FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Department of Physics

Schedule for Modern Physics 2 – Spring, 2009

Instructor: Dr. Richard A. Bone

Below are the chapter-sections from "Modern Physics", 3rd edition by Serway, Moses & Moyer to be covered in each class period. In order to get the most out of this course, read the relevant sections after class and upgrade your lecture notes accordingly.

The essential key to doing well in physics is to gain understanding through problem solving. Problems will be assigned in class. Individual assistance will be available during office hours which, generally, will be Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. I will be in my office (CP 213) or my lab (CP 276). Solutions to problems will be posted on my Website – www.fiu.edu/~bone/

This is a 3 credit course. You should therefore schedule at least 6 hours per week for homework and self-study outside the classroom.

The final exam will contain 2 sections, one covering coursework since EXAM 2, the other on earlier material. The relative weighting of the 3 exams and homework will be as follows:

HOMEWORK - 14%, EXAMS 1 and 2 - 25% each, FINAL EXAM - 36%

Your overall score will be converted to a letter grade according to the following approximate scheme: >85% = A, A-; 75-84% = B+, B, B-; 58-74% = C+, C

Make-up exams and/or incompletes will only be given in extreme cases involving serious medical problems, death in family, etc, not because your car breaks down, or you are not prepared for the exam, or you have a work/vacation conflict. Written verification will be required. Any make-up exams will be scheduled for after the final, assuming you get passing grades on the other exams.

Student Learning Outcome The successful student will be one who has developed a strong, conceptual understanding of the modern physics described in the reading assignments below. A strong conceptual understanding is gained through regular class attendance, questioning your instructor in class and during office hours, and paying particular attention to homework. Confidence that you have a deep understanding of physics is achieved through homework problem-solving. Always work from first principles. There are so few of these principles that there's not much to memorize. If you find yourself simply hunting for an equation that contains the variables in the problem, you will likely fail the exams. The successful student will be one who, confronted with an original problem, is able to apply the basic laws of physics in order to find a solution.  

Date

 

Week

Chapter-section

Jan

6

1

9-2,3

 

8

 

9-4

 

13

2

9-6,7

 

15

 

10-1,2

 

20

3

10-3

 

22

 

10-4

 

27

4

10-5

 

29

 

11-1

Feb

3

5

11-2,3,4

 

5

 

EXAM 1

 

10

6

12-1

 

12

 

12-2

 

17

7

12-3

 

19

 

12-4

 

24

8

12-4             

 

26

 

12-5              (Feb 27 is DR/WI deadline)

  Mar

3

9

12-7

 

5

 

13-1

 

10

10

13-2,3

 

12

 

EXAM 2

 

24

11

13-4,5

 

26

 

13-5,6

 

31

12

14-1,2

 Apr

2

 

14-3,4,6       

 

7

13

14-9         

 

9

 

15-1

 

14

14

15-2,3,4

 

16

 

15-5,6,9,10

 

23

 

FINAL EXAM (12:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)