Physics 1A – Mechanics – Fall 2009 – Prof. Doug Smith

http://physics.ucsd.edu/~phy1a

 

Note:  This page will be updated as the quarter progresses.  Please check for updates.

You may have to reload the page/refresh your browser to see added information.

 

Announcements:

- Note: due date for special HW#1 changed to Midnight Friday, Dec. 4  (WebCT submission instructions to be announced).

- Scores and your answers are posted for Quizzes #1-3 on WebCT

- Note: you may not be able to immediately see your scores when first posted due to WebCT updating,

  Please recheck on WebCT the next day to see if the scores appear before contacting us.

- If you do not see your score please contact your section TA, they have the datafiles and scantrons

- Your one lowest quiz score (relative to the mean) is automatically dropped

- You can make up for a second missed quiz or low quiz score by doing optional HW#1

- A second optional HW#2 will be announced soon, it will substitute for 10% of your grade if you do better on it than the rest of your grade.

- For the final exam, one page of notes (8 x 11, back + front, written or printed) will be allowed (and the process of making the notes should help you study). 

 

Special Homework Assignment:  Phy1aSpecialHW1.pdf 

   ** TA (Mohamud Qadi, mohamudqadi@gmail.com) will be available to answer questions on this HW

     by email (time permitting) and also Fri. 11/20 from 5-7 pm in Cognitive Sci. Bldg Rm. 115 (map).

     File useful for problem #5&6:  NonlinearSpring.m

    Note about the exponential function: Ae-BC/D is written as A*exp(-B*C/D) in Matlab.

    Locations of Campus ACS computer labs: http://acms.ucsd.edu/students/labs.shtml  (click: general use labs)

 

Links:   Lecture Slides   Grades and Quiz Solutions   Additional Example Problems

                                      

- THE COURSE READER IS AVAILABLE AT THE UCSD BOOKSTORE (Physics textbooks section)

- For QUIZ: Bring Student ID card, two #2 pencils, and simple Scientific Calculator (not one that permits storage of formulas/text)

- Special scantron form will be provided: see Oct. 7 lecture slides (link above) for instructions on filling out scantron

- REGISTRATION QUESTIONS: You have to call the Physics Student Affairs Office 534-3290, or go to Mayer Hall Addition 2nd Floor Room 2521. The instructor has no knowledge of or control over registration and can't sign any forms.

- Note: the Physics 1A lab is a separate course with separate instructor and Prof. Smith can’t answer questions about it.

Prerequisites:  Previous MATH 10A or 20A and Previous (or concurrent enrollment in) MATH 10B or 20B.

 

There are three different sections of Physics 1A:

Note: you must attend quizzes and the final exam in the section you are registered.  No exceptions. (because grades will be curved for each section and have to be submitted separately)

Note: if you have an unavoidable conflict with TA office hours or scheduled Review/problem session for your section, you can go to another section if there is space available

Lecture     MWF     10:00a - 10:50a         YORK    2722   

Review/Problem Session: Tue, 5:00 PM CENTER Hall 115 (optional, there are no quizzes given)

Final      12/11/2009      F       08:00a - 10:59a         TBA     TBA

Section TA: Liliana Lopez, lil005@physics.ucsd.edu (she prefers that you ask questions in person during office hours rather than sending email)

Office hours: Wed, 5-7 pm (group or indiv), Thu. 2-3 pm & 5:30-6:30 pm, in Mayer Hall Addition 2702 (Phys. Tutorial Center)

Lecture     MWF     11:00a - 11:50a         YORK    2722

Review/Problem Session: Wed, 5:00 PM CENTER Hall 115 (optional, there are no quizzes given)

Final      12/08/2009      Tu      11:30a - 2:29p          TBA     TBA

Section TA: Christian Wolowiec, cwolowiec@physics.ucsd.edu (he prefers that you ask questions in person during office hours rather than sending email)

Office hours: Monday from 12:00 to 2:00pm and Thursday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm., in Mayer Hall Addition 2702 (Phys. Tutorial Center)

 

Lecture     MWF     4:00p - 4:50p   YORK    2722     

Final     12/08/2009      Tu      3:00p - 5:59p   TBA     TBA

Review/Problem Session: Th, 5:00 PM YORK 2622 (optional, there are no quizzes given)

Section TA:  Daniel Imbach, dimbach@ucsd.edu (he has fewer office hours, as listed below, but will also try to respond to questions from students in his section by email).

Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-10:30 AM in Mayer Hall Addition 2702 (Phys. Tutorial Center)

Instructor Email: phy1aucsd@gmail.com (please do not send email to Prof. Smith’s UCSD email address listed in the UCSD directory)

Prof Smith's office hours: W 2:30-3:50 pm in NSB 2115 or by appointment

Note: due to the large number of students (320 per section, 3 sections) Prof. Smith will most likely not be able to answer most student emails. If you have questions please contact him or the TAs during office hours (days/times listed above), in problem/discussion section (listed above), or after class. Please contact the TAs regarding questions about grading.

 

Physics tutorial center: In addition to TA office hours, there is a physics tutorial center open a wide number of days/times.  Click here for info: http://tutorialcenter.ucsd.edu/

 

Quiz, Exam, and Grading policies

- You must attend quizzes and the final exam in the section you are registered.  No exceptions.

- The TAs will make final decisions regarding any questions about grading quiz problems.

- Tentatively, 50% of your grade will be based on Quizzes and 50% on the Final Exam

- If you miss a quiz for any reason there will be no make-ups, BUT:

- Your one lowest quiz score (relative to the mean) is automatically dropped

- You can make up for a second missed quiz or low quiz score by doing optional HW#1

- Doing optional HW#2, will substitute for 10% of your grade if you do better on it than the rest of your grade.

 

 

Fall 2009

Fall Quarter Begins

Monday, September 21

Instruction Begins

Thursday, September 24

Veterans Day Holiday

Wednesday, November 11

Thanksgiving Holiday

Thursday – Friday, November 26–27

Instruction Ends

Friday, December 4

Final Exams

Monday – Saturday, December 7–12

Last day to add a class:  Friday, October 9

Last day to drop a class w/o a W and change grade option:  Friday, October 23

Last day to drop a class w/o an F:  Friday, November 30

 

 

~ September 2009 ~

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

20

 

21

 

22

 

23

 

24

 

 

25

FIRST LECTURE

26

 

27

 

28

LECTURE

29

 

30

LECTURE

 

 

 

 

 

~ October 2009 ~

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

 

 

 

 

1

 

2

LECTURE

3

 

4

 

5

LECTURE

6

 

7

LECTURE

8

 

9

QUIZ #1

10

 

11

 

12

LECTURE

13

 

14

LECTURE

15

 

16

LECTURE

17

 

18

 

19

LECTURE

20

 

21

LECTURE

22

 

23

QUIZ #2

24

 

25

 

26

LECTURE

27

 

28

LECTURE

29

 

30

LECTURE

 

31

 

 

 

~ November 2009 ~

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1

 

2

LECTURE

3

 

4

LECTURE

5

 

6

QUIZ #3

7

 

8

 

9

LECTURE

10

 

11

Veterans Day Holiday

12

 

13

LECTURE

14

 

15

 

16

LECTURE

17

 

18

LECTURE

19

 

20

QUIZ #4

21

 

22

 

23

LECTURE

24

 

25

LECTURE

26

Thanksgiving Holiday

27

Thanksgiving Holiday

28

 

29

 

30

LECTURE

 

 

 

~ December 2009 ~

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

 

 

1

 

2

LECTURE

3

 

4

QUIZ #5

 

Last regular day of class.

5

 

6

 

7

START OF

FINALS WEEK

8

 

9

 

10

 

11

 

12