Get at least 50% on the lab and 50% on the theory part of the course.
I got over 50% on the lab/theory but less than 50% on the theory/lab part. Does this mean I fail?
No: if you got 50% overall, but failed either the individual parts you will get a D-.
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 in-class tests [5 % of total]
Complete all of the Weekly Web quizzes(on WebCT) [10 % 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]
Is it OK if I keep my laptop on during class to check my Facebook page?
NO. All laptops are to be turned off at the start of the lecture.
Is it OK if I answer my cellphone?
NO. All cellphones are to be turned off at the start of the lecture or the lab.
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.
Note that there are 3 forms of the course notes:
On-line (i.e. the notes as used in class)
On-line with video and audio
PDF files, which you you can download
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 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
I'd liike to get help from soomeone else
Tara Nurphy is the TA for the course: tmurphy@hysic.carleyon.cali>
Or there is a frist year drop-in centre in HP 4130 (times tba, but probably over lunch hour)
How do I use WebCT?
To use Webct for the assignments, and notes:
open your browser
go to http://webct.carleton.ca/ or just click here
logon following the instructions
go to BIT1002 (if you are doing more than one course on WebCT)
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?
You don't
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?
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
I could only get a flight to Fort Lauderdale/Whistler/Acapulco on the day of the exam: can I get the exam postponed?
No, but by paying full 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
Get a medical certificate: for an exam this must be within one day of the date of the exam.
For a lab, do a makeup
For an online assignment: we drop the worst in the term
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
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.
