Physics 131/133, Fall 2009

Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Stony Brook University

Introduction to Physics for Scientists and Engineers

Whats new in Physics 131/133

• New home works is now on the web for 11/30
  

• Some of you came to me asking for opportunities for Physics-Majors and/or a career in Physics. I thought this article in the latest issue of Physics News would be of interest to those and some others who may not have come forward to talk to me. Title: Physics Majors Pull In High Starting Salaries
• Having said that let me also say that if you are serious about a career in physics, you should not worry about this article! If you like it, just do it.
  

• Midterm 2 Median Score was 53/100. The blue books will be returned in the recitation sections this week.
• If you still do not have your blue book from Midterm 1, please see me in my office during office/help room hours or walk in to my office when I am there. No need to make an appointment.
• Second MidTerm Exam will held on Monday 11/02 between 8:30 and 10:00PM. It will cover Chapters 7-11.
  
• A   -- He  go to Room ESS001
• Ho -- Mi  go to Room Old Engineering 143
• Mo -- To  go to Room Old Engineering 145
• Tr --  Zv  go to Room Light Engineering 102
• Professor Swadhin Taneja will cover the remaining Chapter 9 and start with Chapter 10 in the week of 10/19. Professor Deshpande will be available on email.

• For those who wrote wrong recitation sections or did not write recitation sections on their blue books and could not come to my extra office hours yesterday (10/16, see below): Please do not panic. I will have another special office hour upon my return in the week of 10/26 for you to pick them up.

• If you need to talk to me regarding the 1st midterm grade (regrading issues), please come to my office on FRIDAY 10/16 between 11:30AM and 1:00PM. --Abhay Deshpande
  

• Comments on Midterm 1 Performance and Grades:

• Midterm 1 Grades are ready.  Your blue books will be returned in the coming week (10/12) in your respective recitation sections. If you did NOT write your recitation section number on your blue book or you wrote a WRONG one, you will need to wait for the following week and contact me personally to collect your blue book. (Contact me in my office/help-room hours).

• The exam was out of 100. The Median for this exam was 73. Generally you all did VERY WELL. I am very happy with the over all performance. Keep it up!

• If you got less than 35/100 points, please come and see me in person. I would like to discuss your performance and your preparation, so that I can help do better in future.
  

• First midterm October 6th, 2009 8:30PM to 10:00PM. The exam will cover Chapters 1-6.

• Room Assignment: If your LAST name STARTs with:
• A   -- He  go to Room ESS001
• Ho -- Mi  go to Room Old Engineering 143
• Mo -- To  go to Room Old Engineering 145
• Tr --  Zv  go to Room Light Engineering 102

• Please bring with you at the exam:
• A pen/pencil,
  
• A calculator (possibly you won't need one, my calculations are very easy),
  
• The formula sheet with nothing written on it other than the printed formulae, and
  
• A brain to think with (this last is more important than the calculator and the formla sheet!)
• Also bring along with you your SBU ID

• Prof. Swadhin Taneja will replace Prof. Abhay Deshpande for the Wednesday and Friday Class this week. Prof. Deshpande will tell you interesting stories of his short visit to Japan up on his return on next Monday.

• Laboratory sections start on 9/14
• Lab reports due within 48 hrs of your laboratory section. Reports should be dropped in the appropriate boxes in Room A 131. Please check your Lab Section Number and put the report in the appropriate box.

• Recitation Sections are already on THIS week (9/7).  Those who missed the recitations on Monday 9/7, please turn in your handwritten HW next week 9/14 to your recitation instructors
  

• Help Room in A129 now available check the schedule (see above table for details)

• A common Physics Help Room (Room A129) is being arranged for all course. You can go there for physics help any time during the week, when help is available. Please check the schedule (see table above) and go there for help.
  

• Two mastering physics assignments (practice assignment, and a new based on Chapter 1) are now on the Mastering Physics Web Pages. Both are due 9/14 at 4:00AM. I have changed the date of the 1st MasteringPhysics assignment from 9/7 to 9/14 due to the fact that many of your are getting the book and the MasteringPhysics access code late. Don't Panic! 

• One assignment consisting of End-Of-Chapter (EOC) problems from Chapter 1 is also on the Schedule Page. This is due in the week of 9/7 at the time of your recitation section. Since some of you will still be getting books this week, this assignment will also be treated as a practice assignment with no points associated with this assignment as well. However, please get the problems understood and explained from your Recitation Instructor if you can not do them.

• Don't wait for doing the above assignments if you get your books and access code earlier. There will certainly be new assignments based on things we will cover in the next week, which will ALSO be DUE  on 9/14.
  

• NO recitation sections this week (week of 8/31), they start in the week of 9/7

• NO Laboratory Sections this and next week, they start in the week of 9/14

• We will use the FOURTH EDITION OF PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS, Prof. Douglas C. Giancoli, Pearson/Prentice Hall Publication for this course and the next (Physics 132/134) in Spring 2010.
• It is OK to have a version of this book without Modern Physics, but having the book with it has some advantages.


• Please also buy with the book, the MASTERINGPHYSICS access key. When bought with the book, one gets a reduced price or free. Having your own access key is mandatory.
• For proper registration you will need a course ID: MPDESHPANDE131
• Course title on mastering physics is: Physics 131 Physics for Scientists and Engineers

• Classes will be held in Stony Brook Union Auditorium M-W-F at 8:30AM.

• Warning: This is a calculus based fast paced course. Please take the slower Physics 125 if you are not familier with basic physics and/or calculus.