PHY252S Thermal Physics, Winter/Spring 2003-4

Assessment

An old Chinese proverb says
"I hear...I forget; I see...and I remember; I do...and I understand."
This can be said to be the logic behind study, homework and exams.
(I also find that written homework and exams are the best ways to measure course achievement in core physics courses like this one.)

Regarding homework . You will have two weeks to do each homework assignment. Homeworks will be due in-class at 11:10am (the beginning of class) as follows:

HW#1, posted Wed 14 Jan , due Wed 28 Jan [ Solutions #1 , posted Mon 02 Feb]
HW#2, posted Wed 04 Feb , due Mon 23 Feb [ Solutions #2 , posted Mon 23 Feb]
HW#3, posted Wed 03 Mar , due Wed 17 Mar [Solutions #3 , posted Mon 22 Mar]
HW#4, posted Wed 24 Mar , due Wed 07 Apr [Solutions #4 , posted Mon 12 Apr]

The following table summarizes some statistics for the homeworks, and the midterm. (All quantities in percent.)

Homework Average Maximum Minimum StandardDeviation

1 79 100 36 16

2 81 100 20 18

Midterm 45 100 5 21

3 80 100 28 15

4 76 96 20 14

Homework	Average	Maximum	Minimum	StandardDeviation
1	79	100	36	16
2	81	100	20	18
Midterm	45	100	5	21
3	80	100	28	15
4	76	96	20	14

For details on how homeworks are handled, including my lateness policy, see course Homework Policy details .

The midterm this year was a 50-minute test in-class on Friday 27th February; here is the solution. (Old midterms: MT2001-2 , MT2002-3 .) For the midterm, a scientific calculator was allowed. This calculator should be capable of doing basic scientific functions including exponentials and logarithms, but it may NOT be programmable or have any graphing function. An aid sheet was allowed. This aid sheet must be handwritten, letter-sized, and on only ONE side of the paper; size-reduction using a machine is NOT permitted.

The final exam date is 9am-noon, Wednesday 21st April. For general info, you can consult the Faculty of Arts and Science info web site . For the final, a scientific calculator (non-programmable, non-graphing) and an aid sheet are allowed. This aid sheet must be handwritten and letter-sized, and may be written on both sides of the paper; size-reduction using a machine is NOT permitted.

The final grade algorithm is as follows. Your final grade F will be a 60%-40% 'flip-flop' split of your term grade T and your final exam grade E, with the weighting in favour of the better grade. The term grade T will be computed as 60% homeworks H and 40% midterm M. Overall, then, we have the formula:
F = 0.6*max(T,E)+0.4*min(T,E) where T=0.6*H+0.4*M.
Note: all homeworks have the same weight, i.e. each is worth 15% of your term grade T.

For important university deadlines and dates, see the Faculty of Arts and Science calendar.

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