The first week of class ...

As you probably know by now, I will be out of the country for our first two scheduled meetings: Thursday, 8 Jan 2009 and Friday, 9 Jan 2009.

If you got this far, then Dr. Mankey has covered the course introduction for me, and pointed you here. Peruse the posts below for interesting information, including your first homework set ...

I will be out of the country from 30 Dec 2008 until sometime on 11 Jan 2009. I will have sporadic email access, excepting the 10th (which I will spend the whole of traveling). Feel free to email me with questions during this time, but keep in mind I may not be very responsive until 12 Jan.

What does this really mean for you?

• There is no recitation on Friday, 9 Jan 2009.
• I will be back for the second regular class period on 13 Jan 2009
• You still have homework problems due on 13 Jan 2009 (see post below)
  
• Please read the course syllabus carefully before 13 Jan (see post below)
  
• Please read Chapters 1 and 3 of the textbook before 13 Jan
  

Homework policies / HW1 is out

Your first homework set is now online ... and a small part of it is due on Tuesday, 13 Jan.

I will be doing homework a little bit differently this semester: problem sets will come out each Friday, and there will be a few problems due throughout the following week, rather than one single due date. On average, 6-8 problems will be assigned each week on Friday:

• two problems will be due at the start of the following Tuesday's lecture
• two more will be due at the start of the following Thursday's lecture
• the final three problems will be due by the end of the day on the following Friday.

Late problems will be assessed a per-day penalty of 25%.

The idea is that you will solve the complete homework set spread out over the course of an entire week, as we cover the material, rather than at the last minute. Tuesday's problems will be similar to material covered on the previous Friday's recitation, while Thursday's problems will cover Tuesday's lecture, etc. The problems will ramp up in difficulty as the week progresses.

We have made up a problem solving template which we think will make things easier; however, you must use the template for your homework solutions. The same template will be used for quizzes and exams.

So: note that you have two short problems due on Tuesday, 13 January! Three more problems are due on Thursday, 15 January, and the final three problems are due on Friday, 16 January.

Welcome to Physics 125!

This is where you will find all the information you need for PH125 this semester. If you are in to such things, subscribe to the atom feed, it will make things easier.

Be sure to note the links on the left sidebar, as well as the embedded google calendar at the bottom of the page.

Your syllabus is already online for your perusal; read it carefully!

You also have your very own facebook group, which should help you get to know one another a bit more quickly. Plus, all the cool kids are doing it.