P S 304

P S 304 - Electricity, Light and Optics

Time: MTWThF 8 - 10 AM (Unique# 94050)
Place: RLM 8.314
Instructor: Paul Walter
Office: RLM 9.214
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11 AM - Noon. If I am not in my office, check RLM 9.222.
Email: pwalter@physics.utexas.edu
website: http://wwwrel.ph.utexas.edu/Members/paul/ps304/calendar.php
Supervisor: Dr. Antoniewicz, RLM 13.206, 471-3766
 Materials needed for class
  • the PS304 lab manual Motion & Matter
  • an inexpensive scientific calculator (will need to be able to take the inverse of the sin() function [arcsin()])
Optional materials
  • the textbook Conceptual Physics by P. Hewitt (any edition will do; hopefully older editions are cheaper)
Class Overview: This class is a mix of lab, lecture, and working problems. We spend at least half the class working on labs, and they are not always conducive to actually working the types of problems that you will face on the quizzes and exams. The first half of the class will consist of learning the basics about circuits. The second half will cover magnetism and its applications towards circuits, and finally properties of light.

Homework: The Homework Service will be used for homework. It is for your own benefit and will not count towards your grade. Homework will be due most Wednesdays at 11 PM, at which time the solutions are posted.

Quizzes: Quizzes will be on Thursdays at the beginning of class (no credit if you are late). You will not be allowed to share calculators with anyone else during a quiz or exam, so make sure you have your own.

Exams: There will be a midterm and a final. The final will be comprehensive. The main way to prepare for the exams is to do the homework. The exams will be multiple choice (though often with 10 choices) and will have the same format as the homework.

Lab and in-class work: Labwork will be presented and graded before leaving class each day. If you want to have any hope of making up a missed lab day, I need notice ahead of time.

Daily Schedule - Links: The webpage for the course (http://wwwrel.ph.utexas.edu/Members/paul/ps304/calendar.php) provides a daily schedule for each class during the semester. Also, it provides links to topics covered that is often more in depth than will be covered in class. I will not use blackboard.

Grading Policy

  • Lab and in-class work (35%)
  • Quizzes (15%)
  • Midterm (20%)
  • Final (30%)

Reading (optional)

From Hewitt, Conceptual Physics
  • Chapter 22 (Electrostatics)
  • Chapter 23 (Electric Current)
  • Chapter 24 (Magnetism)
  • Chapter 25 (Electromagnetic Induction)
  • Chapter 19 (Vibrations and Waves)
  • Chapter 26 (Properties of Light)
  • Chapter 27 (Color)
  • Chapter 28 (Reflection and Refraction)
  • Chapter 29 (Light Waves)
"The University of Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471- 6259, 471-6441 TTY."