Instructor: Dr. Matt Marone Room 112 Willet Science Center
Phone 301-2597, e-mail: marone_mj@mercer.edu
Office Hours: MW 2:00-2:50, outside of these hours by appointment
Class: W 4:30-5:30 WSC 109
Prerequisite: PHY 162
Physics seminar is a weekly one-hour seminar, which familiarizes students with current topics in physics and other areas of science and engineering. Seminar speakers will consist of a mixture of students, Mercer faculty members and invited guests. Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to provide written summaries of each presentation. Each student will lead one discussion session and present one seminar. The details of these requirements are described below.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to attend all seminars and to actively participate by asking questions or joining the discussion. If you miss a class due to a valid excuse, as defined by the university handbook (illness, emergency, class trips with prior notification), you will be given a make up assignment. Missing a class due to an unexcused absence will result in a deduction of 5 points from your final score.
Summaries: You will write a summary of each presentation. The summary should include definitions of new terms, a description of the main idea, discussion of any experiments, and conclusions. Your summaries are to be submitted electronically by e-mail. The subject of the e-mail must contain “PHY 300”, as my mail program will automatically sort them. Only send text, a summary containing an attachment will not be accepted. Summaries are due by 5:00pm Tuesday before the next seminar. Should you experience a computer problem while sending the e-mail, you must contact my by other means and explain the problem. Summaries are graded satisfactory or unsatisfactory. (S/U). If I do not receive your summary on time, it will be treated as an unsatisfactory. You are allowed one unsatisfactory grade before receiving a deduction. Unsatisfactory grades will result in a deduction of 5 points from your final score for each U.
Presentation: Each student is required to give two presentations. Students are free to choose the topic for the presentation, subject to the instructor’s approval. Students may find the following journal helpful in selecting topics; Physics Today, Physical Review, Scientific American, Nature and Science. An outline of the presentation is required two weeks before the presentation. Students are also required to visit with the instructor no later than one week before the presentation. The purpose of this visit is to discuss the details of the presentation and any problems.
Presentations will be about 20-30 minutes long and presented in a professional manner. The first presentation will comprise 40% and the second will comprise 60% of the student’s grade before deductions.
Grades: Presentations are graded on a 100-point scale, and evaluated in the following categories.
1. Demonstrated and understanding the material (25)
2. Engaged the audience (25)
3. Answered questions/ discussion (25)
4. Presentation well organized. (25)
1st presentation 40%, 2nd presentation 60%
A (90 and above), B+ (85-89), B (80-84), C+ (75-79), C (70-74), D (60-69) F
(below 60)
Cell phones and Pagers: Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event.
DOCUMENTED DISABILITY STATEMENT
Students with a documented disability must inform the instructor at the
close of the first class meeting. The instructor will refer you to the Student
Support Services office for consultation regarding evaluation, documentation of
your disability, and a recommendation as to the accommodation, if any, to be
provided. Students must provide instructors with an accommodation form from
Student Support Services listing reasonable accommodation to sign and return to
Student Support Services. The Student Support Services office is located on the
3rd floor of the Connel Student Center.
If you do NOT consult with the
instructor and follow up at the Student Support Services office during the
first two weeks of classes, as provided above, you will thereby waive any claim
to a disability and the right to any accommodation pertaining thereto.
Wednesday 4:30-5:30 pm. Willett Science Center room 109
Student presentations will be given in alphabetical order for the first set and in reverse order in the second set.
Students:
Dennis Adams
Josh Hildebrand
Heather Hubble
Bayard Stringer
1.) Jan 15 Dr. Peters
2.) Jan 22 Dr. Balduz part 1
3.) Jan 29 Dr. Balduz part 2
4.) Feb 5 Dr. Crowley
5.) Feb 12 Randy Spaid
(Education)
6.) Feb 19 Students
7.) Feb 26 Students
8.) March 5 Dr. Phil Olivier
9.) March 19
10.) March 26
11.) April 2
12.) April 9
13.) April 16 Students
15.) April 23 Students
Dr. Crowley, Dr. Paul Dr. Olivier