Syllabus

Personnel

Course Coordinator:

Martin M Berz

Instructor Information

Martin Berz
Office: BPS 3253, Phone: (517)285-8562.
Email: berz@msu.edu.
Web: http://bt.pa.msu.edu/berz
Office hours: by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Barrett Ross (rossbarr@msu.edu).

Course Description

PHY 234B: on-line calculus-based physics course. (PHY 232(C) plus PHY 234B equals PHY 184(B).) Topics include: electricity and magnetism, electromagnetic waves and special relativity.

Prerequisites

(PHY 232 or PHY 232B) and MTH 133.

Helproom Hours

Physics help room: BPS 1248.
Teaching Assistant: Barrett Ross (rossbarr@msu.edu).
Help Room hours: Mon 10-12, Tue 17-19, Wed 10-12, Thu 10-12

Project Information

Honors option is not be available for PHY 234B.

Exam Information

Exam #1: February 12th, Tuesday, 5:20-6:20 PM, FAE 116.
Exam #2: March 19th, Tuesday, 5:20-6:20 PM, FAE 116.
Exam #3: April 16th, Tuesday, 5:20-6:20 PM, FAE 116.
Final Exam: This class does NOT have a final exam.

Maximum score on each midterm exam: 50 points. A one-sided, hand-written, 8.5 by 11 inch US letter sized help sheet is allowed on each midterm plus the help sheet(s) from the previous midterm(s). The midterm exams will have corrections as a homework: 30% of the positive difference between the correction and the exam will be added to your exam score as bonus. The corrections are optional. The corrections can only raise your scores, they CANNOT lower your score.

For the exams you will need a scientific calculator with fresh batteries, sharp pencils and an eraser. Graphing calculators are allowed, but not required.

Deadlines

Students with Disabilities: MSU is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a verified individual services accommodation (VISA) form. Please present this form to your instructor at the start of the term no later than the end of the first week of class. Requests received after this date may not be honored.

Grading Information

Percent weights: Homework: 28%, Midterm Exams: 3 x 24% = 72%. There is NO Final Exam.
Homework: Every homework question is worth 1 point. Midterm exams: Maximum score on each midterm: 50 points.

Grading scale:
4.0 >= 92%
3.5 >= 84%
3.0 >= 76%
2.5 >= 68%
2.0 >= 60%
1.5 >= 52%
1.0 >= 44%
0.0 < 44%.

This grading scale might be lowered, but it will not be raised.

The Spartan Code of Honor: As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do.

Textbook

Recommended text book: Wolfgang Bauer, Gary D. Westfall: University Physics with Modern Physics, Volume 2, McGraw-Hill. (Either the 2nd or the 1st edition will be fine. 2nd edition: ISBN 10: 0-0774-0960-4 ISBN 13: 978-0077409609, 1st edition: ISBN 10: 0-0773-5479-6 ISBN 13: 978-0077354794.)

Any other calculus based physics text book will work fine, for example Randall D. Knight, Halliday-Resnick-Walker, Giambattista-Richardson-Richardson.

We will use LON-CAPA, MSU's own free and flexible web-based course management system. If your book has a course management system bundled with, don't open it and don't try to access it, because we will not use it.