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On-line Class Notes Policy:
The on-line class notes are available to augment classroom learning - their sole purpose is to prevent frantic writing of notes and allow students to spend time listening, thinking and comprehending the lecture. They are not intended to be, nor do they function as, a substitute for attending the lectures. For maximum value, you should: (i) read the homework assignments first (especially the textbook & web page reading assignments which cover material well before we discuss the topic in class); and (ii) bring the notes to the lecture so you can add comments, sketches of figures, and material not in the notes.
Treating the on-line notes as a substitute for attending class is inappropriate at best and detrimental at worst.
The on-line notes will NOT be available all semester - they are posted several days before the lecture, then removed a few days after the lecture - no exceptions. This is for the students' benefit. So please keep up with the class.

Reminder: The lecture notes, along with all other class material, are copyrighted.




Dr. Welsh's office is on the 2nd floor of the Physics Building, Room 235, just across the street from the front entrance of the GMCS building.

If ever an emergency alarm goes off, please grab your stuff and calmly evacuate the building. The meeting point is at the grass-covered area just outside the Physics building (next to the bicycle symbol on the map below).





Please don't confuse the terms "hypothesis" and "theory". As used in science, a theory is a very strong term and only a handful of ideas in all of science qualify as a theory. A hypothesis is an educated guess or explanation, and implies insufficient evidence or comprehension for a more concrete understanding. A theory is a well-tested, well-established hypothesis, able to make far-ranging predictions and connections with other theories, and usually with an elegant mathematical or physical mechanism for its operation. A theory is much stronger than a hypothesis. It has been rigorously tested by many independent people. When speaking in technical terms, don't use the word "theory" when you simply mean speculation or conjecture or idea or educated guess (all of which are synonymous with hypothesis). In science-speak, we don't come up with theories, we come up with hypotheses. But that's not the way the word "theory" is used in common conversation. Keep this in mind so you don't get confused when you hear someone say, "It's only a theory." That theory may encompass the sum total of all of human experience and knowledge! A better way to think of the word theory is to equate it with the word "law". That is closer to the meaning that scientists intend when they call something a theory.

Policy On Extra Credit
No extra credit projects will be allowed on individual basis, but on occasion the class as a whole may be able to earn extra credit. This may be announced in class or on the Important New part of our class website. Also, I have a general policy that if any mistakes are found in any part of the course (e.g. in the syllabus, class web pages, class lectures, class notes, exams, or textbook) the student who first points the error out may earn extra credit. It depends on the nature of the error: typographical errors will not earn extra credit (unless many are present). Updates to the on-line lecture notes also do not count as errors. But something like a wrong time for the final on the syllabus would definitely earn extra credit. Also, students who participate a lot in class may earn extra credit. If a student asks a particularly good question, I may award that student extra credit. Basically, my philosophy is that if a student does something that benefits the entire class, that student may earn extra credit. No extra credit will be awarded if it only benefits the individual seeking the extra credit.

Last major update on 2009 Jan 19. Updates occur frequently.

This page has been accessed times since 2004 Jan 10