Physics H133 -- Spring 2012

General Information about Physics H133

Course title:

Honors Physics: Thermal Physics, Waves and Quantum Physics

Texts:

We will use two texts from the Six Ideas that Shaped Physics series by Thomas Moore,
Unit Q: Particles Behave Like Waves and Unit T: Some Processes are Irreversible.
There are errata pages for Unit Q and Unit T (both second edition, first printing, 2003).
For the labs you'll need the "Physics 133 Laboratory Manual".

Prerequisites:

The official prerequisites are H131 and H132 (with a grade of C or better), and Math 153 or 162 or higher, or their equivalent. See Prof. Furnstahl if you're concerned about your preparation.

Material:

Physics H133 will cover all 15 chapters in the Six Ideas, Unit Q text (to develop qualitative and some quantitative understanding of quantum mechanics, with applications to atoms and nuclei) and all 9 chapters in the Six Ideas, Unit T text (to develop an understanding of how thermodynamic quantities such as entropy arise from microscopic statistical mechanics).

Instructor:

Prof. Richard Furnstahl
office: Physics Research Building M2048
email: furnstahl.1@osu.edu
phone: 292-4830 (office) or 847-4026 (home)

Grader:

Mr. Zhou Wang
office: Physics Research Building 3026
email: wang.2981@osu.edu
phone: 247-8248

Lab TA :

Dr. Richard Leonard
office: Smith Laboratory 1106F
email: rleonard@mps.ohio-state.edu
phone: 292-8065

Super Tutor (in 1011):

Dr. Andrew Dougherty
office: Smith Laboratory 1082
email: dougherty.63@osu.edu
phone: 688-4714 (office)

Schedule: [Note: This schedule is still subject to change!]

• There will be lecture/recitation classes every weekday (MTWRF) in Smith 1005 (MTWRF) from 3:30pm to 4:18pm. [Note: We will meet on Wednesdays in Smith 1094 for a studio session during the regular class period or possibly the hour before.]
• Chapters in the texts must be read before they are discussed in class (see Reading due dates).
• Homework is due at the beginning of the class on the due date. Because solutions will be posted promptly, late homework cannot be accepted.
• Labs are on Mondays (10:30am, 12:30pm, and 4:30pm).
• Short quizzes will be given on Thursdays or Fridays.
• One midterm (Wednesday, May 2, 2-hour block in 6:30-10:00pm) and a final exam (official time: June 7, 3:30-5:18pm).

Office Hours:

Prof. Furnstahl: By appointment (asking in class is easiest) and TBA.

Graders: TBA

Grading:

Assigned homework (drop 2, maximum 100%) [20%]

Laboratory [10%] --- A passing grade for the labs is required to pass H133!

Quizzes (drop 1 of 9) [20%]

One two-hour midterm covering 2/3 Unit Q [25%]

Final exam covering last part (nuclear) of Unit Q and entire Unit T [25%]

1094 sessions [7 or more checks to pass]

Other Items:

• If you have a disability that warrants special consideration for examinations, please contact Prof. Furnstahl as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements. For more information, the website for the Office of Disability Services is http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu.
• The university policy http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp on academic misconduct will be followed. You may (and should) discuss homework problems with other students, with Prof. Furnstahl, and/or with the super tutor and other grader. However, you must hand in your own version of each homework assignment.
• Physics H132 is a GEC course in the "Natural Science" category. As such, its general goal is to: "Foster an understanding of the principles, theories and methods of modern science, the relationship between science and technology, and the effects of science and technology on the environment." Learning Objectives:
  1. Students understand the basic facts, principles, theories, and methods of modern science.
  2. Students learn key events in the history of science.
  3. Students provide examples of the interdependence of scientific and technological developments.
  4. Students discuss social and philosophical implications of scientific discoveries and understand the potential of science and technology to address problems of the contemporary world.

Web Pages:

This info: http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~ntg/H133/H133_info.php

Course home page: http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~ntg/H133/