to learn physics.

ABSENCES AND EXCUSED GRADES:
Unexcused absences from exams and quizzes will receive a score of zero. If the absence is for a valid and documented reason, you may receive an EX (Excused) grade by filling out an Absentee
Report in Room 144, the Undergraduate Physics Office.
When an Excused (EX) Grade is given for an approved absence, the designation “EX” will appear in the CHIP gradebook. This will be replaced by the average of your other scores in that category at the end of the semester.
Except in cases of extended illness, no excused grades will be given for the lecture questions; instead, the three lowest scores will be dropped for all students. Do not file an Absentee Report unless more than three lectures are involved.
Excused absences will not be granted for the Final Examination. If, in the opinion of the instructor, you have a legitimate and documented reason that prevents you from taking the Final
Examination, you will receive an Incomplete for the course.
NOTE: Make-up exams will NOT be given for any of the exams. Any student with a valid approved reason for missing an exam may receive an EX grade.
Excused grades will typically be given for these three circumstances: (a) illness; (b) personal crisis (e.g., automobile accident, death of a close relative, weather conditions which make it impossible to get to the university); and (c) required attendance at an official Purdue activity
(e.g., exam conflict, athletic event, band concert). Contact the relevant instructor IN ADVANCE
(if at all possible) by email (preferred) or phone. Then go to room 144 Physics to fill out an
Absentee Report. If you will be or have been out for five consecutive days, you must contact the
Dean of Students; they will send us a letter.
• In case of illness, go to the Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH). You should receive a slip from the Center with the date, doctor’s name, and a telephone number. OR go to your private physician and obtain a written excuse. Take your excuse to the undergraduate office, Room 144 Physics. (We only need a doctor’s excuse, not a diagnosis or any personal information.)
• In case of accidents, funerals, etc., after contacting your instructor by email or phone go to Room 144 with written evidence of your excuse (police accident report, funeral notice, etc.).
• In case of required attendance at an official Purdue activity, go to Room 144 at least a week in advance of the event and complete an Absentee Report, including documentation.
CHEATING:
Just don't do it. It is not fair to other students or to you. And it won't be tolerated. If you are willing to put in the effort studying and practicing, you will have no problem earning a

respectable grade. Working with other students on your homework is not considered cheating, and, in fact, is encouraged. However, direct copying of another's homework is considered cheating.
If a student is found to be cheating on the homework or quizzes, he/she will receive a zero for that part of his/her grade, and possibly F for the course in more serious cases. A student who is caught cheating on an exam will receive an F for the course and be reported to the Dean of
Students. In more serious cases the student will be suspended or expelled from the university.
The same applies to all other parties involved in cheating.
HELP CENTER:
Help is available Physics Help Center. Hours when the help room is staffed will be posted on the door soon after the semester starts. It will be open during finals week, but only on a limited basis.
PHYSICS LIBRARY:
The Physics Library is located in room PHYS 290.
CHANGES DUE TO MAJOR CAMPUS EMERGENCY:
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. Course information will, in general, be disseminated via one or more of the following routes: lecture, recitations, labs, the 272H home page and WebAssign.