Physics 12/12N: General Physics II
Tufts University, Spring 2009
When: TWF 9:30-10:20 (C block)
Where: Robinson Hall 253
Instructor:
Prof. Hugh Gallagher
107 Science and Technology Center, 4 Colby St.
Office Hours: Thursdays 9-11, usually immediately after class, or by appointment.
Phone: 617-627-5876
e-mail: hugh.gallagher@tufts.edu - the best way to contact me
Lab Co-ordinator:
Prof. William Oliver
e-mail: William.oliver@tufts.edu
Texts:
“Fundamentals of Physics (8th edition)”, Halliday, Resnick,
and Walker.
ISBN: 978-0-471-75801-3, J. Wiley & Sons (2007)
Also available in 2 volumes.
Physics 2/12 Laboratory Handbook (for those taking the lab). Available on Blackboard.
Other course materials such as homework and exam solutions will be available on
Blackboard. Blackboard will also be heavily used for announcements over the
semester. You are responsible for being aware of announcements posted to Blackboard.
You will also need to have an iClicker for this course. They can be purchased in the
bookstore. We will register them in class, do not do so on the i>Clicker web site.
Exams:
There will be two in-class midterm exams:
• Exam 1 is Feb. 17 during class and will cover material from Chapter 15-17
• Exam 2 is Mar 27 during class and will cover material from Chapters 21-27
The final is cumulative with more emphasis on material from Chapters 28-33.
The final exam is Thursday, May 7 from 8:30-10:30 am.
All exams will be a mix of conceptual (usually multiple choice) and quantitative
problems.
You will be allowed to bring a single 8.5” x 11” sheet of notes with you to each of the
first two exams. For the final you may bring three such sheets. A calculator is OK also.
There will not be makeup exams.
Grading:
The final grade is based on a weighted average of your work throughout the course:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Homework
Final
Lab
In-Class Quizzes
Physics 12 with lab
20%
20%
15%
27%+CAMEL
15%
3%
Physics 12 without lab
24%
24%
17%
32%+CAMEL
3%
Grade Thresholds:
A: 93% B: 83% C: 70% D: 55%
These thresholds may be lowered but not raised.
Homework:
There will be 13 homework assignments over the course of the semester. Each
assignment will have problems of varying difficulty. The homework grade for the course
will be based on the average of the highest 11 scores.
Homework assignments are due on Fridays and are to be handed in during lecture.
Please make sure your name and recitation section are clearly legible.
Challenge problems are more difficult, are worth more, and are part of the assignment
(i.e. they are not extra credit).
Solutions will be posted on Fridays.
Late homework will be accepted until 5:00 pm on the due date. Late HW should be
handed in to my mailbox in the Dept. office and will be penalized 20%.
Laboratory (Robinson 352/ Robinson 353):
• There are six labs, they all require written reports and count toward the lab grade.
Students in Physics 12 must complete at least four labs to pass the course!
• Analysis must be based on data taken by the student and lab partners.
• Lab manuals are available on Blackboard.
• Questions on registration, contact the Lab Co-ordinator.
Recitation:
All students must be enrolled in a recitation section. All homework and exams will be
returned to you in your recitation sections.
In-Class Quizzes:
There will be a short (2 problem) quiz roughly once per week. Your answers will be
indicated with your clicker. I will drop 4 problems before I compute your quiz score at
the end of the semester. If you forget your clicker I will allow you to hand in your
answers on a piece of paper, but you can do so a maximum of two times.
Other Items:
Please let me know as soon as possible if you require special accommodations for exams.
You are responsible for all material covered in the readings, lecture, and homework. Not
every topic will be covered in lecture!
If you are unable to complete work for this course due to illness or personal emergency I
will need documentation from a medical professional or Dean.