Phys 308 — Spring 2021
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Instructor: Dr. Kevin Beach
Office: 206 Lewis Hall
Email: kbeach@olemiss.edu
Website: https://www.phy.olemiss.edu/~kbeach

Catalog description

Application of differential equations, vectors, and other techniques to physical problems.

3 credit hours

Where and when

Lectures: M W F 09:00–09:50 (offered remotely)
Office hours: T W R 13:30–14:30 or by appointment
Final exam: Wednesday, April 28 at 08:00

Prerequisites

Phys 212 or Phys 303
Math 353 (one-way corequisite)

Required course materials

Textbook

Mathematical Methods For Physics And Engineering: A Comprehensive Guide, K. F. Riley, M. P. Hobson, and S. J. Bence, Cambridge University Press; 3rd ed. (2006)
ISBN 9780521679718 [Cambridge University Press : Amazon]

Google Classroom

Join code will be provided

Grading scheme

The course grade will be based on the cumulative points earned from weekly assignments, two in-class tests, and a final exam, weighted as follows.

Assignments: 40%
In-class tests: 2 × 15%
Final exam: 30%

The numerical score (out of 100) will be converted to a letter grade with a corresponding grade point value, following the UM +/– grading system adopted in Fall 2011. The conversion is carried out by matching to the ranges shown in the table below.

Letter grade Grade point value Numerical score range
A 4.0 ≥ 90
A– 3.7 [85,90)
B+ 3.3 [80,85)
B 3.0 [75,80)
B– 2.7 [70,75)
C+ 2.3 [65,70)
C 2.0 [60,65)
C– 1.7 [55,60)
D 1.0 [50,55)
F 0 < 50

Class attendance — Regular attendance is strongly encouraged. Some material presented in lecture may not appear in the textbook.

Assignments — The course puts great emphasis on students’ developing technical mastery in a variety of important physics techniques. Students will be regularly asked to attempt problems, both inside and outside of class hours, alone or in groups. Problems assigned as graded homework will be due in class. Late assignments will be penalized at the rate of 20% per day.

In-class tests — The tentative test dates are listed in this syllabus. Any changes to the dates will be announced in class and by email; students will be given at least one week’s notice. No make-up test will be given except in cases of verified emergencies.

Schedule

W Jan 20 Lecture 1
F Jan 22 Lecture 2
M Jan 25 Lecture 3
January 25: Last day to register or add classes without instructor approval
W Jan 27 Lecture 4
F Jan 29 Lecture 5
February 1: Last day to register or add classes with instructor approval
M Feb 1 Lecture 6
W Feb 3 Lecture 7
F Feb 5 Lecture 8
February 8: Automatic drop for non-attendance
M Feb 8 Lecture 9
W Feb 10 Lecture 10
F Feb 12 Lecture 11
M Feb 15 Lecture 12
W Feb 17 First in-class test
F Feb 19 Lecture 13
M Feb 22 Lecture 14
W Feb 24 Lecture 15
F Feb 26 Lecture 16
March 1: Deadline for course withdrawal; midterm grades due
M Mar 1 Lecture 17
W Mar 3 Lecture 18
F Mar 5 Lecture 19
M Mar 8 Lecture 20
W Mar 10 Lecture 21
F Mar 12 Lecture 22
M Mar 15 Lecture 23
W Mar 17 Lecture 24
F Mar 19 Second in-class test
M Mar 22 Lecture 25
W Mar 24 Lecture 26
F Mar 26 Lecture 27
M Mar 29 Lecture 28
W Mar 31 Lecture 29
April 2: Good Friday holiday
M Apr 5 Lecture 30
W Apr 7 Lecture 31
F Apr 9 Lecture 32
M Apr 12 Lecture 33
W Apr 15 Lecture 34
F Apr 16 Lecture 35
M Apr 19 Lecture 36
W Apr 21 Lecture 37
F Apr 23 Lecture 38
Apr 23: Classes end
W Apr 28 Final examination

Attendance verification

The university requires that all students have a verified attendance at least once during the first two weeks of the semester for each course. Students whose attendance is not verified will be dropped from the course and any financial aid will be adjusted accordingly. Please see http://olemiss.edu/gotoclass for more information.

Academic integrity and honesty

Students are expected to adhere to the University of Mississippi Creed and the Standards of Honesty as described in Policy Code ACA.AR.600.001 and the M Book.

Students are reminded that cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Performance on all tests and assignments shall represent the individual work of the student. Those who violate the Standards of Honesty will be reported and subject to the appropriate sanction, which may include expulsion from the University.

Intellectual property

All materials distributed electronically and in hard copy in this class are protected under intellectual copyright. Any attempt to upload these documents to a file sharing service or to profit from their distribution by any means constitutes theft and will be in violation of intellectual property law and the UM Academic Conduct Code unless expressly permitted for by the instructor.

Nondiscrimination policy

The University complies with all applicable laws regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity in all its activities and programs and does not discriminate against anyone protected by law because of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran.

Disability Access and Inclusion

The University of Mississippi is committed to the creation of inclusive learning environments for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your full inclusion and participation, or to accurate assessment of your achievement, please contact the course instructor as soon as possible. Barriers may include, but are not necessarily limited to, timed exams and in-class assignments, difficulty with the acquisition of lecture content, inaccessible web content, and the use of non-captioned or non-transcribed video and audio files. If you are approved through SDS, you must log in to your Rebel Access portal to request approved accommodations. If you are not yet approved through SDS, you must contact Student Disability Services (at 662-915-7128 or sds@olemiss.edu) so the office can (i) determine your eligibility for accommodations, (ii) disseminate to your instructors a Faculty Notification Letter, (iii) facilitate the removal of barriers, and (iv) ensure you have equal access to the same opportunities for success that are available to all students.

Examinations and last week of class

Regulations governing all examinations — A student’s failure to appear for an examination without an acceptable excuse,inability to present valid identification,absence from the room during the course of an examination without the consent of the examiner, or attempting any portion of an examination without submitting his or her answers shall result in failure of the examination. Tardiness beyond 15 minutes forfeits a student’s right to an examination.

Final examinations — A final examination, to be given at the time posted in the examination schedule, is required in each undergraduate course, unless the appropriate chair and dean have approved an exception. A student who has three or four final examinations in one day may arrange with the course instructor to take the noon or 7:30 p.m. examination at another time. In order to give a final examination at any time other than that shown in the posted examination schedule, an instructor must have prior approval of the department chair and dean.

Last week of class — The following guidelines exist to allow sufficient time for students and instructors to prepare for final examinations. These guidelines apply to the week preceding final examinations for undergraduate courses held during Fall and Spring semesters.

  • During the period of Wednesday through Friday of the last week of class, instructors are not to give exams, tests, or quizzes that contribute more than 10% of the final grade for a class. An instructor can obtain approval of the department chair and dean to give an exam, test, or quiz, of this weight, during this three day period. Instructors should return graded work and/or inform students of their grades on exams, tests, or quizzes prior to the beginning of finals week.

  • Exceptions to the above statement are automatically made for lab-based courses, technical writing courses, seminar courses that assign a term paper, and senior design courses that assign a multi-faceted project in lieu of a final exam. Major projects of the above types, which contribute more than 10% of the final grade and which are due during this Last Week period, should be assigned in the syllabus at the beginning of the semester and any substantial change in the assignment should be made known to students before the drop deadline.