I sent one of you an email a little bit ago with exam suggestions. Here's what I said.
Showing posts with label info. Show all posts
Showing posts with label info. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2011
Important announcement, re: textbooks
If you are not continuing on with PH102 this summer, I will need to get your textbooks back from you, as part of the agreement I had with the publisher.
It doesn't have to be this week - you can bring them to the exam tomorrow, give them to me later in the week, or leave them in the physics office for me (Gallalee 206).
It doesn't have to be this week - you can bring them to the exam tomorrow, give them to me later in the week, or leave them in the physics office for me (Gallalee 206).
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Course Evaluations
It is nearly that time again. A message from SOI:
I guess more to the point: my department chair and dean look at these things very carefully. I can't see them until well after final grades are submitted, and the evaluations are completely anonymous. So, whether you think good or ill of the course, you should do the evaluation and not hold back. The evaluations are one particular bit of student feedback that receives very close attention. These days, you can actually add comments on top of the numerical rankings, all the better for you to voice your opinions.
No need to do it right now - study for your exam, you have about a week, maybe this weekend you could spend 5 min on it ... but you're not wasting your time in filling out the form.
SOI course evaluations will be conducted for eligible Summer I session courses from June 22 - 28, 2011. Please ask your students to watch their student email account for an invitation message with complete instructions on Wednesday. Please encourage them to complete the surveys during the data collection period.I do take evaluations seriously and try to use the feedback you provide to make things better the next time around. Completing the evaluation shouldn't take much time. Particularly since this is my first time teaching PH101, I'd appreciate the feedback - good or bad, both are useful.
I guess more to the point: my department chair and dean look at these things very carefully. I can't see them until well after final grades are submitted, and the evaluations are completely anonymous. So, whether you think good or ill of the course, you should do the evaluation and not hold back. The evaluations are one particular bit of student feedback that receives very close attention. These days, you can actually add comments on top of the numerical rankings, all the better for you to voice your opinions.
No need to do it right now - study for your exam, you have about a week, maybe this weekend you could spend 5 min on it ... but you're not wasting your time in filling out the form.
Slides for Tuesday's lecture
Here are the slides I used during Tuesday's lecture on waves, which we'll finish up on Wednesday.
I will spell out what material related to waves will be on the last exam, but much of what we're covering is just for 'fun' because it is neat, very much a part of everyday life, and a lot of stuff you may not have noticed before. (Wait until we talk about whispering galleries.)
There is a huge tie-in with music/acoustics which we'll just touch on, and if you take PH102 later this summer we'll learn how audio electronics work. Turns out things like speakers, equalizers, and effects pedals are really not all that complicated in principle ... they are expensive for other reasons.
(Shameless plug: I had a few students construct their own amp + distortion pedal in my lab a while back. It was great fun, and they even learned something. Pictured with the guitar is Hunter Adams, who now does something completely different. You may have noticed.)
I will spell out what material related to waves will be on the last exam, but much of what we're covering is just for 'fun' because it is neat, very much a part of everyday life, and a lot of stuff you may not have noticed before. (Wait until we talk about whispering galleries.)
There is a huge tie-in with music/acoustics which we'll just touch on, and if you take PH102 later this summer we'll learn how audio electronics work. Turns out things like speakers, equalizers, and effects pedals are really not all that complicated in principle ... they are expensive for other reasons.
(Shameless plug: I had a few students construct their own amp + distortion pedal in my lab a while back. It was great fun, and they even learned something. Pictured with the guitar is Hunter Adams, who now does something completely different. You may have noticed.)
Monday, June 20, 2011
Exam 2 formula sheet
Find a draft here. Same rules as list time - I'll provide something like this formula sheet, you can bring in one of your own with whatever you like on it.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Another tutoring possibility
This is from another undergrad physics major, Joe Murray, who is willing to do some tutoring.
FYI I'll be back in one week so any of your students who need me will be able to find me in the SPS room [next to my office] every day from probably around 10:00 onward...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Exam 1 details
Exam 1 will take place this Thursday during your normally-scheduled lab period. You will have approximately 90 minutes for the exam, but we will not be really strict on the time. (more details after the fold)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Circular motion
Among other things, we'll be covering circular motion tomorrow. Here's a nice applet demonstrating the relationship between velocity and acceleration in circular motion.
In fact, there are many nice simulations on PhET site, for instance, this one on circular motion. If you're having trouble with concepts, playing with some of these applets might be a good thing to try.
In fact, there are many nice simulations on PhET site, for instance, this one on circular motion. If you're having trouble with concepts, playing with some of these applets might be a good thing to try.
Exam 1 practice problem
A few practice problems. Short solutions are included at the end. A couple of them are much harder than anything I'd ask on the actual exam, but still very useful for studying ...
Draft of the exam 1 formula sheet
Here is a draft of the exam 1 formula sheet. I haven't proofread it yet, so if you find any mistakes please let me know (I will look it over tomorrow more carefully).
This sheet will be given with your exam; you are still allowed to bring in one sheet of 8.5x11in paper with your own markings of whatever sort you find useful.
UPDATE: I did not put any trig identities on the formula sheet, could be useful. I also tend to use subscript "i" and "o" interchangeably for initial quantities, but you've probably noticed that already.
This sheet will be given with your exam; you are still allowed to bring in one sheet of 8.5x11in paper with your own markings of whatever sort you find useful.
UPDATE: I did not put any trig identities on the formula sheet, could be useful. I also tend to use subscript "i" and "o" interchangeably for initial quantities, but you've probably noticed that already.
Tutoring
I've identified an undergrad physics major who is game for doing some tutoring over the summer if anyone is interested. Send me an email, and I'll forward his contact information. Don't want to put his email & phone numbers online for obvious reasons ...
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Lab procedures
FYI: there is no lab manual that you need to buy, I'll just post the lab procedures here for you to read through a few days before each lab.
You don't need to print the procedures ahead of time either, unless you prefer reading them that way. You can print the procedures when you arrive at the lab, and just read them on screen before that.
You don't need to print the procedures ahead of time either, unless you prefer reading them that way. You can print the procedures when you arrive at the lab, and just read them on screen before that.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Welcome to PH101!
At the bottom of this page, or here, you will find our course calendar, which you should review carefully. If you click on a lecture and show 'more details' you should see the reading for that lecture. We will stick to our schedule rigidly, as our time is quite short over the summer term.
You may also want to look over the course syllabus and other information, which you find in myBama. Some course introduction slides can be found here, which I'll use on the first day of class.
You may also want to look over the course syllabus and other information, which you find in myBama. Some course introduction slides can be found here, which I'll use on the first day of class.
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