Discussion Sections for
PY 211 (General Physics I) Spring 2007

Instructor Information Recent Updates

  • Email cserino@physics.bu.edu

  • Web-page http://physics.bu.edu/~cserino

  • Office Metcalf Science Center (SCI) Room B37

  • Phone 3-3424

  • Final Grades available on WebCT

  • Have a great summer break!

    • I will be your discussion Teaching Fellow for PY 211 (General Physics I) for the Spring of 2007. I will be holding office hours three times weekly (see below) and by appointment. I am a first year graduate student with a BS in Physics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The goal of my discussion sections will be to help you master all of the material covered this year in PY 211. If you have any questions / comments / concerns about any aspect of PY 211 or if you would like some particular information added to this website, please contact me.

    Discussions
    Section Time Location
  • E5
    		• Wednesday 12:00 PM PRB 148
  • E7
    		• Wednesday 7:00 PM PRB 148
  • E8
    		• Thursday 11:30 AM MCS B31

    Office Hours
    Time Location
    Wednesday 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM SCI 121
    Thursday 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM SCI 121
    Friday 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM SCI 121
    By Appointment
    		SCI B37

  • N.B. If you cannot make my office hours and prefer not to make an appointment, or if you would like a different TF's perspective on a particular topic, there are three other discussion TF's: Kaca Bradonjic, Alex Peterson, and Erica Raber. Additionally, Dr. Celli, Prof. Ludwig, and Prof. Stone hold office hours weekly. A schedule of those office hours can be found on WebCT or by following this link.

    Important Information

  • PY 211 Course Website (through WebCT)

  • Syllabus (as of 17 January)

  • Course Information (as of 17 January)

  • Text Book: Serway and Jewett's Physics for Scientists and Engineers (6th Edition)

  • Office Hours (All TFs and Professors)

    • Important Dates

  • Midterm I: Tuesday, February 13, 8 PM

  • Midterm II: Monday, April 2, 7 PM

    • About Your Homework
  • Most of your homework will be handled by WebAssign.

  • Your homework is due every Friday at 5:00 PM. Late homework will not be accepted by WebAssign.

  • Collaboration on homework is allowed; however, every student is responsible for his or her own assignment. Copying solutions directly from the web, other students, or any other sources is not allowed.

  • Each part of each problem may be submitted up to six (6) times; however, WebAssign will generate a different set of numbers for each attempt.

  • A problem with n parts will be worth n points, one for each part. (e.g. A four part problem will be worth four points with one point for each part.)

    • Helpful Information:

  • Kaca's PY 211 Web-Page

  • Exam I Solutions

  • Exam I Statistics

  • Exam II Solutions

  • Exam II Statistics

  • Exam I + Exam II Statistics

  • Just for kicks:

    ⃗ F = d⃗p dt = d2⃗r dt2 = d⃗v dt = m⃗a

  • A Heuristic Derivation of the Ideal Gas Law (There's a typo in Eq. 7)

    • About Discussion:

  • Discussion is fifty (50) minutes long.

  • The first thirty-five (35) minutes will be spent discussing problems with the class, your understanding of the material, trouble on homework, etc. If the class does not provide topics for discussion, I will have a few problems prepared to go over or some sort of review of material to present.

  • The last fifteen (15) minutes of class will be spent doing an in-class conceptual exercise. If you do not come to discussion, you will receive a score of zero for the exercise. These conceptual exercises will contribute to your over all grade.

  • Conceptual exercises are grades using the following rubric: two (2) points for the right answer, one (1) point for an incorrect answer, zero (0) points for no answer.

  • Conceptual exercises are to be worked on in groups of about three. Each group need only hand in one paper and each member of the group will receive the same grade. The exercises will be collected and graded at the end of discussion.

  • If you must miss a discussion and wish to receive credit for a conceptual exercise, you must contact me well before the discussion section and an arrangement may be able to be reached (e.g. attending a different discussion section or completing the exercise ahead of time).

    • Challenges:

  • Challenge Problem Set 1

  • Solution Set 1 (May contain typos...)

  • Try doing Problem (3) from PS-1 changing the box of mass m to a sphere or radius r (and mass m). Assume the sphere rolls without slipping.

    • Again, if you have any concerns whatsoever, please contact me ASAP. My number one goal is to help you learn and understand physics!

    Christopher A. Serino

    Last modified: 03 May 2007