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Physics 305: Experimental Physics I
Fall Semester 2008

The "Important" Stuff

Structure of Class

For some experiments, you will be working on your own in all aspects.  For much of the work, you will have a partner; you and your partner are expected to work together equally. The amount of responsibility for each assignment is shown below.

1. Prelabs: (10%) Before each lab, you will be expected to do enough research into the lab you will be doing to answer some pre-lab questions. The questions will typically be conceptual in nature, so they will require understanding the physics of the lab you will be doing.
   
   
2. Lab Summaries/Journal Checks: (20%) On the same day when you must turn in a pre-lab, we will spot check your lab journals and review your previous lab summary. You lab summary (preferably typed and not more than 1 page in length) will highlight your results and be part of your lab journal.
   
   
3. Homework Assignments: (20%) Each week you will be responsible for turning homework based on your individual work. It is OK to check with the instructor or each other to see if there is agreement, but it is not OK to expect someone else to solve the assignment for you. Furthermore, if you work with someone, you must state clearly on your homework who you worked with.
   
   
4. Formal Writing Assignments (30%: 20% for weekly work, 10% for final lab report): This is a writing intensive course. Along with each homework, there will be a writing assignment in which you will have to take one of your labs and write (and re-write) one of the following five sections of a formal lab report.
   • Introduction/Background, including derivations of equations investigated
   • Experimental set-up/Methods and Procedures
   • Data and Error Analysis
   • Conclusion
   • References
     
   For each weekly writing assignment you will be expected to turn in not only a first draft, but also the comments from a third party reviewer and a second draft incorporating any corrections suggested by the reviewer. These weekly assignments will build toward a final complete lab report that will be due Monday, Dec. 8.
   
   
5. Exams: (20%: Midterms are 5% each, Final is 10%) There will be two exams during the semester and a final exam. These exams will focus on the statistical techniques you are developing during the course, but can also include questions about the experiments you have done and the physics we have covered.

Grade Assessment

Your written work will be graded with the same rubric being used for senior projects. Please see http://iparrizar.mnstate.edu/~juan/classes/phys305/SeniorProjectGuidelines2.pdf for specifics. A copy of the senior project rubric is also attached to the syllabus.

Final grades will be assigned on the scale below; plusses and minuses will be used.

Academic Honesty

From the Student handbook (online):

The University expects all students to represent themselves in an honest fashion. In academic work, students are expected to present original ideas and give credit for the ideas of others. The value of a college degree depends on the integrity of the work completed by the student. When an instructor has convincing evidence of cheating or plagiarism, the following actions may be taken: assign a failing grade for the course in which the student cheated or instructors may choose to report the offense, the evidence, and their action to the Dean of their college or the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the instructor (or any other person) feels the seriousness of the offense warrants additional action, the incident may be reported to the Student Conduct Committee through the Student Support Services Office. The Student Conduct Committee will follow procedures set out in the Student Conduct Code. After its review of the case and a fair, unbiased hearing, the Student Conduct Committee may take disciplinary action if the student is found responsible  (see   Student Conduct Code for details).

A student who has a course grade reduced by an instructor because of cheating or plagiarism, and who disputes the instructor’s finding, may appeal the grade, but only by using the Grade Appeal Policy, which states that the student must prove the grade was arbitrary, prejudicial, or in error.

In this course, all instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of the College of Social and Natural Sciences for informational purposes.   Any academic dishonesty believed to be intentional will result in a failing grade for the entire course.

Special Accommodations

Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 114 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.