PHYS-231: "Physics?" in Cartoons and Movies
SYLLABUS
Instructor: 

Michael "Bodhi" Rogers
OFFICE: CNS 265                       PHONE: 274-3963
E-MAIL: mrogers@ithaca.edu    
WEB: www.ithaca.edu/physics/
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday 4:00pm-4:45pm, Wednesday 2pm-4pm, and by appointment.



Texts: 

None

Class:   TUES: 09:25 am-10:40 am, CNS 204

Course Philosophy:  Have you ever watched a cartoon or movie and said "that would never happen?" By making this statement you have compared what you have seen to what you know about our universe, but cartoons and movies do not use the rules of our universe. This course will give you a chance to discover and derive the physical rules used in cartoons like the Road Runner or in The Matrix movies. In a fashion similar to Galileo’s experiments you will gather and analyze data to determine the rules of the cartoon and movie universes. Based on your studies you might derive your own theories of motion to explain why the coyote pauses before falling or develop a quantum theory to explain why the Road Runner has the distinct ability to tunnel through solid matter. This is an inquiry-based, project-driven course supported by group analysis of cartoons and movies.

Course Objectives:  1. Use software to analyze objects in motion (to include scenes where the camera pans, zooms, or involves slow motion)
2. Develop mathematical descriptions using data and observations
3. Communicate scientific information in both verbal and written forms
4. Learn physics principles while having fun.
5. Enhance inquiry skills.

Course Policies: 
  • Students are required to attend all scheduled class meetings. In the event of an excused absence, arrangements must be made with the laboratory instructor to make up the required work.

  • Each student must keep a loose leaf laboratory notebook in which all experimental work is documented. I will periodically ask to look at the notebook.

  • Plus and minus grades are given only rarely and only when justified by special circumstances.

  • Your final grade is FINAL; no work may be handed in for additional credit after the final exam.

  • The half hour before class is my time to prepare for class. I am usually busy during this time and it is hard for me to answer questions. Please take advantage of my open door policy, but try to avoid asking me involved questions the half hour before class.

  • I have all day Monday reserved for doing research. During this time I will be working with my research students (maybe one of you!), writing funding proposals, and preparing manuscripts for publication in scientific journals. I am working on some exciting projects that do need my attention. I will take time to answer your questions on Mondays, but it will help me a lot if you can ask your questions other days of the week if it fits into your schedule. If Mondays are really the best day for you then send me an e-mail to set up an appointment. This way I can plan for your visit and be ready to give you my full attention.

  • Requests for regrading of assignments must be in writing and must specify exactly why additional credit is warranted. No requests for changing an assignment grade will be accepted more than 48 hours after an exam is returned.

  • Please familiarize yourself with the Ithaca College Student Code of Conduct; specifically the Standards of Academic Conduct (http://www.ithaca.edu/attorney/policies/vol7/Volume_7-70104.htm). I will hold you to these standards. I do not tolerate plagiarism.

  • Accommodations are gladly made for students with DOCUMENTED learning or physical disabilities.

  • Every student who is performing below a C will be asked to meet with the instructor to discuss their performance in an attempt to initiate a course of action that will increase performance to a C or better.

  • An incomplete grade is awarded only to allow missing work to be made up in cases of documented emergencies and only if all other work is satisfactory and only if advance arrangements have been made with the instructor about the work to be completed and the deadline for completing the missing work.
Homework:  There are not regularly scheduled homework assignments for this course. Much of your time spent outside of class will be work spent on project planning and report writing.

Experimental Notebook :  I expect every group to keep notes in an experimental notebook (this does not have to be an official scientific notebook; any notebook will do. I will periodically look at your notebook to make sure that you are keeping good notes of your work.

Mini-Reports:  Because this course is project / experiment driven I expect you to learn how to present scientific work in the written form. You will hand in two mini-reports of your project work. I will give you more details about the format of these mini-reports as we approach the first short project.

Presentations Because this course is project / experiment driven I expect you to learn how to present scientific work in an oral form. You and your group will give two presentations during the semester. I and the rest of the class will give you feedback on the effectiveness of your presentation.

Advanced Project Report:  A substantial amount of the semester will be spent working on an advanced project of your choosing. You will report your work as a presentation and in an advance project report. I will give you the details about this report when you start your advanced project.

Grading: 
Experimental notebook  10 pts
Mini-reports  20 pts
Presentations  30 Pts
Advanced project report-Group grade  20 pts
Advanced project report-Individual Grade  10 pts
Team Participation  10 pts


Based on results from previous terms, it is expected that the final grade cut-offs will be approximately:
A : 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 60-69 F: less than 59
Actual cut-offs this semester may be higher or lower than these.

Emergencies:  If at any point during the semester you have an emergency that interferes with your active participation in this course please let me know as soon as possible. If you let me know of problems before a due date I can often find a solution to satisfy both of us. Dealing with a problem after a due date is very difficult.



Pages written by Michael Rogers and updated on 12-January-2008 at the Ithaca College Physics Department in Ithaca, NY.