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PHYS 116 B: General Physics

Meetings: 
MWF 2:30pm - 3:20pm / PAA A102
T 5:00pm - 6:20pm / KNE 130
SLN: 
18436
Instructor:
David P. Smith

Syllabus Description:

Welcome to PHYS 116 B. This is the third of a three-quarter sequence of introductory physics courses targeted for students in life sciences. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to develop algebra-based models to describe the physical world pertaining to oscillations, geometrical optics, physical optics and modern physics, and apply them to other fields of science and everyday phenomena.

Due to the measures taken by the University, the course will be conducted entirely online. Please note that screenshots or recordings of instructors, other students, and course materials during active video (Zoom) participation sessions are strictly forbidden. Any student caught engaging in this behavior will be reported to the Student Conduct Office.

Given the sudden change not all details have been finalized, and it is also possible that some details may need to change depending on how things proceed.

Getting started

    • I recommend that you start with setting up your MyLab and Mastering account. Please note that you have already purchased the access code for MyLab and Mastering as a part of your registration fee.
    • Information on how to access the system can be found here.
    • The access code is: PSPKSA-BEGAD-SIREN-ABATE-CABBY-CAIRD
    • Troubleshooting for common issues with MyLab and Mastering is listed here.

Getting help

    • Use the discussion board (click "Discussions" on the menu on the left) for physics questions or syllabus related questions. The TAs and I will monitor this frequently and will respond if needed. You can also use this to organize study groups, or if you are confused about an aspect of the syllabus etc.
    • You are strongly encouraged to attend my or the TA's office hours on Zoom.  When you join the meeting, please add your join time in the chat section and I will take questions in a sequential order. I ask that you mute your microphone while listening to the question being addressed. You can also use the "raise your hand" button if you'd like to ask a question.  I also want to remind you that screenshots or recordings of instructors, other students, and course materials during active video (Zoom) participation sessions are strictly forbidden. Any student caught engaging in this behavior will be reported to the Student Conduct Office. My office hours for the quarter are listed below:

      Monday 2 - 3 pm - https://washington.zoom.us/j/937468690
      Tuesday 3 - 4 pm - https://washington.zoom.us/j/364971603
      Wednesday 2 - 3 pm - https://washington.zoom.us/j/467718586
      Thursday 2 - 3pm - https://washington.zoom.us/j/981340703
      Friday 11 - noon - https://washington.zoom.us/j/851362691

      I will also have my Google Hangout (dsmith4@uw.edu) open occasionally if you wanted to contact me outside of the above times (I will accept invitations to talk from UW NetIDs). Email will also work.

    • For personal correspondence related to lecture or tutorial, please contact me. Contact the 11X administrator for questions regarding registering, overloading, etc. 

Class components

  • You can see all the components required in a given week by clicking on the "Modules" menu on the left.
  • This class consists of the following components:
    • Lectures
      Lectures will not be held at the scheduled times. You will work at your own pace before due dates. Engagement will occur through graded discussions and numerous office hours through Zoom. The lectures will include the following graded components.
      • Pre-lecture reading quiz:
        After reading the assigned reading for each day (see schedule below), you should complete the reading quiz related to the reading on MyLab and Mastering. These assignments will be due at 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled lecture.
      • Lecture reading discussion:
        After completing the pre-lecture reading quiz, you should complete the Canvas discussion assignment related to the reading. These assignments will be due at 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled lecture and will be graded from Lecture 5 onward (including Lecture 5).
      • Lecture video quiz:
        After you do the pre-lecture quiz and reading discussion, you should watch the lecture video and answer the questions embedded in the video. The videos and associated slides will become available at least a week before due date under the "Panopto Recordings" and "Files" menu on the left. The embedded video questions will be due at 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled lecture.
    • Tutorials
      Tutorials will not be held at the scheduled times. You will work at your own pace before due dates. Engagement will occur through graded discussions and numerous office hours through Zoom. The tutorials will include the following graded components.
      • Tutorial Pre-test:
        You should complete the pre-test on Canvas. Once you open, the pretests are available for only 30 minutes, and after time is up, your answers will be automatically submitted. Please keep a record of your confirmation page. The pre-tests will be due at 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled tutorial.
      • Tutorial discussion:
        Tutorial question slides will become available under "Files" menu on the left. You should complete the tutorial discussion assignment before watching the corresponding tutorial video. If necessary, the TAs will give you guidance after the the video quiz is due. Your comments/questions will be due at 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled lecture.
      • Tutorial video quiz:
        After you do the tutorial discussion, you should watch the tutorial video and answer video quiz. The videos will become available after the tutorial discussion assignment is due under the "Panopto Recordings" on the left.  Quizzes will be embedded in these videos. The embedded video questions will be due at 11:59 pm on the Friday after the scheduled tutorial.

Grades

  • Your grade will be calculated based on the following contributions

    Component ​Percentage
    ​Exams ​60%
    Pre-lecture reading quiz 20%
    Lecture discussions 5%
    ​Video quiz questions ​10%
    ​Tutorial discussion ​3%
    ​Tutorial pre-test ​2%
  • Exams

      • Your exam grade will be based on:

        • Either 40% from your two midterm exams and 20% from your final exam.
        • Or 20% from your best midterm and 40% from your final exam.

        The best option will be picked for you automatically based on your performance.

        • Midterm exam 1 on April 28th starting between 9:25am and 9:45am or between 4:55pm and 5:15pm (PDT) for 1 hour.
        • Midterm exam 2 on May 19th starting between 9:25am and 9:45am or between 4:55pm and 5:15pm (PDT) for 1 hour.
        • Final exam on June 9th starting between 2:25pm to 2:45pm (PDT) for 1 hour and 50 minutes.
        • All exams are open-book and administered on Canvas. Communication with others is not permitted.
        • Note that there are no make-up exams. So, students with outside professional, service, or career commitments (i.e. military service, ROTC, professional conference presentation, NCAA sports, etc.) conflicting with the exam dates must contact me early in the quarter to establish alternate examination procedures. Exam scores for students who miss an exam without making prior arrangements will be zero.
  • Lectures

    • Pre-lecture quiz:
    • You have up to 5 attempts for each question. For each wrong answer 10% of the grade is subtracted. At the end of the quarter your score will be scaled by 1.25 (but not allowed to go over 100%). Note that practice problems, adaptive follow-ups, and dynamic study modules available also through Mastering are not graded, but great for your study.
    • Lecture reading discussion:
      You will be given credit for either asking a question or answering a question already asked on the discussion board, or discussing a part of the reading you found particularly interesting. These are graded based on a thoughtful attempt, not on correctness. This is designed to have you carefully think about the reading. Simply giving away answers to video quizzes such as "the answer is A" is not allowed and will not get credit for this assignment.
    • Lecture video quiz:
      You will be graded based 80% on participation and 20% based on correctness, and at the end of the quarter your score will be scaled by 1.25 (but not allowed to go over 100%).
  • Tutorials

    • Tutorial pre-test:
    • They are graded based on an honest attempt, so you will receive credit as long as you have attempted most of the questions, even if you run out of time.
    • Tutorial discussion:
      You will be given credit for either asking a question about the tutorial material of the week or answering a question already asked on the discussion board. These are graded based on a thoughtful attempt, not on correctness. This is designed to have you carefully think about the questions on the tutorial slides. Simply giving away answers to video quizzes such as "the answer is A" is not allowed and will not get credit for this assignment.
    • Tutorial video quiz:
      You will be graded based 80% on participation and 20% based on correctness, and at the end of the quarter your score will be scaled by 1.25 (but not allowed to go over 100%).

Summary of assignment release and due dates

Assignment Release date Due date Software
Lecture Pre-Reading Quiz 1 week before scheduled lecture. 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled lecture. MyLab and Mastering
Lecture Discussion 1 week before scheduled lecture 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled lecture. Canvas Discussion Boards
Lecture Panopto Questions 1 week before scheduled lecture 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled lecture. Panopto Recordings in Canvas
Tutorial Pre-Test 1 week before scheduled tutorial 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled tutorial. Link to Catalyst pre-test is available in Assignments tab in Canvas.
Tutorial Discussion 1 week before scheduled tutorial 11:59 pm on the day of the scheduled tutorial. Discussion boards on Canvas.
Tutorial Panopto Questions 5 pm on day of scheduled tutorial 11:59 pm on the Friday following the scheduled tutorial Panopto Recordings in Canvas

Reading schedule

Access and accommodation

  • Your experience in this class is important to me, so if you have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but are not limited to: mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical), please see details here.

Safe campus

  • I am committed to ensuring a safe environment on campus. I suggest you check out the resources available here.

Religious Accommodations

Academic integrity and student conduct

  • The University takes academic integrity and student conduct very seriously. Behaving with integrity and respect is part of our responsibility to our shared learning community. Acts of academic misconduct may include, but are not limited to, cheating by sharing answers on exams.
  • The University of Washington Student Conduct Code (WAC 478-121) defines prohibited academic and behavioral conduct and describes how the University holds students accountable as they pursue their academic goals. Allegations of misconduct by students may be referred to the appropriate campus office for investigation and resolution. More information can be found online at https://www.washington.edu/studentconduct/.
  • If you’re uncertain about if something is academic and behavioral misconduct, ask me. I am willing to discuss questions you might have.
Catalog Description: 
Principles of waves, optics, atoms, and nuclei using algebra-based modeling with an emphasis on applications in life sciences. Maximum 5 credits allowed for any combination of PHYS 116, PHYS 119, PHYS 123, and PHYS 143. Prerequisite: either a minimum grade of 1.7 in PHYS 115, PHYS 122, or PHYS 142, a score of 4 or 5 on Physics 2 advanced placement test, or a score of 4 or 5 on Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism) advanced placement test. Offered: AWSpS.
GE Requirements: 
Natural Sciences (NSc)
Credits: 
4.0
Status: 
Active
Section Type: 
Lecture
Last updated: 
October 16, 2020 - 9:05pm
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