Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) about PHYS 1008

Who are you?
- Peter Watson
How do I find you?
- Best: mail to watson@physics.carleton.ca and put something sensible in the subject line
- HP 2462
- 520-2600 x4371
- Office Hours: 2.30-4 Mondays and Wednesdays specifically. Most other times, but send me an Email to make sure I am there.
- www.physics.carleton.ca/~watson
- Note: all course information is posted here

I can't register for the course: can you help?
Check with Joanne Martin (HP 2330)
When do the labs start?
Week of Jan 7th
I don't like my lab session/I think I should be excused/I want to hand a lab report in late/ How do I get hold of the lab coordinators?
Contact Dr. Julia Wallace: 3346HP
Best: mail to Julia_Wallace@carleton.ca and put something sensible in the subject line,

I failed PHYS1007 because
- the TA hated me.
- I had a bad hair day.
- I couldn't make the final exam because of a prior engagement.
Is it OK if I take PHYS 1008?
Nope
Please.
Pretty please?
Nope. 1008 is quite a bit harder than 1007, and it's not a good use of your time to try to take it.

What do I have to do to pass?
Get at least 50% on the course
What do I have to do to get 100%?
- Complete all of the Pre-class tests (on WebCT) [5 % of total]
- Complete all of the Weekly Web quizzes(on WebCT) [10 % of total]
- Complete all of the in class quizzes [5 % of total]
- Complete all of the Tests [20 % of total]
- Complete all of the Labs [30 % of total]
- Complete the final exam [30 % of total]

Can I get the notes you are using?
You can access the notes directly via http://www.physics.carleton.ca/~watson/. You will need a recent browser: the notes use unicode characters (for the Greek symbols) and not all browsers recognize these. Also quite a lot of browsers won't run the animations
Note that there are 4 forms of the course notes:
1. On-line (i.e. the notes as used in class)
2. On-line with video and audio
3. PDF files, which you can download
4. PDF files with the illustrations removed, which you can download. These are the best ones for annotating with your own notes
Why don't you supply the notes as a hard-copy?
- You have a text-book
- It's too expensive.
- There are always a few errors that sneak through.
Why don't you post the solutions to the problems you pose in class?
Because you can only learn to solve problems by solving problems! Just reading through solutions is useless.

Why don't you follow the textbook exactly?
Because you can read! I'll use the same notation (always), but it helps to have the same ideas explained in different ways.
I can't copy down everything: can you slow down?
No. Don't try to copy everything. A good way to work is to download the pdf copies of the files and make notes on them. Otherwise try to copy down what seems to be the most important.
I don't understand what you are saying. Can you explain it again?
Yes. Just ask me
You just got something wrong in the lecture. What should I do?
Tell me immediately: it helps everyone if errors are corrected. If you aren't sure, ask me after the class: I'll correct it later.
I am really confused about electric potential/ field/magnetism/induction. Can you explain it to me?
Sure: come and see me. Or better, go to the first year drop-in centre (12-1.30 most days: exact times will be posted later. Also go with specific questions: e.g.
1. I don't understand electric potential isn't useful.
2. I can't understand when to use electric potential is.

How do I use WebCT?
To use Webct for the assignments, and notes:
1. open your browser
2. go to http://webct.carleton.ca/ or just click here
3. logon following the instructions
4. go to PHYS 1008 (if you are doing more than one course on WebCT)
5. Change your password as soon as possible.
I don't have access to a computer, how can I access WebCT?
Really?
Yes, I really don't have access to a computer, how can I access WebCT?
Go to the Sunray lab in HP 3341, or any of the public labs on campus

I tried to do my assignment at 8 am when the deadline was 8.30 and I couldn't get onto the server. How do I get a second chance?
- Next time, start earlier
I'm sure I got a WebCT answer correct but it marked me wrong: what do I do?
Usually this arises for 1 of 3 reasons
- Your answer is wrong!
- You entered an illegal character (e.g if the answer is 5x10^-10 Newtons, you entered 5x10^(-10) or 5*e-10 or 5e-10 N. The only acceptable format is 5e-10. No, I won't fix this!
- You entered the wrong number of significant figures. e.g. if the answer is 1.92x10⁴, you entered 1.92350672e4, or 19200.0. use 3 sig figs (i.e. 1.92e4)
The WebCT server was down/one of the answers was wrong/you lost one of my tests/: what should I do?
Inform me immediately by Email
I hit the wrong key when entering an answer: what can I do?
Don't do it the next time
By reading the book while I do the pre-class tests, I get 100%. What the point of them?
That's the point of them!

I know I haven't done any assignments, but I really need an A to get into medical school. What can I do?
Choose another career

Is it OK if I keep my laptop on during class to check my Facebook page?
NO. Laptops can be used to take notes

I've got a really important call to answer this morning. Is it OK if I take it on my cell phone?
Sure. Just wait outside until you get it.
I could only get a flight to Fort Lauderdale/Whistler/Acapulco on the day of the exam: can I get my exam postponed?
No, but by paying first-class fare for the professor, he will be able to accompany you on the trip and give you the exam at the right time
My dog died/house burned down/roommate went psycho/World War 3 broke out/I was really hungover on the day of my test. What can I do?
Find a better excuse
I really did get sick, and had to miss an exam/test/lab/on-line assignment
- For a exam, apply for a deferred.

Do I have to come to class?
- Nope
Why should I come to class then?
- You paid for it
- People who come to class mostly pass
- You are much more likely to get a sympathetic hearing or extra help if you have been to class
- There will be random in-class tests covering some of the material that we have just discussed: 5% of the total.

My friend got 10/10 on an assignment/test/lab and I did exactly the same as her and I only got 8. I want to have mine re-marked
Sure: bring them both in. If you deserve extra marks, you will get them. If she deserves fewer, her mark will get lowered
I heard the marks on the exam were reeeeeally low: does this mean you are going to bell-curve the results?
Nope
Two months ago a TA gave me 9/10 on an assignment/test/lab and I am quite sure it was correct. How do I get it changed?
Bring it in two months ago! If you want to challenge a mark, you must do so within a week of it being returned.
Someone offered to sell me a complete set of solutions to the WebCT problems for $10: is this a good deal?
For him, since all of the questions are randomized and no two students ever get identical problems.
Someone offered to sell me a complete set of lab writeups for $10: is this a good deal?
- Maybe: however some of the experiments have changed in small ways. If you provide a writeup for an experiment you haven't done, you get an F for plagiarism.

Can I switch sections?
In principle, but you have to talk to your lab demonstrator.
What lab do I have this week?
Look it up in the outline
Where are we in the course?
Look it up in the outline
Do I have a test this week?
Look it up in the outline
Where do I find more information about the course?
Look it up in the outline

What are we going to learn about?

Subject	Chap	Sections Covered
Electric Field.	16	1-7
Electric Potential Capacitance	17	1-7
Electrical Currents and Circuits	18	1-11
Magnetic Force and Field	19	all except Ampere's law
Magnetic Induction	20	1-10
AC	21	1-10
E.M. Waves, Spectrum	22	1-9
Reflection and Refraction	23	1-9
Optical Instruments	24	1,3-7
Interference and Diffraction	25	1-8
Early Quantum Theory	27	1-8
Quantum Mechanics,	28	1-10
Nuclear and Particle Physics	29/30	1-8

(Not all the links are live at the moment)
If you want an extended version of this with suggested problems (useful for revision) go here

The lab this week requires us to know about currents? When do we learn about this
NOW!