TBA means "to be announced"; stay posted...
Rutgers University Department of Physics and Astronomy
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This site is still under construction! TBA means "to be announced"; stay posted... |
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This course is designed for humanities and social science students. There are no prerequisites and no mathematical problem-solving. The course will focus upon major astronomical and physical discoveries in the scientific and social context of their time, from Aristotle to the present. Topics will include Greek astronomy and science, Galileo, Newton, the mechanical universe, gravity, entropy, the arrow of time, electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic induction and waves, optics, relativity, quantum theory, X-rays, atoms, nuclei, anti-matter, and black holes. The emphasis will be on understanding the world in which we live and how things work around us, from nature, to simple devices, to high-tech equipment. The course will be conceptual, qualitative, and, hopefully, student-active, with class discussions and simple hands-on experiments conducted at the Math/Science Learning Center.
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Prof.
David Vanderbilt Office: Serin E275 Email: dhv@physics.rutgers.edu Phone: 445-5500 x2514 Office hours: TBA |
There are two required textbooks:
Each assigned homework problem is essentially an essay question that should be answered by a short, clear, germane, and correct statement, or, sometimes, a short paragraph. These questions often are to help students learn to think critically, and the style of an answer is often as important as its content. In general little or no credit will be given for answers such as any of the following:
Students are encouraged to study together and to discuss the homework questions and their possible answers with each other, but each student should construct the written answers for himself or herself, and certainly not simply copy another student's answer(s).
| Homework: | 25% | |
| Lab Notebooks: | 15% | |
| Attendance (I-Clicker): | 5% | |
| Midterm Exam: | 20% | |
| Final Exam: | 35% |
Professor William DeBuvitz will be conducting help and discussion sessions every Friday during 10:00am-12:00noon in Scott 103. All students are invited and encouraged to attend for any session or portion to better learn and understand the course material.
From experience, we know that in order to be successful in this class, consistent weekly effort is required on your part. You need to "socialize" the material, to turn it around in your own mind, to get acquainted with it in several ways, and to discuss it with other students in the class. Try also to study with friends. Through discussions, especially through explaining concepts to others, you will understand the material in a deeper way. Do not hesitate to contact your instructors, but do this as early as possible. With most things we can help you, if we know about them early.
You are strongly encouraged to form your own informal study groups. The best way is to form a group of 3-4 people and get together at a regular time once a week to thrash out your difficulties with homework assignments, laboratory experiments, etc. You are encouraged to do the experiments in small groups, if possible (but each person must keep a separate class notebook and record the laboratory results in his/her own handwriting). Also, it's more fun to work in groups!
The Math/Science Learning Center, located on the third floor of the Allison Road Classroom Building, Busch Campus is a facility to assist students studying physics and related subjects. It is your center and is mostly student run. You will find convenient study space and small classrooms for discussions and experiments. Tutors are available during the day and evening hours. Please visit the MSLC Web site.
