Big Changes in Introductory Physics Courses
University of Washington
Autumn 2009
The Physics Department has reorganized and modified many of the introductory physics course sequences for the 09-10 school year. These changes affect different courses to different degrees, but every introductory physics course is affected to some degree. This is a summary of the changes to various aspects of our physics courses.
1.Change in Clicker System:
COURSES AFFECTED = ALL COURSES USING CLICKERS
This affects ALL introductory physics courses whose instructors use clickers (student response systems designed to collect student answers to questions asked during class).
The physics department continues to use the H-ITT clicker system as in previous years. The change for 09-10 is that ONLY radio frequency (RF) clickers manufactured by H-ITT will work in our lecture halls. The older infrared models will no longer function.
The clicker you purchase for ANY PHYSICS COURSE must have “H-ITT” printed or stamped on it, and (2) must be a RF model (number TX3100 is standard, but other radio frequency models work as well)
Model TX3100, shown to the left, is sold at the university bookstore or online from the vendor: http://h-itt.com
.
Previous models that are neon yellow, orange or green will work ONLY if they are radio frequency models. This can be determined by examining the front end of the clicker:
FRONT END is at TOP of this picture
If the front end has 3 LEDs (small bulbs) protruding slightly from 3 holes, it is an infrared device and will not work. If the front end is smooth, with a flat black plastic insert covering the three holes, it is a radio frequency device and it will work!
2.Change in Online Homework System
COURSES AFFECTED = ALL COURSES USING ONLINE HOMEWORK
This affects ALL introductory physics courses whose instructors assign online homework.
The old TYCHO homework system has been discontinued. Homework is now done on WebAssign. Access to WebAssign must be purchased by the student.
Please do not purchase WebAssign access until you are sure that you are buying the correct access for your course(s)!
This is because, in addition to lecture homework assignments, WebAssign will be used for all physics labs and also as a grade storage device for tutorials, exams, and other assignments. In addition, it is possible to arrange an electronic copy of the textbook in most courses when you sign up for WebAssign. Some students may wish to use an electronic textbook rather than purchase a hard copy, thereby saving money. Further, if you buy a brand new textbook from the university bookstore you may find that it already includes a WebAssign access card. You may also want to consult with your course professor about recommendations.
The physics department has tried to arrange specific WebAssign access codes that will cover exactly the access you need for your course. However, there are lots of places and lots of ways to buy WebAssign access, so be careful what you purchase.
Here are some useful links:
3. Changes in Laboratories
COURSES AFFECTED = ALL 100 LEVEL LAB COURSES
This affects ALL introductory physics laboratory courses (117, 118, 119, 121, 122 and 123).
All 100 level physics labs will now meet for 2 academic periods (1 hour 50 minutes) each week rather than 3 periods as in previous quarters.
To keep the content and amount of required work roughly the same, some portions of the laboratory work have been moved online under the WebAssign system.
Each weekly lab will have an online pre-lab that must be completed prior to attending the scheduled laboratory section for the week. These pre-labs will be graded and counted toward your course grade. The in-room lab portion will also be graded to some extent, and will form the basis for the online post-lab assignment that must be completed after your scheduled weekly lab. The online post-labs on WebAssign are also graded and will count significantly.
You must be properly registered in WebAssign in order to complete your lab work, and the correct access to WebAssign must be purchased by each student. See notes under “Homework” above, and see the following links:
- New lab structure/grade breakdown
4. Changes in Curriculum
COURSES AFFECTED = PHYS 121, 122 and 123
This affects the calculus based introductory physics sequence.
The topics to be covered in each quarter have been changed.
PHYS 121, mechanics, is modified only slightly from last year. This course covers basic kinematics and dynamics, and now ends with a brief treatment of fluids.
PHYS 122 is now entirely electricity and magnetism, with no thermodynamics content. It begins with electric charge and ends with Maxwell’s equations of electrodynamics.
PHYS 123 is now entirely about oscillations, waves and modern physics.
These changes make each quarter a coherent package of topics, with no splitting of topics as occurred in our previous trial versions that have been used during the past two years.
5. Changes in Examination Policies
COURSES AFFECTED = PHYS 121, 122 and 123
This affects the calculus based introductory physics sequence.
The cover page for each midterm and final exam will now contain a brief clause stating that the work you submit is your own, and is not copied from any source.
In addition, students will no longer be allowed to use self-prepared “cheat sheets” for any of the midterm or final exams. However, memorization of formulae is still not considered crucial for success in physics classes. To relieve students of the burden of memorization, professors will prepare an equation sheet and attach it to each exam. The equation sheet should contain all relevant equations (plus perhaps a few non-relevant ones as well) for the exam in question.
6. Changes in Grading Allocation
COURSES AFFECTED = PHYS 121, 122 and 123
This affects the calculus based introductory physics sequence.
Generally your grade in these courses is a weighted average of your scores for various course elements, including midterm and final exams, online homework, tutorials, labs and other supplemental work such as clicker scores or surveys.
In the past, the score for supplemental work (clickers, surveys, etc.) was included as an add-on, or bonus, after other scores were summed. Thus the course grade consisted of 100% from exams, labs, etc., plus an additional 5% as a supplemental bonus. The course grade was thus in effect based on 105% rather than 100%. Beginning this autumn the supplemental score becomes 5% of the original total, so that the final grade is on the basis of 100% rather than 105%.
7. Changes in Tutorials in Introductory Physics
COURSE AFFECTED = PHYS 121
A new version of the tutorial book is being phased in this year. All PHYS 121 students will use this new version, which has a purple (eggplant) cover: the ISBN is 978-0-558-346027 .
This version will also be used in PHYS 122 starting in Winter 2010 and PHYS 123 starting Spring 2010.
In Autumn 2009, students in PHYS 122 and 123 who have a tutorial book from last year (teal cover) can use the earlier edition (from 2002). Students who are starting the sequence in PHYS 122 or 123 and do not have the earlier edition should purchase the new edition. Handouts will be provided when necessary.
