PHYS 1410

Happy New Year! Prof. Bergevin has taken over now. Please go to this website for updates on PHYS 1410 during the Winter term.

Results of Test #2 (the first column shows the last few digits of your student #, the second column shows your score. Note that 16 points = 100 %. You can pick up your marked tests from my office (PSE 228).

The End-of-Term Exam will be written on Dec 11 (7-10 pm in the Rexall Centre). It will cover all the material discussed in the term. Emphasis will be placed on energy (Chap. 6), momentum (Chap. 7), and rotational motion (Chaps. 8 and 9). Here is what you can do to prepare for it:

1. Review the assigned book chapters and my lecture notes.
2. Review the concept checks (particularly those of Chaps. 6 to 9).
3. Review the tutorial problems (the challenge problems in particular), i.e., make sure that you are able to redo them step by step without aids.
4. Review the EWA homework problems, i.e., make sure that you are able to redo them step by step without aids.
5. Do the bonus EWA assigment.
6. To get more practice do some of the additional problems of Chap. 4 (4.64 – 4.92), as well as the (remaining) book problems from Chaps. 7.5 (7.32 – 7.40) and 8.5 (8.51 – 8.64).

Formula sheet for the exam (you don’t have to bring it to the exam).

Test #2 was written on Nov. 28. Here is how to prepare for it:

1. Review chapters 5 and 6 and the corresponding lecture notes on circular motion, gravity, work and energy.
2. Do the concept checks in Chaps. 5 and 6.
3. Review the tutorial problems taken from Chaps. 5 and 6 and the challenge problems #3 and #4, i.e., make sure that you are able to redo them step by step without aids.
4. Review EWA homework problems on circular motion, gravity, work and energy (from the last three assignments), i.e., make sure that you are able to redo them step by step without aids.
5. Do the remaining book problems from Chap. 6.3 (6.31 – 6.51) to get more practice.

Solutions of test #2

Test #1 was returned on Nov 7. Your score is out of 16 points, i.e., if you have 8 points, you scored 50%. If you do better on the December exam, the test mark will be discarded and your exam will count 25% (instead of 20%). The same policy will be applied to the second test, i.e., your December exam might count 30% toward your final grade.
Solutions and marking scheme

Study groups (see the online poll on Doodle): talk to your class reps (email addresses are given below) to find out more!

Clickers (Oct 11): Due to this mess with clickers who first didn’t work, but now do, we started over on Oct 10, i.e., all previous clicker quizzes will be discarded. To make up for them, we will repeat a few old questions in the next couple of classes (also to recap and prepare for the upcoming test). In contrast to what I said in class on Oct 10 these make-up quizzes start on Monday, Oct 15.

Note that we are using channel 41. You can miss two clicker quizzes in the Fall term (i.e. four questions) without being penalized. Also note that there won’t be any other quizzes in the Fall (but two tests as stated below).

Class Time
Lectures: MWF 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm in LAS (formerly CSE) B
Tutorials: T 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm in VH B

The tutorials will start in the second week, i.e., on September 11. Problems done in the tutorials will not be discussed during office hours, i.e., attendance in the tutorials is highly recommended. The logic is that classes focus on concepts, whereas problem solving is learned in tutorials and while working on your own or in groups. Note that tests/exams evaluate you mostly on problem-solving skills. Pre-reading and class attendance are pre-requisites for understanding the concepts, and understanding the concepts is a pre-requisite for solving the problems, i.e., everything plays together and you should not think that you can do without one or the other and still be successful.

Laboratories
Labs will start in the week of Sept. 17. They are coordinated by Prof. Stan Jerzak (233 PSE, jerzak [at] yorku.ca). Visit the lab website and take a look at the handout.Text
College Physics (2nd edition), Nicholas J. Giordano, with EnhancedWebAssign, two volumes, with clickers included.

ISBN 017-655-1832The bundle (including a clicker) is available in the bookstore for $199.95.

Additionally, copies of the Student Companion and Problem-Solving Guide are available in the bookstore and the library.

Addendum
Mathematics chapters to upgrade from algebra-based to calculus-based physics: math

Clickers
These are officially called Personal Response System (PRS), info about how to register them: Clicker Webpage. You must register the clicker code under your name, otherwise you won’t get credit. If you have a registered clicker from another course, you can use it without registering again.Cost: included in the textbook package. Alternatively, you can buy a clicker for $42 here.

More info on how to get started (especially on how to self-enroll into WebAssign) from our book publisher. Note that the EWA grace period will end Saturday, Sept 15 at 12:00 am.

Marking Scheme (different from 2011/12)

On-line homework (Enhanced WebAssign): 10%

Laboratories: 20%

Clickers and quizzes: 10%

Class Tests (no make-ups, but value transfer if warranted: 2 tests per term): 20%

End-of-Fall (Mid-term) Exam: 20%

End-of-Winter (Final) Exam: 20%
Test Dates (Fall)
Oct 24, Nov 28

Exam Date (Fall)
Dec 11, 7-10 pm (Rexall Centre)

Too sick to write the test? Two things are required: (i) notify the instructor by email or by phone BEFORE the start of the test; (ii) get us a doctor’s note within a week.

Special dates (Fall)
No classes on Oct 8 (Thanksgiving) and on co-curricular days (Oct 31 and Nov 2)

Class Representatives
Chantelle Abdulla (chanabd [at] yorku.ca)
Amin Adam (hydramin [at] yorku.ca)
Laiba Khan (laiba4 [at] yorku.ca)
Mara Oprea (marao [at] yorku.ca)