Time: | 12-1 pm Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday |
Location: | 268 Dennison |
Instructor: | Wolfgang Lorenzon |
Office: | 330 W Hall |
Telephone: | (64)7-6825 |
Office Hours: | Tuesday & Thursday, 1-2 pm or by appointment (330 W Hall) |
E-mail address: | lorenzon@umich.edu |
Required Text
University
Physics |
Course Prerequisites
Physics 140 or 160 (mechanics), Math 116 (basic differential and integral calculus) or equivalents. You are expected to take the lab, Physics 241, concurrently.Course Structure
GOALS:
This is the second of a two course
sequence (Physics 160 & 260) introducing fundamental physics
concepts. Physics 260 provides a rigorous
introduction to electricity and magnetism. It will prepare you to
go on to take other courses required for a concentration in
physics. The course covers the same material as Physics
240, but involves more student
participation and interaction.
HOMEWORK:
As in all physics courses,
homework is very important. There will be homework assignments
nearly every week, to be turned in normally at the beginning of
the hour on Mondays. A random subset of assigned problems will
be graded.
In addition, you are responsible for completing the same computer-based homework assignments (usually two per week) as Physics
240 which will also be
graded. Questions about the homework are welcome at any time, but
time will be reserved on Tuesdays to go over concepts helpful
for solving it.
MATHEMATICS BACKGROUND:
Calculus is required for this course, and
experience with differential equations and linear algebra is
useful, although it is not required. The official prerequisite is Math
116. This
requirement can be waived by the permission of the instructor if you can demonstrate that
you have the necessary background. The best way to know if you do is to see if
you can do the Math Review for Physics
260. We
will usually devote some time every week to talk
about a mathematical topic which is important to physics. Much of
this material is not in our textbook, but can be found in books
such as Mathematical Methods for Physicists, by G. Arfken
(Academic Press, NY, 1966-95). Copies of this and other books
will be on reserve in the Undergraduate Library.
LAB:
Those planning a physics major should also be enrolled in the lab course, Physics
241. The
lab is also highly recommended for anyone who would like a ``hands-on'' understanding of
the major topics covered in Physics 260.
Exams
Because the material covered in this course matches that covered in Physics 240, you will take the same exams as the Physics 240 course, at the same times, with the same restrictions on note cards, etc. There will be three, 75 minute mid-term examinations, given on Thursday evenings, and a two hour comprehensive final exam at the end of the course. The dates, times and rooms of the exams are:
Exam 1 | Chap. 22-24 | Thursday, January 31 | 8:00-9:30 pm | Chem 1800 | ||||||
Exam 2 | Chap. 25-28 | Thursday, March 7 | 8:00-9:30 pm | Chem 1800 | ||||||
Exam 3 | Chap. 29-32(1,2,7) | Thursday, April 4 | 8:00-9:30 pm | Chem 1800 | ||||||
Final | Chap. 22-33 | Friday, April 19 | 7:30-9:30 pm | MLB Aud 3 | ||||||
Alternate Final | Friday, April 19 | 4:00-8:00 pm | Prof. Kurdac's office |
Please note these dates now. There
will be no makeup or alternate midterms.
Grading
Your course grade will be based on your performance on weekly homework problems, three ``mid-term'' examinations, and a final examination. The relative weighting of each is:
Written Homework Assignments | 15% | ||
Computer Based Homework | 15% | ||
Exam 1 | 15% | ||
Exam 2 | 15% | ||
Exam 3 | 15% | ||
Final | 25% |
General Remarks
Lectures: