Physics 11b -- Spring 2007

Physics 11b At-a-Glance

Spring 2007

Instructor Eric Mazur, phone: 5-8729, emazur@fas.harvard.edu)

Goals Teach qualitative and quantitative thinking skills that can be applied in a broad variety of fields and circumstances. Cultivate individual and collaborative problem solving skills.

Contents Electricity and magnetism, electrical circuits, and optics.

Course web site http://physics11.harvard.edu (the site will help you manage your time and keep you informed of any tasks to be completed)

Enrolling Online on course Web site, including options to select workshop and laboratory sections.

Office Hours Immediately following each lecture in Science Center 104 or by appointment. See web site for off hours of Teaching Staff.

Prerequisites Physics 11a and Mathematics 21a or 23a. Solid knowledge of calculus and vectors.

Materials Course notes to be handed out in class, also available on course Web site; Tutorials in Introductory Physics by L.C. McDermott (Prentice Hall, 2002) available at the Coop. A clicker or Web-enabled device (laptop, pda, cell phone)

Grading Absolute scale (details on Web site). Percentage credit in brackets below.

Reading [10%] Assignments due online on day before each lecture by midnight.

Purpose: introduce material, prepare for lecture, convey to instructor what needs clarifying in lecture.

Lectures
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:30 am -- 1:00 pm, in Science Center B. Lectures typically start with a pretest [up to 5% bonus credit weighed with lecture participation], and are taught interactively.

Purpose: interactively address conceptual difficulties from reading assignments, deepen understanding, develop analytical thinking skills.

Sections
Weekly two-hour "workshops" in Science Center 104 (beginning week of Feb. 5).

Purpose: develop problem solving and collaborative skills.

Problem sets [20%]
Weekly assignments, normally due Fridays at 5:00 p.m.

Purpose: exercise problem solving skills, obtain feedback.

Computer tests
One or two, completed online, counted as problem sets.

Purpose: self-evaluation and feedback to instructor.

Laboratory [10%]
Biweekly three-hour laboratory sections in Science Center 104 (beginning Feb. 12).

Purpose: develop experimental and collaborative skills.

Examinations [60%]
Three midterms (February 27, March 22, and April 17), and one final (date set by Registrar), all open-book.

Purpose: understand goals of course, evaluation and assessment.

Instructor	Eric Mazur, phone: 5-8729, emazur@fas.harvard.edu)
Goals	Teach qualitative and quantitative thinking skills that can be applied in a broad variety of fields and circumstances. Cultivate individual and collaborative problem solving skills.
Contents	Electricity and magnetism, electrical circuits, and optics.
Course web site	http://physics11.harvard.edu (the site will help you manage your time and keep you informed of any tasks to be completed)
Enrolling	Online on course Web site, including options to select workshop and laboratory sections.
Office Hours	Immediately following each lecture in Science Center 104 or by appointment. See web site for off hours of Teaching Staff.
Prerequisites	Physics 11a and Mathematics 21a or 23a. Solid knowledge of calculus and vectors.
Materials	Course notes to be handed out in class, also available on course Web site; Tutorials in Introductory Physics by L.C. McDermott (Prentice Hall, 2002) available at the Coop. A clicker or Web-enabled device (laptop, pda, cell phone)
Grading	Absolute scale (details on Web site). Percentage credit in brackets below.
Reading [10%]	Assignments due online on day before each lecture by midnight. Purpose: introduce material, prepare for lecture, convey to instructor what needs clarifying in lecture.
Lectures	Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:30 am -- 1:00 pm, in Science Center B. Lectures typically start with a pretest [up to 5% bonus credit weighed with lecture participation], and are taught interactively. Purpose: interactively address conceptual difficulties from reading assignments, deepen understanding, develop analytical thinking skills.
Sections	Weekly two-hour "workshops" in Science Center 104 (beginning week of Feb. 5). Purpose: develop problem solving and collaborative skills.
Problem sets [20%]	Weekly assignments, normally due Fridays at 5:00 p.m. Purpose: exercise problem solving skills, obtain feedback.
Computer tests	One or two, completed online, counted as problem sets. Purpose: self-evaluation and feedback to instructor.
Laboratory [10%]	Biweekly three-hour laboratory sections in Science Center 104 (beginning Feb. 12). Purpose: develop experimental and collaborative skills.
Examinations [60%]	Three midterms (February 27, March 22, and April 17), and one final (date set by Registrar), all open-book. Purpose: understand goals of course, evaluation and assessment.