PHYS 5383 Overview
Spring 2003
Last edit: 29 Dec 2002
Prof. Thomas Coan (x8-2497)         
coan@mail.physics.smu.edu
Office: 4B Fondren Science
Introduction
Welcome to PHYS 5383. What I mentioned last
semester in PHYS 5382 is still true: Acquiring a non-trivial
understanding of the quantum mechanics is a significant cultural
achievement and something you should take pride in. It is also still
the case that quantum mechanics is difficult to learn because, aside
from its own technical jargon and mathematical formalism, it requires
you to develop a new kind of physical intuition.
Homework, Tests, Exams and Grades
Homework is issued more or less weekly and is graded. I encourage
you to work together on the problems. However, the final write-up must
be your own work. Submitted homework assignments that are
suspiciously similar will annoy me. There will be 3 regular tests as
well as a final exam. See the PHYS
5383 syllabus for details.
Your final grade will be based on a weighted sum of your performance
on homework, tests and the final exam. Individual assignments do not
receive a letter grade. You should see me personally to know how you
are doing in the course. A stellar performance on the final exam
can result in a course grade much better then the average course
performance would yield. The relative course component weights
used to determine the course grade are:
- Homework 40%
- Tests 30%
- Final 30%
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