PHYSICS 11C SYLLABUS  Spring 2009 Prerequisites: Phys 11A and Math 31

Hossein Partovi Office: SEQ-430 Tel: 278-6501/6518  e-mail: hpartovi@csus.edu web page:  www.csus.edu/indiv/p/partovimh/

Office: SEQ-430 Tel: 278-6501/6518 Office Hours:  M,W: 11-12 AM, in SQU 430, R: 12-1 PM, in SQU 124

· Classroom and laboratory attendance are required. Students are advised to drop this course if they cannot attend all sessions, the hour exams or the final, or do not satisfy the prerequisites.

·  The principal objective of the 11ABC series is to enable the students to learn concepts and methods of physics deemed necessary and appropriate for students of science and engineering. Generally, these are basic concepts and methods that students must learn in order to understand further subjects that are applications of these concepts and methods in various areas of science and engineering.  Physics is a highly quantitative science where conceptual understanding, analytical reasoning, laboratory methods, and mathematical analysis are all necessary skills that students must develop simultaneously in an integrated manner. This learning is accomplished through a combination of lectures, demonstrations/simulations, problem solving, discussion, and laboratory experience. The subject of 11C is electricity and magnetism, which includes electrostatics and magnetostatics, electric and magnetic properties of matter, DC and AC circuits, and electromagnetic oscillations and waves; see the “semester schedule” for details.

·  The textbook for the course is Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick, and Walker, 8^th Edition, Part 3. The laboratory manual is "Experiments in Physics 11C: Electricity & Magnetism," sold in lab during the first two sessions. References to Chapter and Problem numbers in the semester schedule correspond to the textbook. Use the textbook actively, working through the examples, answering questions, and testing your understanding as you proceed; a passive reading of the textbook will not do. Read ahead so that you come to class "primed," with concepts and questions already formed in your mind. This will significantly enhance the efficiency of the learning process and render the lecture sessions much more rewarding.

· Additional course material, including lecture notes and study questions for exams can be found on www.csus.edu/indiv/p/partovimh/. Other supplementary print and software material for use by students are listed on p. xiv of the textbook; here's the URL to student resources:http://bcs.wiley.com/he-bcs/Books?action=index&itemId=0471758019&bcsId=3673. Here are other useful sites: http://physics.bu.edu/~duffy/classroom.html (click on "physics in the 2nd semester"), http://www.colorado.edu/physics/phet/web-pages/index.html (click on "go to simulations").   Links to useful physics related sites on the web are given on HP’s web page.

· Each Problem set is to be submitted in person, at the start of the hour on the due date given on the schedule, in the classroom.   Late homework will not be accepted. A fraction of each problem set will be selected and graded. Solutions to homework problems will be posted at a display window near Room 238 on the second floor of the Sequoia Building for a limited period of time. Working through the examples in the textbook and then the homework problems and thoroughly understanding them are an essential component of the learning process in this course. Working with others, study guides, interactive software, and problem workbooks can serve a useful purpose here.  However, these resources should only serve as learning aids and for the purpose of gaining a full understanding of the matter at hand: the work you submit must be your own.  Use our tutoring center, SQU 124, where a designated 11C tutor, Ms. Lisa Heldreth, will be available to help (cf. posted schedule).

·  There will be 3 one-hour exams each worth 17 points, a two-hour final worth 24 points, and a number of announced and unannounced quizzes during discussion or lecture hours. Graded problems & quizzes count for 10 points, and laboratory scores for 15 points. Laboratory scores issued by lab instructors will be normalized for uniformity. Satisfactory completion of all laboratory work including the practical and attendance in all discussion, lab, and lecture sessions are required for passing the course. Your lab instructor will determine the policies and procedures for the laboratory part of the course. Letter grades will be assigned on the basis of total scores. Normally, although not always, an average total score will be assigned a grade in the "C" range.

·  The Physics & Astronomy Department's statement on academic dishonesty: “The faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy will not tolerate academic dishonesty. Falsification of data, copying, unauthorized collaboration, plagiarism, alteration of graded materials, or other actions (as described in, but not necessarily limited to the CSUS Policy Manual) will be promptly reported to the Office of Student Affairs. The offending student will be penalized on the assignment in question. Serious infractions will result in course failure and a recommendation for administrative sanctions.”

·  Make-ups for missed exams will be given rarely and only if there is serious and compelling evidence showing that the student was unable to take the test. Students should make every effort not to miss the exams.

· Unforeseen circumstances may necessitate changes in the information given herein. Such changes, as well additional assignments or other information, will be announced at discussion or lecture hours, or communicated by University email services.