Syllabus

Personnel

Course Coordinator:	Tibor F Nagy
Teaching Assistant:	Joshua David Nicholson

Instructor Information

Instructor: Professor Tibor Nagy
Office: BPS 1253, Phone: (517) 884-5508
Email: nagytibo@msu.edu
Web: http://web.pa.msu.edu/~nagy_t/

Teaching Assistant: Joshua Nicholson (nicho732@msu.edu).

Course Description

Topics: special relativity, thermodynamics, phenomenological quantum physics, quantum mechanics, atomic and molecular physics, nuclear physics, particle physics.

Prerequisites

Physics II: (PHY 184 or PHY 184B or LBS 272 or PHY 294H or PHY 234B) and Differential Equations: (MTH 234 or MTH 254H or LBS 220).

Class Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 3:00-3:50 PM, McDonel Hall 2.

Helproom Hours

Physics help room: BPS 1248.
Teaching Assistant: Joshua Nicholson (nicho732@msu.edu).
Help room hours: Friday: 2:30-5:00 PM; Monday: 2:30-5:00 PM.

Exam Information

For the exams each student should bring several #2 pencils, an eraser and a calculator with fresh batteries. Graphing calculators are allowed, but not necessary. A two-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). On the final exam three, two-sided help sheets - two from the midterm exams plus a third sheet - are allowed.

Students with disabilities or other circumstances that require special arrangements should inform their instructors as soon as possible (ideally in the first two weeks) and well ahead of the exams so that proper arrangements can be made. Please present the instructor with your RCPD form.

Exam #1: February 6th, Tuesday, 3:00-3:50 PM.
Exam #2: March 12th, Tuesday, 3:00-3:50 PM.
Exam #3: Cancelled!
Final Exam: April 24th, Wednesday, 5:45-7:45 PM, BPS 1400.

Grading Information

Percent weights: Homework: 37%. Clicker Questions: 7%. Two midterm exams: 2x14% = 28%. Final Exam: 28%. Total: 100%. Homework questions: Every homework question is worth 1 point. Maximum score on a midterm exam: 50 points. Maximum score on the final exam: 100 points. Clicker questions: Correct answer: 3 points, Incorrect answer: 1 point, not present: zero point. Maximum score on the midterm exams: 50 points. 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. The eXam and the Correction scores are combined together to the Total test score as follows: If C>X, then T = X + 0.30*(C-X), otherwise T = X. For example, if you got 31 points on the midterm and got 46 points on the correction exam, you new total will be 31 + 0.30*(46-31) = 31 + 4.5 = 35.5. In this example, if you get less than 31 points on the correction exam, then your total exam score would still be 31. Maximum score on the final exam: 100 points. The final exam doesn't have correction.

Grading scale:
4.0 >= 92%,
3.5 >= 84%,
3.0 >= 76%,
2.5 >= 68%,
2.0 >= 60%,
1.5 >= 52%,
1.0 >= 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

Stephen T. Thornton, Andrew Rex: Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Saunders College Publishing. (4th, 3rd or 2nd editions are all fine. 4th edition: ISBN 10: 1-133-10372-3 ISBN 13: 978-1133103721, 3rd edition: ISBN 10: 0-534-41781-7 ISBN 13: 978-0534417819.)

We will use LON-CAPA, MSU's own 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.

Scientific calculator. Graphing calculators are allowed, but they are not required. The recommended calculator is the TI-30X IIS for $10-14.