This syllabus is subject to update; any changes made will be announced to the class. Students are responsible for knowing the contents of the latest version of this syllabus! (The most common changes are adjustments of office hours or due dates.)
Come to collaborate on homework or ask questions about the class, with our two great learning assistants Anthony and Nick!
You can also contact the LAs by e-mail with any questions, nicholas.r.vaughan and anthony.carroll at CU. To make sure they see your question, please put “PHYS 3210” in the subject line of your e-mail.
Optional supplementary textbook: Mathematical Methods by Mary Boas.
A small number of copies of both Taylor and Boas are on reserve in the engineering library.
Questions during lecture are strongly encouraged! It’s easy for me to go over material quickly, and it’s your responsibility to control the pace of the class by asking questions if you don’t understand something. You’re also welcome to ask questions at my office hours or by e-mail, of course.
Lecture notes will be posted to the class website, after every lecture. This is intentionally done to encourage you to take your own notes; often the best way to reinforce a concept that you’ve just learned is to try to rephrase it in your own words! It’s recommended that you focus on important concepts in your notes, rather than trying to get all of the formulas or every line of a derivation down; those will be available in the posted notes.
We will be using clickers in this class; they are a very useful tool for encouraging discussion and controlling the pace of the lecture. Make sure you bring your clicker to every lecture, you’ll find it very helpful! (They’ll also give you an opportunity for some extra credit, as detailed below.)
All homework assignments will be posted on the Canvas page, located at http://canvas.colorado.edu.
Homework will be due on Fridays at midnight, and must be submitted electronically as a PDF file using Canvas. It is your responsibility to make sure it is turned in on-time, complete, and that the graders can read it!
Some tips on scanning: you must submit a single PDF file containing your work. The contents must be legible - try to make sure the scan is easily readable, which usually means high contrast. Some useful apps include Scannable for iOS, GeniusScan for iOS/Android, or CamScanner for iOS/Android. You can also use the Physics Department scanner on the 5th floor of the Gamow tower; directions are in a file on Canvas.
No late homework will be accepted. However, your lowest homework grade will automatically be dropped, and your second lowest can also be dropped based on clicker participation - see “Grading” below. This rule may be waived at Prof. Neil’s discretion in extraordinary circumstances (a documented extended absence, for example.)
You are encouraged to collaborate on the homework assignments - collaboration and communication are both important parts of modern science. However, if you work with other students on an assignment, please make sure that all collaborators’ names are clearly printed on your submission at the top. You must turn in your own personal write-up for each assignment! The only exception is for problems which require Mathematica, in which case you may submit a copy of a jointly written Mathematica notebook.
Make sure to explain your solutions in detail and step-by-step. Partial credit will be given for incorrect answers, but the graders can only give you credit for what you write down!
Official CU final exam policy is here: http://www.colorado.edu/policies/final-examination-policy
Exams will be closed-book, but you may bring two handwritten 8 1⁄2” x 11” pieces of paper with you to each exam, containing whatever formulas and other information you think might be helpful. (Typed notes are also okay, as long as the writing is large enough that it could have reasonably been handwritten.) Calculators and other electronic devices will not be permitted (you won’t need them.)
Clicker responses can help to indirectly improve your grade! The lowest homework grade will automatically be dropped from your overall score. For participating in at least 75% of the in-class clicker questions, your second lowest homework grade can be dropped as well. Three days of clicker participation will be dropped automatically, to allow for absence due to minor illness, etc.
Finally, the percentage of correct clicker answers you submit will count as extra credit! For every 5% your clicker score rises above 50%, you will gain 1% of extra credit on both midterm exams, up to a maximum of 10%, and not increasing your midterm score above 100%. (Note that this bonus is for your overall clicker score, and will be applied at the very end of the semester.)
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit your accommodation letter from Disability Services to your faculty member in a timely manner so that your needs can be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities in the academic environment. Information on requesting accommodations is located on the Disability Services website. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or dsinfo@colorado.edu for further assistance. If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Medical Conditions under the Students tab on the Disability Services website.
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy. For more information, see the policies on classroom behavior and the Student Code of Conduct.
CU Boulder recognizes that students’ legal information doesn’t always align with how they identify. Students may update their preferred names and pronouns via the student portal; those preferred names and pronouns are listed on instructors’ class rosters. In the absence of such updates, the name that appears on the class roster is the student’s legal name.
All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Honor Code. Violations of the policy may include: plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, lying, bribery, threat, unauthorized access to academic materials, clicker fraud, submitting the same or similar work in more than one course without permission from all course instructors involved, and aiding academic dishonesty. All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Honor Code (honor@colorado.edu); 303-492-5550). Students found responsible for violating the academic integrity policy will be subject to nonacademic sanctions from the Honor Code as well as academic sanctions from the faculty member. Additional information regarding the Honor Code academic integrity policy can be found at the Honor Code Office website.
The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is committed to fostering a positive and welcoming learning, working, and living environment. CU Boulder will not tolerate acts of sexual misconduct, intimate partner abuse (including dating or domestic violence), stalking, or protected-class discrimination or harassment by members of our community. Individuals who believe they have been subject to misconduct or retaliatory actions for reporting a concern should contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at 303-492-2127 or cureport@colorado.edu. Information about the OIEC, university policies, anonymous reporting, and the campus resources can be found on the OIEC website.
Please know that faculty and instructors have a responsibility to inform OIEC when made aware of incidents of sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment and/or related retaliation, to ensure that individuals impacted receive information about options for reporting and support resources.
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. Please contact Professor Neil if you find yourself in such a conflict. See full details at this page.